Curriculum Requirements
Total minimum hours: 55 Credit hours post-master’s
- Core Requirements - 22 Credit hours
- Additional Required Course - 1 Credit hour
- Electives - 9 Credit hours
- Advanced Research - 6 Credit hours
- Dissertation - 18 Credit hours
Core Requirements (21 Credit Hours)
* For students who have taken CCJ 6937 , CCJ 6485 and/or CCJ 6707 or the equivalent as M.A. students, those credit hours will be substituted with additional major electives.
** An introductory research methods course at the graduate level prior is a pre-requisite to taking this course.
† An introductory quantitative analysis at the graduate level prior is a pre-requisite to taking this course.
Additional Required Course (1 Credit Hour)
Electives (9 Credit Hours)
Six graduate credit hours may be taken outside the Major with approval from the Graduate Director. All courses must be USF courses.
Options include but are not limited to:
Advanced Research (6 Credit Hours)
Qualifying Examination
Students must pass two exams and produce an approved publishable manuscript (see Criminology Student Handbook for additional information) as determined by a graduate faculty member. The comprehensive exams assess the student’s comprehensive knowledge of (a) theories of criminology, (b) research methods and data analysis and the student’s (a) innovative, critical and analytical thinking and (b) writing skills.
Dissertation (18 Credit Hours)
Student’s must complete 18 credit hours of dissertation hours minimum.