Graduate Program

Doctoral Degree: Qualifying Examinations

All doctoral students are expected to demonstrate basic proficiency by passing written doctoral examinations in two of the following core areas:
- Nature of Crime and Delinquency
- Criminal Justice Systems and Processes
- Law and Society
- Cross-Cultural Studies
Requirements for the outside minor(s) are specified by that department.
Qualifying examinations are administered following completion of required courses and the requisite number of credit hours in each area of study.
In the qualifying exams the student must demonstrate:
- analytic ability
- mastery of knowledge within each of the core areas and specialization and
- understanding of the relationships among knowledge, research, and practice in the chosen areas and specialization.
Successful completion of Ph.D. certification requires passing qualifying examinations and certification must be by written examination.

The administration of all examinations and the notification of the faculty on the scheduling of written examinations is the responsibility of the area committees.
Students must declare their intent to take Ph.D. examinations in writing (including an indication of the areas in which they desire to be examined) to the Director of Graduate Affairs.
Prior to submitting the examination, a student may withdraw from taking that exam only after consulting with his or her advisor and the relevant area committee. If the decision is to withdraw, the student must notify the chair of the relevant area committee and the Director of Graduate Affairs in writing. Once a student withdraws from taking a specific exam, he or she may not again declare an intent to be examined in that area except with permission of the relevant area committee.