PhD in Criminal Justice Researching and Improving Practices and Processes
60
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Protect and Serve with a PhD in Criminal Justice from Liberty University
If you are an experienced law enforcement professional, conferring Liberty’s online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Criminal Justice – General* can help prepare you for senior leadership roles in criminal justice organizations. Through advanced research and analysis of criminal justice practices, you will study how to assess and improve government and law enforcement organizations and master techniques in instruction.
In this program, you’ll be trained by seasoned criminal justice scholars with years of experience. Our professors teach from a Christian worldview, so you can receive biblically-based training that can help you lead effectively and with integrity in your chosen field.
*Please note that this is not a specialization. Any reference using the term “General” is the main degree and is only used to differentiate from other specializations.
Why Choose Liberty University’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Criminal Justice?
As a criminal justice professional studying at Liberty University, you can gain the knowledge and skills you need to seek promotion to a senior leadership position, enhance your credentials, or teach criminal justice at the undergraduate or graduate level. At Liberty, you can learn from a Christian perspective with classes grounded in integrity and taught by men and women who have real-life experience making the tough calls.
Our program’s blend of real-world application and criminal justice theory can help you stand out in your profession and give you an edge. Liberty’s instructors in the Helms School of Government have years of experience in criminal justice and understand the critical issues of the field. You can excel without compromising your principles with the advanced training you can gain through our online PhD in Criminal Justice degree program.
What Will You Study in the PhD in Criminal Justice Online Degree?
Your PhD in Criminal Justice courses provide advanced training in a wide range of critical issues such as crime causation, comparative criminal justice systems, juvenile justice policies, and advanced corrections policies. You will also study international crime and terrorism to increase your awareness of the global impact of organized crime. You will study under dedicated professors who are passionate about both theory and praxis, as well as the administration of criminal justice in communities and organizations alike.
With the general track option, you will have the flexibility that allows you to take courses that pique your interest and align with your career goals. Some options include homeland security, criminal justice, and policy.
Potential Career Opportunities
With an online doctorate in criminal justice from Liberty, you can be prepared for several different opportunities. Whether you decide to pursue criminal justice administration or teaching at the collegiate level, Liberty’s criminal justice doctoral program is designed to help you succeed. The skills and knowledge gained from the online criminal justice PhD degree may open up opportunities in private or governmental agencies or increase your earning potential.
Some of the positions you could pursue include:
- Criminal justice writer
- Detective/investigator
- Forensics investigator
- Police chief
- Polygraph examiner/operator
- Prison warden
- Professor/instructor
- Public policy advisor
- Researcher
- Sheriff
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the Helms School of Government.
- View the Graduate Government Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Doctoral Full Time | $595/Credit |
---|---|
Doctoral Part Time | $650/Credit |
Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour (learn more).
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for the PhD in Criminal Justice
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Please note: The Office of Graduate Admissions may request additional documentation when conducting admission reviews to evaluate a candidate’s record before a final admission decision can be made.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
- Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.
Transcript Policies
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Military Tuition Discount
We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour. Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a PhD in Criminal Justice worth it?
A doctorate in criminal justice can help set you apart from the competition. Additionally, Liberty’s criminal justice program can assist you in moving into positions of added responsibility. The unique blend of praxis and scholarship that Liberty offers provides a dynamic experience that is rich and engaging.
What is the difference between criminology and criminal justice?
Criminology typically consists of the study of criminals and criminal behavior. In contrast, in Liberty’s criminal justice PhD, you can learn about the apprehension of criminals within society, the causation of criminality, and how to administer justice.
What can I do with a PhD in Criminal Justice?
You can greatly increase your career opportunities with a PhD in Criminal Justice. Potential careers range from emergency services management to postsecondary education. Whether working for a government agency or within a local department, our faculty are dedicated to providing a world-class education that will follow you wherever you go. A PhD in Criminal Justice from Liberty can help you prepare to pursue many exciting job opportunities.
What will my diploma say?
Your diploma will say Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice. Reference to this degree as “general” is only to differentiate the degree from other specializations.
What resources will be available to me in this program?
You will have access to a wide variety of online resources through Liberty University’s library portal throughout your time in the PhD program.
Inner Navigation
- Overview
- What Sets Us Apart?
- Why Choose Liberty?
- What Will You Study?
- Tuition & Aid
- Admission Information
- Military
- FAQs
Have questions?