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Criminal JusticeDegrees
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The University of Alabama

Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology & Criminal Justice

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeOn campus

Overview

A 60-credit research doctorate with 42 hours of coursework and at least 18 dissertation hours; students specialize in violent crime, courts and corrections, or global criminology.

Official program name
Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology & Criminal Justice
Awarded degree
Doctor of Philosophy · major: Criminology & Criminal Justice
Source: ccj.ua.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: catalog.ua.edu · verified October 24, 2026
School
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
Subjects
Criminology — core of the degree (“Criminology & Criminal Justice”)Criminal Justice — core of the degree (“Criminology & Criminal Justice”)
Required credits
minimum of 60 credit hours (up to 21 may be transferred or counted from prior graduate study)
Source: catalog.ua.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Duration
Not verified
Why this program is listed

Dedicated PhD in Criminology & Criminal Justice in the graduate catalog.

Research doctorate in criminology and criminal justice with violent crime, courts and corrections, and global criminology areas.

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

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 specialize in violent crime, courts and corrections, or global criminology.
    Source: catalog.ua.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Dissertation

  • At least 18 hours of dissertation credit; students complete an original dissertation.
    Source: ccj.ua.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
OptionalA master's degree is not required for admission.
Source: ccj.ua.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required3 letters — Three letters of recommendation.
Source: catalog.ua.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Writing sample
RequiredA writing sample (paper from an academic course) of about 5-10 pages.
Source: catalog.ua.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.

  • Priority deadline

    November 15 (priority funding) · for Fall

    The school does not print a year with this date.

    Source: catalog.ua.edu · verified October 24, 2026
    Year not printed

  • Application deadline

    February 1 · for Fall

    The school does not print a year with this date.

    Source: ccj.ua.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.ua.edu/graduate/arts-sciences/criminology-criminal-justice/phd/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 24, 2026
  2. ccj.ua.edu/graduate-programs/phd-program/ — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
  3. 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 The University of Alabama. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.