Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology

Degree Requirements

On admission to the Ph.D. in Criminology Program, a student must earn a minimum of 75 semester credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, pass a qualifying examination covering research methods/statistics, pass a criminology comprehensive examination, and successfully complete independent research. Students must fulfil the following requirements:

• Coursework: 75 credit semester credit hours of graduate study (minus transferred master's credit of 36 semester credit hours)
• Qualifying Examination
• Doctoral Dissertation

A grade of "B-" or lower in any core graduate class requires that the class be retaken with only one retake allowed per course. If the retake results in a final grade of "B-" or lower, the student will be dropped from the program. Students are allowed to retake no more than two core courses. In addition, all students must meet the University's minimum required GPA of 3.0 or higher. See the Criminology Graduate Program Handbook located on the Criminology website for more specific requirements.

Course Requirements

Coursework: 75 semester credit hours of graduate study (includes required master's degree credit of 36 semester credit hours)

I. Criminology core classes (15 semester credit hours)

• CRIM 7307 Measures and Correlates of Crime
• CRIM 7300 Advances in Criminology Theory
• CRIM 7301 Seminar in Criminology Research and Analysis
• CRIM 7305 Professional Development in Criminology
• CRIM 7315 Evidence-based Crime Prevention

II. Methodology/Statistics core classes (9 semester credit hours)

• CRIM 6301 Research Design I1
• EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
• EPPS 7316 Regression and Multivariate Analysis

A grade of "B-" or lower in any core graduate class requires that the class be retaken. Only one retake is allowed per course. If the retake results in a final grade of "B-" or lower, the student will be dropped from the program. Students are allowed to retake no more than two core classes. In addition, all students must meet the University's minimum required GPA of 3.0 or higher. See the Graduate Program Handbook located on the Criminology website for more specific requirements.

III. Methodology or Advanced Statistics Elective (3 semester credit hours)

Students must select one additional research methods or advanced statistics course. Students may select this course from any number of methodology or statistics courses offered through the School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences (EPPS).

Sample of Methodology or Advanced Statistics Courses:

• EPPS 6346 Qualitative Research Orientation
• EPPS 6352 Evaluation Research Methods in the Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
• EPPS 7304 Cost-Benefit Analysis
• EPPS 7318 Structural Equation and Multilevel (Hierarchical) Modeling
• EPPS 7344 Categorical and Limited Dependent Variables
• EPPS 7368 Spatial Epidemiology
• EPPS 7370 Time Series Analysis I
• EPPS 7386 Survey Research
• EPPS 7390 Bayesian Analysis for Social and Behavioral Sciences

IV. Independent Study (minimum of 3 semester credit hours)

Students take at least 3 semester credit hours of independent study (i.e., Qualifying Exam Preparation or Independent Advanced Research) in the spring semester upon completion of required substantive coursework in order to prepare for doctoral qualifying exams. Funded students will be required to take at least 9 semester credit hours in that semester in order to retain funding, as is the case in any other semester during which funding is awarded. These hours may be a combination of Qualifying Exam Preparation hours and electives.

V. Dissertation Research (minimum of 9 semester credit hours)

A dissertation or a three-paper option requirement must be completed in order to successfully complete the Criminology doctoral program. Students will select a dissertation chair and a supervising committee to advise them through the research component of the doctoral requirement.

The dissertation is an original work initiated and completed by the doctoral candidate that demonstrates research competence and substantially adds to the knowledge in the candidate's field. The three-paper option is composed of a set of articles that together represent a significant and coherent contribution to our knowledge in the field of Criminology.

Regardless of the option selected, students will enrol in CRIM 8V99 during each semester until the research is completed and defended. The final dissertation defence is completed when the dissertation chair and supervising committee agree that the research has been satisfactorily completed.

Qualifying Examination

Students will sit for the Criminology Qualifying Examination once all substantive coursework is completed and upon approval of the Criminology Program Head and/or Ph.D. Advisor. The Qualifying Examination will test students' knowledge in topical areas related to the discipline. Student performance will be evaluated as pass or fail on each section. Those failing one or more sections of the examination will be allowed one retake in accordance with UTD policy. Those students who fail any section of the retake examination will be dismissed from the Criminology program in accordance with policy.

The doctoral program in Criminology is an interdisciplinary, research-oriented degree offered in conjunction with other graduate programs in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences at UT Dallas. The objective of the Ph.D. program is to provide students with a coherent, yet intellectually challenging degree that adequately prepares them to conduct research among the many aspects of criminology and criminal justice, varying with individual interests and areas of speciality. Graduates of the Ph.D. program will be qualified to teach at the university level as professors. Graduates will also be competent to enter into analytic and administrative posts within the vast array of research and policy institutions, criminal justice organizations, and the private sector.

Graduates of the program seek positions such as academics and teaching; criminologist, policy advisor or research officer in state and federal justice agencies; analytical and administrative positions in international and domestic research and policy institutions; and positions in legal and corrections systems and non-profits and private consulting.