phd criminology kansas

The Criminology program at K-State is designed to give students a broad and comprehensive understanding of academic criminology while also preparing them for careers in fields like policing, criminal investigations, victims services, prison and jail operations, criminal justice research and policy, criminal justice administration, community corrections services, and others.

Students who major in criminology should refer to the general requirements for the B.A. or B.S. degree required for the College of Arts and Sciences.

All criminology students are expected to complete foundational courses (6 credit hours), core criminology courses (13 credit hours), a job skills requirement  (1 credit hour), and classes that provide valuable social context (3 credit hours) and cover issues of social inequality (3 credit hours). Students are then required to complete twelve credit hours of criminology electives. Finally, all students are required to complete a “capstone” requirement. Students may choose between two capstone options: (1) an internship track which involves gaining field experience in a criminal justice or related agency, typically completed over a summer (6 credit hours), and (2) a scholarship track designed to prepare students for graduate studies by completing lower-level criminology or sociology graduate courses (6 hours).

Students must earn a 2.5 grade point average in courses taken within the major to graduate.  

Criminology Foundation Required Courses (6 credit hours)

• SOCIO 211 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3
• STAT 325 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3

Major Courses (13 credit hours)

• CRIM 261 - Criminal Justice Systems Credits: 3
• CRIM 362 - Police and Society Credits: 3
• CRIM 665 - Women and Crime Credits: 3
• SOCIO 423 - Methods of Social Research I Credits: 4

Skills Requirement (1 credit hour)

• CRIM 367 - Real World Criminology Credits: 1

Social Context (3 credit hours)

Students are required to take 3 credit hours from the following:

• SOCIO 532 - Our Communities, Our Futures Credits: 3
• SOCIO 531 - Urban Sociology Credits: 3
• SOCIO 260 - Social Problems Credits: 3
• SOCIO 363 - Global Problems Credits: 3
• SOCIO 431 - Comparative Social Theories Credits: 3

Structural Inequality Requirement (3 credit hours)

• SOCIO 570 - Race and Ethnic Relations in the USA Credits: 3
• SOCIO 541 - Wealth, Power, and Privilege Credits: 3
• SOCIO 545 - The Sociology of Women Credits: 3
• SOCIO 510 - Social Welfare as a Social Institution Credits: 3

Criminology Electives (12 credit hours)

Criminology students must take 12 credit hours of criminology electives.

• CRIM 301 - Topics in Criminology Credits: 1-3
• CRIM 454 - Criminal Law and Society Credits: 3
• CRIM 460 - Youth and Crime Credits: 3
• CRIM 462 - The War on Drugs Credits: 3
• CRIM 463 - Gangs in American Society Credits: 3
• CRIM 470 - The Criminal Justice System and Family Violence Credits: 3
• CRIM 477 - True Crime Credits: 3
• CRIM 480 - Prisons and Punishment Credits: 3
• CRIM 482 - Criminal Procedure and Investigations Credits: 3
• CRIM 500 - Criminological Perspectives on Contemporary Issues Credits: 1-3
• CRIM 550 - Technocrime, Security, and Society Credits: 3
• CRIM 552 - Sex Crimes & Society Credits: 3
• CRIM 562 - Study of Serial Murder Credits: 3
• CRIM 569 - Field Experience in Criminology Credits: 1-3
• CRIM 572 - The Death Penalty Credits: 3
• CRIM 592 - Anatomy of Mass Murder Credits: 3
• SOCIO 635 - Sociology of Human Trafficking Credits: 3
• SOCWK 350 - Social Work with Criminal Offenders and Victims Credits: 3
• ANTH 680 - Forensic Anthropology Credits: 4

Capstone Requirement (6 credit hours)

Students may either take an “internship” or “scholarship” approach to fulfilling this requirement. Each requires 6 credit hours from courses within the following two tracks.

• CRIM 568 - Criminology Internship Credits: 6-9

Scholarship

• CRIM 599 - Senior Thesis in Criminology Credits: 3

OR Six additional credit hours of 600 or 700 level Criminology or Sociology courses Credits: 6

Major Requirements (44 credit hours)

Total credit hours required for graduation: 120.

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Graduate Program Overview

Master of arts in criminal justice, program overview:.

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program at Wichita State University is one of the oldest in the United States. Founded by renowned police chief and scholar O.W. Wilson in 1937, only one other active criminal justice department has a longer history.

