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Criminal JusticeDegrees
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American University · Department of Justice, Law, Criminology & Security

PhD in Justice, Law & Criminology

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeOn campus

Overview

A 36-credit-hour on-campus PhD with three fields of study, two written comprehensive exams, an oral qualifier and a dissertation defense, for full-time students.

Official program name
PhD in Justice, Law & Criminology
Awarded degree
Doctor of Philosophy · major: Justice, Law & Criminology
Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Degree level
Doctoral — research doctorate
Subject focus
Dedicated degreeThe degree itself is in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science or a closely related justice subject.
Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026
School
American University — Department of Justice, Law, Criminology & Security
Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Location
Washington, DC
Subjects
Criminology — core of the degreeCriminal Justice — core of the degreeHomeland Security — formal concentration / track (“Terrorism & Political Violence (field)”)
Required credits
36 credit hours of coursework
Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Duration
Not verified
Start terms
Fall
Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Why this program is listed

On-campus PhD in Justice, Law & Criminology; the page also describes dissertation requirements.

Research doctorate grounded in criminology, criminal justice, terrorism and homeland security studies, and legal studies.

Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026

We list associate, bachelor's, master's and research-doctorate programs in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science and related subjects at institutionally accredited US schools — degrees in the subject and formal concentrations, never certificates or one-elective degrees. Eligibility rules

Format and attendance

Formats, online delivery, campus visits, internships and class schedule are shown separately, each only as the school states it.
Formats offered
On campus
Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Internship
Internship requirement: not verified
Study intensity
Full-time
Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Curriculum

Curriculum details: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Careers and licensure

An academic degree and an occupational licence are different things.

Career and licensure statements for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

A degree does not guarantee police academy admission, sworn officer certification, federal employment, a security clearance, a position with a named agency, a forensic laboratory job or eligibility to practice as a psychologist. Those have separate training, scientific prerequisites, examinations or hiring requirements set by the agency, state or licensing board. Academic degrees vs police academy training

Research and doctoral requirements

Research areas, supervision, examinations and residency as the school publishes them.

Research areas

  • Students organize their programs around a primary and a secondary field of study chosen from justice, law & society and terrorism & political violence (or methodology/public policy for the secondary field).
    Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Qualifying examinations

  • Candidacy requires completing required courses, passing the oral qualifier and two written comprehensive exams, and defending the dissertation proposal.
    Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Dissertation

  • Students must pass a final oral defense of the dissertation.
    Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Admissions

Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the school states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.
Prior degree
RequiredThe program is described as 36 credit hours for students who already have a related master's degree.
Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Tests

Entrance and English-language test policy: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.

Start dates and deadlines

Dates are shown with the term the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadlines: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.

Tuition for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Scholarships and funding

Awards published by the school for this program or for its level. Loans must be repaid and are not scholarships; service scholarships require government service after graduation. Graduate funding guide

  • AU fellowship for selected students Fellowship

    Eligibility: Students selected for AU funding; funding is contingent on satisfactory progress and advancing to candidacy by the end of the third year.

    Duties: Students work 20 hours a week with a faculty member.

    Source: american.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Accreditation

Two different things: the school's institutional accreditation, and FEPAC accreditation of this exact forensic science program.

Institutional accreditation

  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026

FEPAC program accreditation

This program does not appear in FEPAC's accredited-program list. FEPAC accredits forensic science programs only and is optional; its absence is not a sign that a program is illegitimate, and the school's other programs or institutional accreditation do not imply it.

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages and directories below. Last verified October 24, 2026.
  1. DAPIP — MSCHE institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
  2. american.edu/spa/jlc/ — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
  3. american.edu/spa/phd/phd-jlcr.cfm — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026

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Similar programs at other schools

Same degree level and focus. Listed for discovery, not ranked.

Capitol Technology University

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Forensic Criminology

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeOther forensicDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Fully online
Location: Laurel, MDSchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: No mandatory campus visits
Duration: Minimum of 60 credit hours; may require additional credit hours depending on dissertation time · 60 credits
Tuition: $980 per credit · All students — Doctoral students, per credit · Fall 2026-Summer 202
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: MSCHE
Subjects: Criminology
View program

CUNY Graduate School and University Center

Ph.D. in Criminal Justice

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Campus · Full-time
Location: New York City, NY
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Students are expected to complete the doctoral degree in 5 years; all students must complete within 8 years. · 60 credits
Tuition: $1,235 per semester · In-state — Level III, full time, New York residents
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: MSCHE
Subjects: Criminology · Criminal Justice
View program

Criminal Justice Degrees is independent and not affiliated with American University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.