What is the curriculum like?
How long will it take me to earn my PhD?
How much is tuition?
Can I take classes as a non-matriculating student?
What GPA do I need?
Do I have to have previous experience
in criminal justice?
Is preference given to John Jay students?
Is study online a possibility?
Can I attend part-time?
What is the difference between the Forensic Psychology
specialization and the PhD in Forensic Psychology?
I need to be a full time student ( 7 credits) but I
can only take one 3 credit course.
Can I use some of my Master's degree credits towards
my required PhD program credits?
Can I start coursework in January instead of September? Frequently
Asked Questions from current doctoral students
Remember, most of these questions are answered on our website.
A good place to start is here.
How do I apply for a Leave of Absence? What are the
criteria?
How can I add or drop a class?
I want to login into the Graduate
Center’s student
website, but I forgot my PIN number. What do I do?
What are the dates of the First Examination (the "Comps")?
What are the guidelines for submitting a Doctoral Dissertation?
Q: How do I apply to the PhD program?
A: Download and print the GC PhD application
from this
site.
You may also call 212-817-7470 to request the application
or e-mail your request to: admission@gc.cuny.edu.
The CUNY Graduate Center application process is
self-managed.
Responsibility for gathering required documents such as official transcripts
and letters of recommendation rest with the applicant. Completed application
forms, transcripts, test scores, and all other supporting material must be submitted
to the Admissions Office.To be considered for admission and/or financial assistance
your complete, duplicate application must be received by the Criminal Justice
Doctoral Program Office. Detailed instructions on applying to the program can
be found here.
Q: What can I do with a PhD in Criminal Justice?
A: The overall orientation
of the program is to develop
Criminal Justice professionals
who possess the capability
to conduct independent research
in the field, to serve as research
and teaching faculty in universities
and colleges, and to function
as practitioners in a broad
range of settings.
Q: Do I have to take the GRE's?
A: Yes, all applicants are required to submit their scores from the General
GRE’s. The GRE Code for the Graduate Center is 2113. GRE exams can
be arranged by calling 1-800-GRE-CALL. Applicants can submit a copy of the
personal score card that they personally receive directly to John Jay College
as part of the duplicate application (there is no need to pay to have ETS
send scores directly to both John Jay College and the Graduate Center—scores
must be sent by ETS to the Graduate Center at the code above).
Q: What is the curriculum like?
A: Except for students in the forensic science concentration, those who enter
the program in September 2003 or later must follow the multidisciplinary
curriculum, which is composed of nine courses totaling 24 credits. Four
of the required core courses are in methodology. Four of the required core
courses are substantive courses that serve as survey classes for the four
areas of specialization: criminology and deviance, forensic psychology,
law and philosophy of criminal justice, and criminal justice policy and
practice. All students are expected to take the required quantitative methods
course series taken during the first year of matriculation.
Q: How long will it take me to earn my PhD?
A: The amount of time required to complete the doctorate can vary widely — depending
on a student's level of preparation at the time of enrollment, the nature
of the dissertation project, work commitments, and other demands on students'
time. Generally, students can finish coursework in 3-4 years. All requirements
for the doctoral degree must be completed no later than eight years after
matriculation.
Q: How much is tuition?
A: As of 2006, in-state tuition is just over $2,4800 per semester and out-of-state
tuition is $475/credit. For up-to-date tuition costs, please visit this
Graduate
Center website link.
Q: Are there funding opportunities
available for students?
A: Yes, every fulltime student in our Program receives a stipend and tuition remission. Extra financial assistance is available through fellowships, grants, assistantships,
traineeships, loans, and Federal Work-Study Program assignments.
Please visit the Graduate
Center’s financial aid website for
information about fellowships and stipends.
Q: What is the deadline
for the application for admission?
A: The deadline for submitting an application
is January 15th, and it is important to note that the
Criminal Justice
Program Office requires that you notify the Program Office
of your intent to apply by December 1st.
Q: Who are the faculty
and what are their interests?
A: Our faculty represent a variety of disciplines
and interests, including policing issues, corrections,
forensics,
and jury decisionmaking, to name a few. For a complete
list of faculty and their interests, please visit the ‘Faculty’ webpage.
Q: Do I have to have a
Master's degree to apply to the PhD program?
