- College of Psychology and Community Services
- BS in Criminal Justice
- BS in Human Services
- BS in Psychology
- Graduate Certificate in Conflict Management and Negotiation
- Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice
- MS in Criminal Justice
- MS in Criminal Justice Leadership and Executive Management
- MS in Forensic Psychology
- MS in Human Services
- Post-Master’s Online Teaching in Psychology Certificate
- Doctor of Human Services
- PhD in Criminal Justice
- PhD in Criminal Justice
- Note on Licensure
- Learning Outcomes
- Program Types
- Specializations
- Specializations Not Currently Accepting New Students
- General Program (Track 1) - For students who have a master’s degree in criminal justice or a related field.
- General Program (Track 2) For students who have a master’s degree in a discipline unrelated to the criminal justice field
- Master of Philosophy (Embedded Degree)
- Doctoral Writing Assessment
- 8-Year Maximum Time Frame
- PhD in Forensic Psychology
- PhD in Human Services
- PhD in Psychology
- Post-Doctoral Respecialization Certificate
The PhD in Criminal Justice program helps prepare students with the skills needed to pursue a range of criminal justice-related roles including leadership and education. Spanning topics such as homeland security, human services, and the role of technology in law enforcement, the curriculum examines contemporary criminal justice theory and practice while outlining some of the national and global issues facing the field today. Students can choose from six optional specializations to create a program of study that is tailored to their professional objectives.
Note on Licensure
Walden’s PhD in Criminal Justice program is not considered a Professional Peace Officer Education Program for the state of Minnesota and is not designed or intended to prepare graduates for licensure as a peace officer, police officer, or other law enforcement officer in any state.
Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, students will be able to:
- Evaluate the root causes of crime and its impact on criminal justice policies, practices, and procedures.
- Evaluate management philosophies in managing human resources in criminal justice organizations.
- Synthesize theory and research on the historical trends and current perspectives in criminal justice.
- Apply data analysis techniques and research design methods to scholarly research in criminal justice.
- Evaluate the role of criminal justice in advancing social justice and positive social change.
Program Types
General (Track 1)—Track 1 is a program of study for students who have a master’s degree in criminal justice or a related field.
General (Track 2)—Track 2 is a program of study for students who have a master’s degree in a discipline unrelated to the criminal justice field.
Specializations Not Currently Accepting New Students
General Program (Track 1) - For students who have a master’s degree in criminal justice or a related field.
Track 1 Course Sequence
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 |
CRJS 8002 - Foundations of Doctoral Study
|
3 credits |
|
CRJS 8140 -Social Responsibility and Ethics
|
5 credits | |
|
RESI 8401 PhD Residency 1
Note: Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; required by the end of Term 2 in order to advance to RSCH 8110.
|
0 credits | |
| Quarter 2 |
CRJS 8351 - Policy and Analysis in Criminal Justice Systems
|
5 credits |
| CRJS 8105 - Criminal Justice Theory, Research and Practice | 5 credits | |
|
CRJS 8991 - Dissertation Seminar 1: Welcome to the Dissertation Journey!
|
1 credits | |
| Quarter 3 |
RSCH 8110 - Research Theory, Design, and Methods
|
5 credits |
| Specialization Course 1 | 5 credits | |
|
CRJS 8992 - Dissertation Seminar 2: Building Knowledge and Skills
|
1 credits | |
| Quarter 4 |
RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits |
| Specialization Course 2 | 5 credits | |
|
CRJS 8993 - Dissertation Seminar 3: Establishing Research Questions and Frameworks
|
1 credits | |
| RESI 8402 - PhD Residency 2 Note: Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course (RSCH 8210). Should be taken no sooner than Term 4, must be completed by the end of Term 5. |
0 credits | |
| Quarter 5 |
RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits |
| Specialization Course 2 | 5 credits | |
|
CRJS 8994 - Dissertation Seminar 4: Developing Methods and Maintaining Alignment
|
1 credits | |
| Quarter 6 |
RESI 8403 - PhD Residency 3
PPG Note: Completion of Residency 3 required by the end of Term 6 in order to advance to CRJS 8115. |
0 credits |
| CRJS 8995 - Dissertation Seminar 5: Transition to Candidacy | 1 credits | |
| CRJS 8381 - Program Evaluation | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 7 | Select one from the following: RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis -or- RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis -or- RSCH 8460 - Advanced Mixed-Methods Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits |
|
CRJS 8115 - Writing a Quality Prospectus |
5 credits | |
|
Select one from the following: |
0 credits | |
| Quarter 8+ | CRJS 9000 Dissertation * | 5 credits |
Optional: Complete a PhD dissertation intensive during CRJS 9000. Contact Student Success Advising to register.