O.W. Wilson is considered one of the most important reformers in American history. He is credited with being the lead architect of the professional police movement from the 1920s through the 1960s. A protégée of Chief August Vollmer, Wilson worked for Vollmer as a Berkeley, California police officer. Wilson eventually became chief of police at Fullerton, California; Wichita, Kansas and Superintendent of Police in Chicago, Illinois. While Wilson was Chief in Wichita, the Wichita Police Department became known as the West Point of Law Enforcement and developed an international reputation of innovative police practices. He started the first police science program in the nation at the Municipal University of Wichita (later Wichita State University). Wilson developed a list of the major aspects of a police officer's job and constructed seven courses: criminal/law, personal identification, police patrol practices, criminal evidence, traffic control, criminal investigation, and police administration. Subsequently, these seven courses were added to the college curriculum in 1936.

Over the years, the program at Wichita State University has since evolved from strictly a police science program into a program that encompasses the criminal justice system in its entirety and criminological theory. Criminal Justice within the Master’s Program is viewed as a broad, interdisciplinary discipline comprised of the scientific study of crime and the criminal justice system. Our interdisciplinary faculty hold degrees in criminology, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, law, and public administration. The Master's program focuses on both theory and criminal justice practice in the belief that neither stands alone. The integration of theory and practice prepares students for positions in criminal justice system practice, management, policymaking, as well as in research, teaching, and preparation for law school or further graduate study. Students can work with faculty members with diverse areas of expertise, including policing, crime prevention, sexual violence, comparative criminology, human trafficking, cybercrime, racial profiling, terrorism, and corrections. The program has two formats: traditional (in-person) and online.

For information on careers in Criminal Justice, click here .

Criminology and Criminal Justice, PhD

• Program description
• At a glance
• Degree requirements
• Admission requirements
• Tuition information
• Application deadlines
• Program learning outcomes
• Career opportunities
• Contact information

Advocacy, Corrections, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Justice, Police, Policing, Social Justice, Violence, law, sociology

Ranked No. 2 in the nation by U.S News & World Report, this doctoral program prepares you for success in numerous and varied professions. You can work with professors on innovative research projects exploring a range of important topics and study with world-renowned faculty.

The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University offers an on-campus program of coursework and research leading to the PhD in criminology and criminal justice.

This program emphasizes criminal justice theory, research and policy, and is designed to produce highly skilled criminology and criminal justice faculty and agency researchers and administrators.

The doctoral program is organized around a core of required courses in research methods, analytic techniques, criminological theory, and policies and practices in the criminal justice system. The program offers distinctive elective courses in criminology, criminal justice and related fields. To complete the program, students complete both a comprehensive examination and a doctoral dissertation.

• College/school: Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut
• Location: Downtown Phoenix
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (12 credit hours) CRJ 601 Seminar on Criminological Theory (3) CRJ 602 Seminar on Criminal Justice Policies and Practices (3) CRJ 604 Regression Models (3) CRJ 605 Topics in Quantitative Methods (3)

Theory Coursework (6 credit hours) CRJ 521 Topics in Psychological Criminology (3) CRJ 523 Seminar in Network Criminology (3) CRJ 524 Theories of Punishment (3) CRJ 525 Seminar on Life-course Criminology (3)

Criminal Justice Systems Coursework (9 credit hours) CRJ 512 Seminar in Policing (3) CRJ 513 Seminar in Courts and Sentencing (3) CRJ 514 Seminar in Corrections (3) CRJ 517 Seminar on Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice (3)

Criminal Procedures Coursework (3 credit hours) CRJ 537 Criminal Procedure of Investigations for Social and Forensic Scientists (3) CRJ 538 Criminal Law and Social Control (3) CRJ 539 Topics in Law, Crime and Justice (3)

Research Methods (6 credit hours) CRJ 510 Criminal Justice Planning and Program Evaluation (3) CRJ 531 Crime Mapping (3) CRJ 540 Qualitative Methods (3) CRJ 560 Topics in Research Methods (3)

Electives (36 credit hours)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) CRJ 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information A maximum of 30 credit hours of coursework from a previously awarded master's degree or JD may, with approval of the supervisory committee and the Graduate College, be applied toward the doctoral plan of study.

For the theory, criminal justice systems, criminal procedures and research methods courses, students select the number of required credit hours from the list provided. Other courses may be substituted with approval of the academic unit.

