Criminal Justice (Ph.D.)
Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2025 through summer 2026. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Program Courses | ||
CJUS 700 | Theories of Crime | 3 |
CJUS 701 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | 3 |
CJUS 702 | Advanced Juvenile Justice Policy | 3 |
CJUS 703 | Advanced Corrections Policy | 3 |
Research and Evaluation Core Courses | ||
CJUS 740 | Advanced Research Design | 3 |
CJUS 745 | Quantitative Methods of Research | 3 |
CJUS 750 | Qualitative Methods of Research | 3 |
CJUS 801 | Criminal Justice Program Evaluation | 3 |
Advanced Focus Courses | ||
CJUS 810 | Transnational Organized Crime | 3 |
CJUS 820 | Advanced Topics in Terrorism and Intelligence | 3 |
or CJUS 840 | Stress Management in Criminal Justice | |
CJUS 830 | Criminal Justice Organizational Conflict | 3 |
Elective Courses | ||
Choose nine credit hours of 700-900 level CJUS, HLSC or PLCY courses | 9 | |
Dissertation Courses 1 | ||
CJUS 885 | Research Concept | 3 |
CJUS 987 | Dissertation I | 5 |
CJUS 988 | Dissertation II | 5 |
CJUS 989 | Dissertation III 2 | 5 |
CJUS 990 | Dissertation IV - Dissertation Defense 2 | 0 |
Total Hours | 60 |
- 1
Once the student enters the Dissertation phase, he/she must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) until all degree requirements are completed.
- 2
Any student who is not ready for enrollment in CJUS 990 after completing CJUS 989 may be required, as determined by the student's dissertation chair, to repeat CJUS 989 until deemed ready for enrollment in CJUS 990.
All applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- Complete 60 total hours
- A maximum of 50% of a post-graduate and doctoral degree may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
- 3.0 GPA
- No grades lower than a B- may be applied to the degree
- Liberty University course work that is more than 7 years old may not apply towards this degree. Students are required to repeat the course if it has exceeded the age limit.
- Successful completion of Research Concept
- Successful defense of Dissertation
- Degree must be completed within 7 years
- Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date
Program Offered in Online Format
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
First Semester | Hours | |
CJUS 700 | Theories of Crime | 3 |
CJUS 701 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | 3 |
CJUS 702 | Advanced Juvenile Justice Policy | 3 |
Hours | 9 | |
Second Semester | ||
CJUS 703 | Advanced Corrections Policy | 3 |
CJUS 740 | Advanced Research Design | 3 |
CJUS 745 | Quantitative Methods of Research | 3 |
Hours | 9 | |
Second Year | ||
Third Semester | ||
CJUS 750 | Qualitative Methods of Research | 3 |
CJUS 801 | Criminal Justice Program Evaluation | 3 |
Criminal Justice Elective 1 | 3 | |
Hours | 9 | |
Fourth Semester | ||
CJUS 810 | Transnational Organized Crime | 3 |
Criminal Justice Elective 1 | 3 | |
Criminal Justice Elective 1 | 3 | |
Hours | 9 | |
Third Year | ||
Fifth Semester | ||
CJUS 820 or CJUS 840 | 3 | |
CJUS 830 | Criminal Justice Organizational Conflict | 3 |
CJUS 885 | Research Concept | 3 |
Hours | 9 | |
Sixth Semester | ||
CJUS 987 | Dissertation I | 5 |
Hours | 5 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Seventh Semester | ||
CJUS 988 | Dissertation II | 5 |
Hours | 5 | |
Eighth Semester | ||
CJUS 989 | Dissertation III 2 | 5 |
Hours | 5 | |
Fifth Year | ||
Ninth Semester | ||
CJUS 990 | Dissertation IV - Dissertation Defense 2 | 0 |
Hours | 0 | |
Total Hours | 60 |
- 1
Choose any 700-900 level CJUS, HLSC, or PLCY course.
- 2
Any student who is not ready for enrollment in CJUS 990 after completing CJUS 989 may be required, as determined by the student’s dissertation chair, to repeat CJUS 989 until deemed ready for enrollment in CJUS 990.
All applicable prerequisites must be met