A criminal justice program usually features courses that teach students the skills and knowledge needed to work in law enforcement. Courses in a program may include policing, criminology, cybercrime, ethics, administration, border security and corrections.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.