The following professional development workshop courses are recommended but not required: CRJ 614 Professional Development Workshop I: Professionalization CRJ 615 Professional Development Workshop II: Preparing to Teach Effectively CRJ 616 Professional Development Workshop III: Navigating the Academic Job Market in CCJ

All students must demonstrate proficiency in research design as well as quantitative and qualitative methods.

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

Applicants will often hold a master's degree from an accredited institution; it may be in criminal justice, criminology or another field (e.g., sociology, political science, history, social work, public administration, psychology or philosophy). Our program also allows for direct admission into our doctoral program for highly qualified students with only a bachelor's degree; these students will earn their master's degree along the way to completing their doctoral degree.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• two letters of recommendation
• current curriculum vitae or resume
• personal statement
• sample of the applicant's written work
• proof of English proficiency.

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Requirements can be found on the admission services website .

Official transcripts must be submitted from every university or institution from which a degree was awarded.

The letters of recommendation must be from faculty members or others qualified to evaluate the applicant's academic potential for doctoral study.

The personal statement should not exceed five pages, and it should describe the applicant's prior education, relevant professional experience and career goals. The statement must explain how the doctorate in criminology and criminal justice will help the applicant attain their goals. The statement should explicitly explain how the student's plans are consistent with the role and mission of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at ASU.

The applicant's sample of written work should be submitted electronically. The writing sample may be an article (published or unpublished), a research paper or any other extended sample of expository skill, and the sample must be no longer than 35 pages. Longer writing samples should not be submitted without first consulting the graduate director. Documents should not be password protected. Acceptable file types are .rtf, .pdf, and .doc.

Students should see the unit website for application deadlines.

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:

• Apply appropriate theoretical principles and procedures to issues and problems at the frontiers of criminology and the criminal justice system.
• Select appropriate data collection and data analysis techniques for conducting criminology and criminal justice research.
• Able to conduct dissertation research resulting in an original contribution to knowledge in criminology and criminal justice.

Graduates of the criminology and criminal justice doctorate program find a strong job market in the public and private sectors. Employment opportunities include supervisory and management positions in criminal justice agencies (federal, state and local), policymaking, and teaching and research, such as:

• city, county and state government liaison to criminal justice agencies
• court administrator
• detective or investigator
• evidence and crime scene supervisor (CSI activities)
• forensic scientist
• intelligence analyst
• law enforcement or police crime analysis supervisor
• policy analyst
• probation, parole or community supervisor
• professor of criminal justice

Opportunities also include supervisory and management positions in social service agencies, such as:

• child and family services (e.g., Head Start, child support enforcement, foster care, elder care)
• Department of Economic Security
• homeless outreach
• victim advocacy

Graduates also have the opportunity to work in supervisory and management positions in the private sector, including online security, as well as in the cybersecurity sector.

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice | UCENT 600 [email protected] 602-496-2356

Kansas Criminal Justice Degree Programs

State agency: public safety.

There’s no place like home, and there’s no place quite like Kansas if you’re interested in prison history. Since 1875, the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth remains the longest continually running and the only maximum-security prison in the Department of Defense. Inmates serve time for military crimes related to matters of national security. Just a few miles south is the prison for civilians, the U.S. Penitentiary, Leavenworth, which has been home to inmates over the year including James Earl Ray and Machine Gun Kelly.

Criminal Justice Education in Kansas

Kansas has around 30 schools with criminal justice programs. Graduate study is limited to a handful of master’s programs, but the state has a fair selection of specializations. Students who need help paying for a criminal justice education can check out the scholarships offered by the American Criminal Justice Association.

Below, we speak with Jon Candea, Correctional Advisor at Johnson County Department of Corrections, about his career at the Adult Residential Center.

A typical four-year criminal justice degree program is usually built around a core curriculum. There will be required courses in science, math and English. Some electives will be possible, especially after freshman year. Some of the courses frequently offered in four-year programs include:

• An Introduction to the American System of Criminal Justice
• Criminal Law Basics
• The American Legal System and the Courts
• A History of Criminal Justice
• Criminal Justice Research Design
• Legal Research and Writing
• Introduction to Criminal Justice Ethics
• American Race Relations History

Bachelor’s degree candidates often engage in one semester of field work in one’s chosen specialty during the Junior year. Senior year will often include an internship off-campus, where hands-on experience will be acquired. Coursework that is more theoretical in nature may be offered online by some institutions.

Outlook for Criminal Justice in Kansas

According to the graph below, there is a wide range of salaries for different careers in criminal justice in Kansas. In Wichita, the largest city in state, the average salaries of many protective services occupations are $2,000 to $8,000 higher than the state averages. Pay also increases with experience. Although the pay is higher in metro areas like Wichita and Kansas City, the overall pay in Kansas may sometimes be below national averages. This is largely related to the lower cost of living in the state.

