Coursework

Ph.D. students take seven required courses (21 credits). The required courses include a two-semester theory sequence (foundations and contemporary); a two-semester statistics sequence (introductory and intermediate), research methods, policy, and one additional advanced statistics or methods course (eligible options listed below). In addition to the required courses, students must complete seven elective courses (21 credits), for a total of 42 credits of coursework toward the degree.

Required Courses (21 Credits)  

  27:202:511  Foundations of Criminological Theory (3)
  27:202:518  Contemporary Criminological Theory (3)            
  27:202:521  Criminal Justice Policy (3)
  27:202:542  Introductory Statistics (3)                                  
  27:202:543  Intermediate Statistics (3)

  27:202:640  Advanced Research Methods (3)

One of the Following (Advanced Research Requirement):

  27:202:641  Advanced Statistics (3)
  27:202:647  Research Design for Causal Inference (3)
  27:202:648  Qualitative Research Methods (3)

Elective Courses (21 Credits)   

Seven (7) Elective Courses 

The additional elective coursework is to be distributed among the university's offerings. Only graduate-level courses may be included. No more than 12 credits may be earned at institutions other than Rutgers through Inter-University Exchange Opportunities or in other departments at Rutgers Newark, Rutgers New Brunswick, or CUNY schools, for example. Most coursework is expected to be taken in the School of Criminal Justice, augmented and enriched through the graduate offerings in other programs or units. Students who wish to take credits within other academic units at Rutgers should seek approval from the Ph.D. Director, and contact the department offering the course(s) to determine whether they accept students from other units. When possible, electives should be selected to create a concentration in one or more areas of study.

Dissertation Research (18 Credits)

26:202:701, 702, 703, 704  Dissertation Research (18)  

TOTAL CREDITS: 60

Coursework Planning

Coursework must be completed in the following sequence, except with approval:

Year 1 Fall Semester                                        Year 1 Spring Semester
Foundations of Criminological Theory  Contemporary Criminological Theory
Criminal Justice Policy                                     Research Methods
Introductory Statistics                                     Intermediate Statistics

Year 2 Fall/Spring Semesters                         Year 3 Fall Semester
Advanced Methods or Statistics                    Electives
Electives                                                               Completion of coursework