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Criminal JusticeDegrees
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George Mason University

PhD in Criminology, Law and Society

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeOn campus

Overview

A 72-credit PhD in Criminology, Law and Society taken in person at the Fairfax campus, with a major area paper, dissertation and competitive multi-year assistantships.

Official program name
PhD in Criminology, Law and Society
Awarded degree
Doctor of Philosophy · major: Criminology, Law and Society
Source: cls.gmu.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: cls.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
School
Location
Fairfax, VA
Subjects
Criminology — core of the degree (“Criminology, Law and Society”)Criminal Justice — core of the degree (“Criminal justice research”)
Required credits
Total credits: 72
Source: catalog.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Duration
About four years full-time with a prior relevant graduate degree; usually within six years for those entering without one (earning the MA and PhD) (full-time study)A minimum under the stated conditions, not a typical length.
Source: cls.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Why this program is listed

Dedicated research doctorate in Criminology, Law and Society.

Degree is a PhD in criminology, law and society with core, analytical methods and elective courses, a major area paper and a dissertation.

Source: cls.gmu.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: cls.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Internship
Internship requirement: not verified
Study intensity
Not verified

Curriculum

Other

  • Students entering without a master's degree earn the MA in Criminology, Law and Society as part of the doctorate.
    Source: catalog.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

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

  • Department emphases include community partnerships, organizational change, cybercrime, pre-trial processes, public opinion research, wrongful convictions, crime and place, victimology, rehabilitation and recidivism, social justice, and law in action.
    Source: cls.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Research proposal

  • Advancement to candidacy requires a defended dissertation proposal and an appointed dissertation committee.
    Source: catalog.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Qualifying examinations

Dissertation

  • Dissertation of original research representing a significant contribution to the field.
    Source: catalog.gmu.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
OptionalAccepts students with or without a previous graduate degree.
Source: cls.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Statement / essay
RequiredGoals statement of 2-3 pages (max 1,400 words).
Source: cls.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required3 letters — Three recommenders; at least two letters from an academic source.
Source: cls.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Writing sample
RequiredRecent sole-authored work of at least 2,500 words.
Source: cls.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Application fee
Required$75 — Non-refundable $75 application processing fee.
Source: cls.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test
RequiredGRE General Test taken within five years of application; the requirement is not waived.
Source: cls.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

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 deadline

    December 01 · for Fall

    The school does not print a year with this date.

    Source: cls.gmu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
    Year not printed

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

Accreditation

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

Institutional accreditation

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) — 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. catalog.gmu.edu/colleges-schools/humanities-social-sciences/criminology-law-society/criminology-law- — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 24, 2026
  2. cls.gmu.edu/programs/la-phd-cls — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
  3. cls.gmu.edu/programs/la-phd-cls/application — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
  4. DAPIP — SACSCOC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 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 George Mason University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.