We’ve put together a list of the salaries for some Kansas criminal justice career paths below from Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2022.

Probation Officer: $47,230 Correction Officer: $41,110 Paralegal: $53,440 Police Officer: $51,990 Detective: $66,530

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Kansas contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.

Private sector positions are also good possibilities for employment in criminal justice in Kansas. Private investigators contribute to the state’s economy and offer services that complement state and regional law enforcement efforts. Campus police and private security guard are other entry-level positions offered across the state.

Another career path is offered by the Kansas Highway Patrol. A trooper trainee, may start at a fixed rate, and troopers can be promoted to Technical Trooper after five years of service. After seven years of service, troopers can be promoted to Master Trooper. Each promotion usually comes with higher pay.

Contact the Kansas schools with criminal justice programs to learn more about your school and career options in the state.

You can also find criminal justice scholarship opportunities by clicking here .

Kansas Criminal Justice Schools

Online programs may not be available in all areas

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Online Program Criminal Justice

Work toward a rewarding career in law enforcement, paralegal, court reporting, criminology, corrections, government or politics.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

The Criminal Justice major at Kansas Wesleyan University prepares students to put theory into practice in real-life situations. Learn critical thinking, ethical decision-making, clear communication, strong technology skills, and an understanding of how to navigate the U.S. criminal justice system.

Graduates of KWU’s Criminal Justice major have become judges, city prosecutors, practicing attorneys, investigators, and police officers.

Our online degree and hybrid course schedules allow flexibility by offering courses completely online or in a combination of online and on campus.

This program is offered:

Why study criminal justice at kwu you’ll put justice into action..

Independent studies. Individual research projects. Internships. These are just some of the opportunities you will have as a Criminal Justice major.

• Complete an internship working in a Salina-area criminal justice setting, such as a sheriff’s office, police department, correctional facility or community-based agency
• Participate in Salina community research projects for organizations such as the County Jail, Salina Parks & Recreation Department, the Salina Sports Medicine Center and Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, helping city and county leaders make better decisions for the people of Salina
• Spend a semester in Washington, D.C., as a Washington Center intern with a federal agency, such as the U.S. Marshals Service.
• Fine-tune your oral communication and analytical skills on KWU’s nationally recognized debate team
• Complete a Criminal Justice capstone project about a modern criminal justice issue

What can I do with a Criminal Justice degree?

Help to make the world safer and more equitable. Graduates from KWU’s Criminal Justice program have gone on to become state troopers, judges, city prosecutors, practicing attorneys and police officers. Students who attended law enforcement academies after graduating from KWU report that they finished in the top 10 percent of their classes.

Download a sample information sheet with information on a special online rate per credit hour for EMT’s, retired and current military members and law enforcement personnel! Please note that the rate ($215 per credit hour) applies to new students, and each student must complete a relevant form with the admissions office.

Mission Statement

To instill students with the ability to place theory into practice while fulfilling the ideals of duty and service.

Program Goals

Students who complete the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice should be able to:

• Understand Administration of Justice, Corrections, Criminological Theory, Law Adjudication, Law Enforcement, Research and Analytic Methods, Diversity and Ethics

Criminal Justice Four-Year Plan

View and download the four-year plan for a Criminal Justice degree at KWU .

Accreditation and Curriculum Philosophy

KWU’s Criminal Justice Program is accredited by Higher Learning Commission (HLC) .

The curriculum philosophy of the Criminal Justice major reflects the standards set by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) .

Program Contact

For more information, contact David Lanning , assistant professor of Criminal Justice, or call 785-833-4361.

Meet the Faculty

Click here for a directory of KWU’s Criminal Justice faculty.

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100 E. Claflin Avenue Salina, KS 67401

785-827-5541

PhD Criminology & Justice Policy

A research-oriented and practice-oriented doctoral program..

The doctoral program in Criminology and Justice Policy is student-centered with the goal of preparing students for academic careers as well as careers in research and policy development. Students of this full-time, fully-funded Ph.D. program complete the degree in five years on average. Through our curriculum, students learn the process of research from the ground-up. Our courses teach students to construct viable research questions through qualitative and quantitative analysis, write scholarly research articles, and create technical reports appropriate for policy consumption.

