Graduate Program

Doctoral Degree: Admission to Candidacy

Until you complete all requirements but the dissertation (including the Qualifying Examination), you are known as a “doctoral student.” After you have passed your Qualifying Examination and completed all requirements except the dissertation, you become a “doctoral candidate.”

Qualification for Candidacy (to be completed prior to beginning the dissertation)
Formal Admission to Candidacy 

Qualification for Candidacy (to be completed prior to beginning the dissertation)

• 60 hours course credit
• P501 (Criminal Justice Systems and Processes), P502 (Nature of Crime), P610 (Law and Society), and P670 (Cross-Cultural Studies)
• Completion of P594, two graduate-level courses in statistics (introductory, P595; advanced, P596)
• Reading knowledge of a foreign language or research skills requirement (P599, Research Practicum, or their equivalent)
• The student must have two major areas and one at least one minor area of study from outside the Criminal Justice Department. Requirements for the outside minor will be specified by that unit.

Formal Admission to Candidacy

• Following the passing of the qualifying examinations and the completion of all course work, the Director of Graduate Affairs will submit a “Nomination to Candidacy” form to the University Graduate School.
• Upon approval of the dean, the student will be admitted to candidacy and
awarded a Certificate of Candidacy.
• The date of successful completion of the qualifying examinations is the date used in determining the seven-year periods for currency of course and completion of dissertation (see Graduate Bulletin).