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Criminal JusticeDegrees
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University of South Carolina-Columbia · Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeOn campus

Overview

Research PhD with two admission pathways (minimum 63 hours post-baccalaureate or 39 hours post-master's or law degree), qualifying and comprehensive exams, residency and a dissertation.

Official program name
Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Awarded degree
Doctor of Philosophy · major: Criminology and Criminal Justice
Source: academicbulletins.sc.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: academicbulletins.sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026
School
Source: academicbulletins.sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Location
Columbia, SC
Source: sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Subjects
Criminology — core of the degree (“Criminology and Criminal Justice”)Criminal Justice — core of the degree (“Criminology and Criminal Justice”)
Required credits
minimum of 39 hours post-master's or law degree; minimum of 63 hours post-baccalaureate
Source: academicbulletins.sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Duration
Not verified
Start terms
Fall
Source: academicbulletins.sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Why this program is listed

Dedicated research PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice with dissertation.

Degree title names criminology and criminal justice; research training in theory, methods and policy analysis.

Source: academicbulletins.sc.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: academicbulletins.sc.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

  • Faculty research spans policing, courts, corrections, law and policy, criminological theory, sentencing, victimization and program evaluation.
    Source: academicbulletins.sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Qualifying examinations

Dissertation

  • 12 dissertation hours; proposal and dissertation both orally defended after the comprehensive examination.
    Source: academicbulletins.sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Residency

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”.
Recommendation letters
Required3 letters — Three letters of academic reference.
Source: academicbulletins.sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Writing sample
RequiredRecent sole-authored writing sample or thesis chapter.
Source: academicbulletins.sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Research proposal
RequiredWritten statement of research goals and objectives.
Source: academicbulletins.sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test
RequiredScores obtained within the last five years.
Source: academicbulletins.sc.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 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.
CategoryAmountBasis and year
In-state — USC Columbia graduate, resident, part-time per credit hourFrom the school-wide rate table for this level$572.25per credit · 2026-2027Calculated tuition$22,317.75 = 39 credits × $572.25 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Out-of-state — USC Columbia graduate, non-resident, part-time per credit hourFrom the school-wide rate table for this level$1,240per credit · 2026-2027Calculated tuition$48,360 = 39 credits × $1,240 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: sc.edu · verified October 24, 2026

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. academicbulletins.sc.edu/graduate/arts-sciences/criminology-criminal-justice/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 24, 2026
  2. academicbulletins.sc.edu/graduate/arts-sciences/criminology-criminal-justice/criminology-criminal-ju — Official catalog / bulletin, 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
  4. sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/bursar/tuition_and_required_fees/ — Official tuition and fees 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 University of South Carolina-Columbia. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.