* Students take this course for a minimum of three quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
General Program (Track 2) For students who have a master’s degree in a discipline unrelated to the criminal justice field
Track 2 Course Sequence
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 |
CRJS 8002 - Foundations of Doctoral Study
|
3 credits |
|
CRJS 8140 Social Responsibility and Ethics
|
5 credits | |
|
RESI 8401 PhD Residency 1 Note: Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; should be completed in Term 1 or Term 2. |
0 credits | |
| Quarter 2 |
CRJS 8351 - Policy and Analysis in Criminal Justice Systems
|
5 credits |
|
CCRJS 8105 Criminal Justice Theory, Research and Practice
|
5 credits | |
|
CRJS 8991 Dissertation Seminar 1: Welcome to the Dissertation Journey!
|
1 credit | |
| Quarter 3 |
CRJS 8137 - The Nature of Crime and Criminology
|
5 credits |
|
RSCH 8110 - Research Theory, Design, and Methods
|
5 credits | |
|
CRJS 8992 Dissertation Seminar 2: Building Knowledge and Skills
|
1 credit | |
| Quarter 4 |
RSCH 8210 Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits |
|
Specialization Course 1
|
5 credits | |
|
RESI 8402 PhD Residency 2
Note: Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course (RSCH 8210). Should be taken no sooner than Term 4, must be completed by the end of Term 5. |
0 credits | |
|
CRJS 8993 Dissertation Seminar 3: Establishing Research Questions and Frameworks
|
1 credit | |
| Quarter 5 |
CRJS 8215 Controversies in Criminal Justice
|
5 credits |
|
Specialization Course 2
|
5 credits | |
| Quarter 6 |
RSCH 8310 Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits |
|
CRJS 8217 Technological Solutions and 21st Century Crime
|
5 credits | |
|
RESI 8403 PhD Residency 3 PPG Note: Completion of Residency 3 required by the end of Term 6 in order to advance to CRJS 8115. |
0 credits | |
|
CRJS 8994 Dissertation Seminar 4: Developing Methods and Maintaining Alignment
|
1 credit | |
| Quarter 7 | Specialization Course 3 | 5 credits |
|
CRJS 8381 Program Evaluation
|
5 credits | |
| Quarter 8 |
CRJS 8115 Writing a Quality Prospectus
|
5 credits |
| CRJS 8995 Dissertation Seminar 5: Transition to Candidacy | 1 credit | |
|
Select one from the following: RSCH 8260 Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 creditS | |
|
Select one from the following: RESI 8404 PhD Residency 4 |
0 creditS | |
| Quarter 9+ |
CRJS 9000 - Dissertation**
|
5 credits |
| Optional: Complete a PhD dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during CRJS 9000. Contact Student Success Advising to register. | ||
* Students take this course for a minimum of three terms and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Master of Philosophy (Embedded Degree)
Walden awards the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree to recognize PhD students for academic achievement leading up to their dissertation. With an MPhil, students will be able to demonstrate to employers and others that they have an advanced knowledge base in their field of study as well as proficiency in research design and evaluation.
- Students are eligible to apply for this credential while continuing their PhD program once they have completed:
- All required PhD core courses (or KAMs)
- All required PhD specialization courses (or KAMs)
- All required doctoral research and advanced research courses
- Program prospectus development course
- Residencies 1, 2, and 3
- A minimum 3.0 GPA is mandatory.
- The MPhil requires a minimum of 45 quarter credits. Maximum transfer of credit varies by program but is not to exceed 50% of the overall, or embedded, program requirements. Students who previously completed a master's degree with Walden in the same discipline area are not eligible for an MPhil.
Doctoral Writing Assessment
Students who start or readmit to doctoral programs at Walden University in the university catalog for academic year 2017 or later will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level.
Doctoral Writing Assessment
Students who start or readmit to doctoral programs at Walden University in the university catalog for academic year 2017 or later will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level.
8-Year Maximum Time Frame
Students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral degree requirements (see Enrollment Requirements in the student handbook). Students may petition to extend the 8-year maximum time frame, but an extension is not guaranteed.