Programs by Campus
Bloomington
Criminal Justice
College of Arts and Sciences
Departmental E-mail: crimjust [at] indiana [dot] edu
Departmental URL: www.indiana.edu/~crimjust
Curriculum
Degrees Offered
Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy
Program Information
The department offers the opportunity for multidisciplinary graduate degrees in criminal justice that are designed for students coming from a variety of academic backgrounds. Courses and programs in the department prepare students for academic teaching and research positions or for administrative, research, and management careers in the criminal justice system or the private sector. The faculty represents a diversity of approaches to criminal justice studies: anthropology, criminal justice, geography, history, law, political science, psychology, and sociology. Students may also study with faculty from other departments and schools who make up the university-wide criminal justice consortium.
Special Departmental Requirements
(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)
Master of Arts Degree
Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following: (1) all official post-secondary transcripts; (2) a 300- to 500-word statement of academic and professional goals; (3) scores from the verbal, quantitative, and writing sections of the GRE; (4) evidence of potential for success in graduate work, as attested by letters of recommendation from those familiar with the applicant’s academic performance (two of the applicant’s three letters must be from faculty members); (5) international TOEFL is required of all foreign students.
Course Requirements
A total of 36 credit hours, 27 of which must be taken in the Department of Criminal Justice and either an M.A. thesis or two substantial papers. Required are P594 (Research Methods) and S501 (Statistics).
Thesis
Optional. Students may earn up to 6 credit hours for an M.A. thesis.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree
Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following: (1) all official post-secondary transcripts; (2) a 300- to 500-word statement of academic and professional goals; (3) scores from the verbal, quantitative, and writing sections of the GRE; (4) evidence of potential for success in graduate work, as attested by letters of recommendation from those familiar with the applicant’s academic performance (two of the applicant’s three letters must be from faculty members); (5) international TOEFL is required of all foreign students.
Course Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy degree will require a total of 90 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, of which 12 hours are required courses. Students are required to complete 3 hours in research methods (P594), 6 hours in statistics (currently taught in the Statistics Department: S501 and S503), and a 3-hour research tool requirement that may be satisfied with an advanced (qualitative or quantitative) methods course or advanced statistics course approved by the Director of Graduate Affairs, or by demonstrating reading proficiency in one of the languages from those approved by the Department of Criminal Justice or a language demonstrably useful in the student’s research program. A student must have at least one minor area from outside the Department of Criminal Justice. A dissertation for up to 30 credit hours is required.
Foreign Language/Research Tool Requirement
One of the following: (1) reading proficiency in one of the languages from those approved by the Department of Criminal Justice or a language demonstrably useful in the student’s research program; or (2) the 3-hour research tool requirement that may be satisfied with an advanced (qualitative or quantitative) methods course or advanced statistics course approved by the Director of Graduate Affairs.
Qualifying Examination
All doctoral students are expected to demonstrate basic proficiency by passing a qualifying examination following completion of required courses. This examination takes the form of a thesis consisting of an original research project. It is expected that the written component of the qualifying thesis will be of publishable quality. An oral defense is required. The written thesis and the oral defense are evaluated as a combined effort.
Dissertation Proposal
Dissertation proposals must be submitted only after successfully completing the required qualifying Ph.D. examination. An oral defense of the dissertation proposal is required.
Final Examination
Oral defense of the dissertation is required.
Ph.D. Minor in Criminal Justice
Students from other departments or schools who want to minor in criminal justice should consult with the Director of Graduate Affairs on the selection of faculty advisors. At least 12 credit hours in criminal justice courses are required. All 12 hours are elective credit in the Department. A Declaration of Minor form must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Affairs.