Additionally, Ph.D. students are offered several benefits throughout their studies, including:

• Possibilities for generous, full-year funding packages
• Extensive summer research opportunities
• Flex fellowship: one semester off from graduate assistantship responsibilities
• Experiential and dissertation completion fellowships

Doctoral students secure prestigious positions after graduation, including tenure-track professorships at Tier 1 research universities, post-doctoral fellowships, and research-and-policy-relevant agency employment.

Recent career outcomes:

• Florida State University, Assistant Professor
• Massachusetts Appeals Court, Staff Attorney
• New York University, Postdoctoral Fellow
• University of Chicago, Postdoctoral Fellow
• University of Montana, Assistant Professor
• University of Nebraska Omaha, Assistant Professor
• Apply acquired foundational knowledge in the field of criminology and justice policy to answer questions in the realm of criminology and justice policy.
• Identify and describe the role of systemic racism and intersecting dimensions of oppression in the development of policies and practices across the criminal justice system, as well as in crime and justice theory and research.
• Critique the knowledge base in a specific domain within the field of criminology and justice policy to demonstrate advanced mastery of theoretical explanations for crime, its causes and consequences.
• Design and carry out original research using methodological tools acquired to develop new theoretical or empirical insights and expand the knowledge base in the field of criminology and justice policy.

For additional information, contact:

Kevin Drakulich

Phd program director.

617.373.7427 [email protected]

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More programs, bs in criminal justice, bs/jd in law, criminology & criminal justice, ms in criminology & criminal justice, ms/jd law, criminology & criminal justice, phd/jd in law, criminology and justice policy.

Bachelor's Degree in Criminology

Enhance your understanding of the patterns of crime, strategies for control and theories of crime causation., how to apply.

Review admission requirements, submit your application and take the next step toward your degree.

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B.A. or B.S. in criminology

The criminology program at K-State gives students a comprehensive knowledge of crime, victimization, and criminal legal operations and prepares them for a broad assortment of careers. Professionals with a criminology degree have jobs ranging from crime prevention, law enforcement, corrections officers, victim's services, criminal legal research and other related fields. It is also common for criminology graduates to continue their education in graduate studies or by attending law school.

What classes will I take in criminology?

The criminology program is intended for students preparing for careers related to criminology and criminal justice. The program provides a general understanding of many areas, including:

• Criminal justice system
• Sociological explanations of criminal behavior
• Prevention and treatment strategies
• Victimology
• Agencies created to deal with various crime
• Significance of social contexts to the understanding of crime and deviance

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What can I do with a degree in criminology? 

Graduates of the criminology program are currently working in law enforcement agencies, juvenile and adult correctional facilities, adult and juvenile courts, probation and parole services, investigative services and a variety of community and correctional programs.

Other careers include:

• Police officer/sheriff
• Correction worker
• Criminal justice specialist
• Probation officer
• Research worker
• Social welfare

View more career options in criminology

How can I continue my education?

The k-state difference.

The K-State criminology program provides a robust and flexible major that allows students to pursue their interests while also gaining career-ready skills. Courses are taught by award-winning and internationally recognized faculty. Criminology students have opportunities to participate in a professional supervised internship and take lower-level graduate courses. The criminology program also provides clear pathways to graduate school for students interested in enhancing their careers through advanced degrees.

Did you know?

Criminology students may join the undergraduate Criminology Club which regularly hosts events relevant for criminology students. Prior speakers have included FBI agents, criminal justice reformers, criminal defense attorneys, to name only a few.

Career Center

The Career Center offers an extensive career library, free assessments for exploring major/careers, job search training, career advising, employer connections, and a staff dedicated to assisting students in the career development process.

At a public research university like K-State, you'll have direct access to research opportunities from the start. K-State undergraduates have studied sustainable energy, cancer cells, musical lyrics and many other topics alongside nationally renowned faculty at K-State's 90-plus research centers.

Studying in another country not only allows you to experience the wonders of another culture, but it also broadens your horizons and makes you a stronger citizen in our global society. There are more than 85 countries currently participating in K-State's education abroad programs!

Whether you are interested in a career in human or animal health, K-State is a great place to start the journey toward becoming a healthcare professional. You will have a dedicated health professions advisor who will help you navigate the professional school application process for your chosen healthcare field.

Did you know that K-State pre-law students are accepted into law school at a rate substantially exceeding the national average? In preparing for law school, you will work with a dedicated pre-law advisor and select the major of your choice in any department in any college within the university.

• Updated: 3/19/24