A: No, you do not have to have a Master’s degree.
However, you may earn your Master’s degree while
pursuing your doctoral work.
Q: Can I take classes as a non-matriculating student?
A: No.
Q: What GPA do I need?
A: Consideration for admission into the Ph.D. program
is based on the applicant's completion of a bachelor's
degree from an accredited college or university, with
a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.00 (B) on a
scale of 4.00. Applicants with a Master's degree should
have a 3.50 GPA in their graduate work.
Q: Do I have to have previous experience in
criminal justice?
A: Some background in criminal justice and in social
or behavioral sciences is preferred, but not required.
Q: Is preference given to John Jay students?
A: No. The Admissions Committee considers all candidates
equally regardless of academic affiliation.
Q: Is study online a possibility?
A: The doctoral program does not offer a degree on line,
nor do we offer a program through distance learning.
In order to pursue the Criminal Justice Doctorate you
must be in residence for your coursework.
Q: Can I attend part-time?
A: The Ph.D. Program is open to full-time and part-time
students, with most courses offered in the late afternoon
or evening.
Q: What is the difference between the Forensic Psychology
specialization and the PhD in Forensic Psychology?
A: The Forensic Psychology Ph.D. program is a subprogram
of the CUNY Graduate Center Psychology Program. If you
are interesting in earning your PhD in Forensic Psychology,
you must apply to the Psychology program. If you are
admitted to the Criminal Justice Doctoral program you
may select forensic psychology as your specialization.
The Criminal Justice Ph.D. program is geared towards
teaching and research, while the Forensic Psychology
Ph.D. program takes a more clinical and practitioner
approach.
Q: I need to be a full time student (7 credits) but
I can only take one 3 credit course.
A: Please make an appointment to meet with the
Executive Officer to discuss your credit load if such
a situation
arises.
Q: Can I use some of my Master's degree credits towards
my required PhD program credits?
A: If you feel that you have covered the same material
in your previous graduate work you may request that the
Admissions Committee review your graduate transcript(s)
to determine if you may be granted advanced standing
credit toward the 60 credit Doctoral Degree. Make sure
that the doctoral program office has your complete transcript
on file. The maximum credit from previous graduate work
is 15 credits. For more info, please visit the ‘Advanced
Standing’ section of our website.
Q: Can I start coursework in January instead of September?
A: No, you may only begin attending courses in the Fall
semester after you are accepted.
Q: How do I apply for a Leave of Absence? What are the
criteria?
A: (from Graduate Center website) Leaves
of absence will be granted to students deemed to be in
good standing
who
wish to
interrupt
their
doctoral
study. No more than four semesters of total leave time
will be granted to any student. Each leave request should
be made in writing to the student's Executive Officer
prior to the semester or academic year during which the
leave will be taken. If approved by the program's Executive
Officer, requests for leave will be forwarded to the
Office of the Registrar. The leave must then be cleared
by the Offices of Financial Aid, International Students
(if applicable), and Residence Life (if applicable),
as well as the Mina Rees Library, the Bursar, and the
Business Office. Leaves of absence are not counted toward
the time limit for completion of degree requirements.
Any student subject to induction or recall into military
service should consult the veterans' certifying officer
before applying for an official leave. Any international
student with F-1 (student) or J-1 (exchange visitor)
status should consult the Office of International Students
before applying for a leave. A $10 readmission fee will
be assessed upon the student's return. During the period
of the leave, no changes in academic status, including
such matters as the scheduling and taking of qualifying
exams, application for en-route degrees, and advancement
to candidacy, may be effected.
Q: How can I add or drop a class?
A: You need to come into the office to fill out an Add/Drop
Form.
Q: I want to login into the Graduate Center’s
student website, but I forgot my PIN number. What do
I do?
A: Please direct questions about Banner IDs and passwords
to the Office of the Registrar at 1-212-817-7500, or
e-mail Registrar@gc.cuny.edu.
Q: What are the dates of the First
Examination (the "Comps")?
A: You can find an up-to-date exam schedule here.
Q: What are the guidelines for submitting a Doctoral Dissertation?
A: The Graduate Center Student Handbook details the policies and procedures for submitting your Doctoral Dissertation here.
