University of Central Florida- Criminal Justice Doctoral Program
Department of Criminal Justice
Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice
Areas of Concentration
Policing Theory and Research
Corrections Theory and Research
Juvenile Justice Theory and Research
University of Central Florida Orlando, FL
The University of Central Florida is a thriving preeminent research university located in metropolitan Orlando. With more than 69,000 students, UCF is one of the largest universities in the U.S. In addition to its impressive size and strength, UCF has become one of the best colleges for quality, access, impact and value. It’s one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF among the nation’s top 10 most innovative colleges, while both Kiplinger and Forbes rank us a best-value university.
The University of Central Florida’s Department of Criminal Justice provides excellence in teaching, research, and service. Dedicated to its students, the faculty delivers outstanding instruction at the undergraduate and graduate levels, incorporating learning, service, and inquiry. The department also has a vibrant, research active faculty engaged with local, state, national, and international partners. Faculty have secured millions of dollars in grant funding and produced cutting edge research. The Department of Criminal Justice faculty have turned this research into publications routinely found in high-level peer reviewed journals as well as practitioner-based outlets.
By actively developing meaningful partnerships, the department provides exemplary service to the university and broader professional and academic communities. The central Florida region is an ideal location for doctoral students to work with a variety of criminal justice agencies and institutions.
The Department of Criminal Justice has approximately 1,400 undergraduate criminal justice students and 350 Master’s students. The doctoral program is small with 5-10 students admitted each fall, which lends itself to individualized attention and specialized research opportunities.
University of Central Florida
College of Community Innovation and Education
Department of Criminal Justice
12805 Pegasus Dr., Bldg. 80, Suite 311 Orlando, FL 32816-1600
407-823-2603
ccie.ucf.edu/criminaljustice
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Highly qualified students are awarded research or instructional assistantships. These assistantships include a tuition waiver, stipend, work experience, and health insurance.
For more information contact the Department of Criminal Justice Graduate Program Director or visit the program’s website at www.ccie.ucf.edu/criminaljustice
CRIMINAL JUSTICE FACULTY
Professor
Jacinta Gau, Ph.D. Washington State University
Matt Nobles, Ph.D. University of Florida
Eugene Paoline III, Ph.D. SUNY Albany
Lee Ross, Ph.D. Rutgers University
Raymond Surette, Ph.D. Florida State University
Ross Wolf, Ed.D. University of Central Florida
Associate Professor
Thomas Baker, Ph.D. Florida State University
Michael Caudy, Ph.D. University of South Florida
Kristina Childs, Ph.D. University of South Florida
Stephen Holmes, Ph.D. University of Cincinnati
Karol Lucken, Ph.D. Florida State University
William Moreto, Ph.D. Rutgers University
Jennifer Peck, Ph.D. University of South Florida
James Ray, Ph.D. University of South Florida
Jill Viglione, Ph.D. George Mason University
Cory Watkins, Ph.D. University of Cincinnati
Assistant Professor
Vijay Chillar, Ph.D. Rutgers University
Senior Lecturer
Gail Humiston, Ph.D. University of Central Florida
Mark Winton, Ph.D. University of Connecticut
Associate Lecturer
Todd Bricker, Ph.D. Michigan State University
Debra Ross, Ph.D. Rutgers University
Lecturer
Nicholas Paul, Ph.D. University of Central Florida
Shamir Ratansi, Ph.D. University of Cincinnati
Senior Instructor
Iryna Malendevych, MS. University of Central Florida
Instructor
Bruce Vail, MS. University of Central Florida
Doctor of Philosophy
APPLICATION AND ADMISSION
Applicants must apply online (www.graduate.ucf.edu/apply-now).
In addition to the general university admission requirements, applicants must provide:
• One official transcript from each college/university attended.
• An earned or in progress Master’s degree in criminal justice or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution with at least a 3.5 GPA.
• Official, competitive GRE score taken within the last five years.
• Three letters of recommendation, with at least two being from university faculty members who can assess the student’s ability to succeed in a doctoral program.
• A personal narrative of 500 - 1,000 words describing research interests, educational expectations, career aspirations, level of computer skills, and any special qualifications that may enhance the overall learning environment of the CJ PhD program.
• A curriculum vita.
• A writing sample that is at least 2,000 words long, is academic in nature (e.g., paper written for a Master’s class), and demonstrates the applicant’s ability to complete graduate-level composition. Should not be published work and applicant must be the sole author.
Applicants may be requested to participate in an interview (by Zoom) with the Department’s Doctoral Program Committee and coordinator. Students will simultaneously be considered for both admission and funding.
Students should be aware that admission to any graduate program is granted on a competitive basis. There may be cases where students meeting minimum requirements are denied admission based on such factors as program capacity or academic discretion.
Applicants must turn in all materials prior to the following deadlines:
in Criminal Justice
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum Hours Required for Criminal Justice Ph.D.—57 Credit Hours
Substantive Core Requirements - 15 Credit Hours
CCJ 7019 Seminar in Nature of Crime
CCJ 7457 Seminar in Criminal Justice Theory
CCJ 7096 Seminar in Criminal Justice Systems
CCJ 7785 Teaching in Criminal Justice
CCJ 7775 Criminal Justice Research in the Community
CCJ 7727 Advanced Research Methods in Criminal Justice
CCJ 7708 Advanced Quantitative Methods for Criminal Justice Research
Select two and/or another methodological course(s) with advisor approval
CCJ 6902 Qualitative Criminal Justice Research Methods
CCJ 7725 The Geography of Crime: Theory and Methods
CCJ 7747 Hierarchical Linear Modeling in Criminal Justice Research
CCJ 7752 Structural Equation Modeling in Criminal Justice Research
Concentration Area - 9 Credit Hours
Policing Theory and Research
CJE 6320 Seminar in Police Administration
CJE 6456 Seminar in Policing Urban Communities
CJE 6706 Seminar in Police Socialization and Culture
Correctional Theory and Research
CJC 6135 Seminar in Institutional Corrections
CJC 6165 Seminar in Community Corrections
CJC 6486 Seminar in Correctional Effectiveness
Juvenile Justice Theory and Research
CJJ 6124 Seminar in Prosecuting Juvenile Offenders
CJJ 6126 Seminar in Juvenile Corrections
CJJ 6546 Seminar in Policing and Prevention in the Juvenile Justice System
A grade of B (3.0) or better much be earned in all core and concentration courses.
Elective Requirement - 6 Credit Hours
Select two additional courses (6 credits) in consultation with program advisor.
Examinations
Students must successfully complete a series of cumulative examinations to ensure expertise in the substantive, methodological, and concentration areas.
Dissertation- 15 Credit Hours
Upon successful completion of all examinations, students will enter candidacy and complete a dissertation. Dissertation committees will contain a minimum of four faculty members, at least three of which (including the chair) will be from the Department of Criminal Justice. The fourth member must be from outside the Department of Criminal Justice and may be from outside the university.
