Cybercrime, scams, break-ins, vandalism, murder and more—the list of criminal activities is long. And, like a river, crime is constantly on the move, rushing to take advantage of one perceived weakness or another. Bringing the guilty to justice while protecting the innocent requires dedicated, talented and educated professionals at all levels of law enforcement and security. At the highest level are those professionals who understand the theoretical and root causes of crime and can bring to bear practical applications and solutions for combatting it.
That’s what the Doctor of Criminal Justice from Keiser University is designed to offer—an education that can prepare you for both academic and practical applications to advance the cause of justice while simultaneously advancing your career opportunities.
Up to 18 credits of transfer credit
Career opportunities in law enforcement, the courts, and more.
Online
Financial aid for those who qualify**
** Speak with a dedicated financial aid counselor to explore all your financial aid and funding options.
* Time to degree completion is an estimate, not intended as a guarantee, and can vary based on many case-by-case factors.
The Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ) program was developed to prepare practitioners capable of making contributions to the criminal justice field in the academic and applied components of the discipline. The curriculum is designed to ensure that graduates are well equipped to participate in criminal justice positions emphasizing research, theory, evidence-based practice, and the administration of justice.
Candidates best suited for this program are current criminal justice practitioners or military personnel with at least two years of experience in the areas of law enforcement, probation, corrections, parole, security, juvenile justice, government or investigations who want to demonstrate academic and leadership preparedness in the pursuit of career advancement opportunities.
Featuring a “Student First” mentality, Keiser University is committed to providing the education students need to excel in their careers and their lives—whether that is in this doctorate in criminal justice program or one of dozens of graduate programs. Our commitment to putting students first leads us to offer a number of learning options, including both on-campus and online delivery formats.
Through our criminal justice doctoral program, we help criminal justice professionals gain the skills and expertise needed to advance to pracademic (practitioner academic) positions in relevant areas, from military promotions to homeland security agencies to local law enforcement.
The Doctor of Criminal Justice program enables students to better contribute, practically and academically, to the field of criminal justice. Through an emphasis on research, theory and evidence-based practices, students will advance their understanding of every facet of criminal justice and criminology to help them advance in their careers.
The DCJ program offers the highest level of educational value in order to help students be successful in today’s law enforcement communities. Coursework is designed to equip students with tools for:
Note: Applied Doctoral Project courses are eight-weeks in length and students are scheduled for two applied doctoral project courses per semester.
To receive a Doctor of Criminal Justice degree, students with a master’s degree must earn 44 graduate semester credit hours as described below. Depending on the transfer of credit and scheduling variables, the DCJ program can be completed in as little as 24-30 months or less. Completion of an applied doctoral project is required.
Upper Division Courses
| Foundation Courses | |
|---|---|
| Proseminar in Criminal Justice and Criminology | 3.0 credit hours |
| Criminological Theory | 3.0 credit hours |
| Advanced Criminological Theory | 3.0 credit hours |
| Criminal Justice Policies and Practices | 3.0 credit hours |
| Police and Society | 3.0 credit hours |
| Criminal Justice Program Evaluation | 3.0 credit hours |
| Advanced Criminal Justice Leadership | 3.0 credit hours |
| Special Topics | 3.0 credit hours |
| Crime and Punishment | 3.0 credit hours |
| Research Courses | |
|---|---|
| Advanced Research Design | 3.0 credit hours |
| Quantitative Research I | 3.0 credit hours |
| Qualitative Research | 3.0 credit hours |
| Applied Doctoral Project Course | |
|---|---|
| Applied Doctoral Project | 8 credits hours (4 courses at 2 credits each) |
Residency Note: Doctoral students must complete one Doctoral Residency prior to Applied Doctoral Project Courses.
Upon graduation of our advanced criminal justice program, you will have earned a Doctor of Criminal Justice as well as gained the abilities you need to:
Through this doctorate in criminal justice program, you will gain practical hands-on skills for positions in criminology as well as a deeper academic understanding of criminological theory. You will be prepared to pursue pracademic (practical and academic) leadership roles or promotions within:
Have you been searching for the perfect educational partner for your doctorate degree in criminal justice? You found it. Keiser University has the doctoral program you need to elevate your career! Finish faster and advance in the workforce sooner with our DCJ program! Learn more about our Doctor of Criminal Justice today by Requesting More Info now!
We understand that today’s students have many responsibilities and obligations in their lives. At Keiser, we deliver the same quality education through different scheduling options to accommodate busy schedules. Whether you choose day, evening, or online classes, chances are, you will find a schedule that fits yours and allows you to fulfill one of the most important commitments you can make – a commitment to your education.
