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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Safety

School of Public Service Leadership

Criminal Justice specialization

Make a difference in your career and your community through this Criminal Justice PhD specialization designed to prepare you to initiate positive change in the criminal justice system. The intensive program includes online course work, residencies, and research that address the complex issues surrounding criminal behavior, prevention and intervention, the penal system, and the development of public policy strategies at the community, state, and national levels. People who choose this doctoral specialization are often pursuing high-level positions in higher education, a research or consulting agency, a public policy group, or other criminal justice-related organizations.

Concentration option: As part of this specialization, you can use your electives to earn a concentration in Public Health or Homeland Security for no additional time or money. Contact an enrollment counselor for details.

Residential colloquia

As a PhD learner, you will attend three three-day residential colloquia at specific stages in your program. Learn about the residential colloquia experience.

Total Program: 120 quarter credits
Up to 48 quarter credits may be transferred into this program
Admission Requirements Icon indicating PDF
Next Start Date: December 7, 2009
Quarter - Comps/Diss: $4,485
Quarter - Comps/Diss: $3,945

78% of our learners receive aid.

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Image of Charles Tiffin, Capella University faculty chair in Public Safety which offers online public safety courses Image of Charles Tiffin, Capella University faculty chair in Public Safety which offers online public safety courses

Core Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • PSF8002 - Advanced Research in Public Safety Issues, Theories, and Concepts
  • PSF8601 - Contemporary Public Safety Leadership
  • PSF8602 - Theories of Leadership
  • PSF8634 - Public Safety Incident Command Paradigms
  • PSF8606 - Diversity Issues in Public Safety
  • HS8106 - Epistemology of Practice Knowledge
  • HS8100 - Fundamentals of Social Science Research*
  • HS8111 - Quantitative Research Methods in the Human Services*
  • HS8112 - Advanced Qualitative Research Methods*
  • HS8113 - Advanced Study in Research Methods*

Specialization Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • PSF8350 - Sociological Theories of Crime
  • PSF8354 - Psychological and Biological Theories of Criminal Behavior
  • PSF8358 - Law and Legal Foundations
  • PSF8362 - Criminal Justice Policy Analysis
  • PSF8374 - Current Research on Violent Behavior
  • PSF8376 - Correlates of Crime
  • PSF8377 - The Penal System: Its Role in the U.S. Society
  • HS9919 - Doctoral Comprehensive Examination*
  • HS9920 - Dissertation Courseroom* - non-credit
  • HS9921 - Dissertation Research 1* - 5 quarter credits
  • HS9922 - Dissertation Research 2* - 5 quarter credits
  • HS9923 - Dissertation Research 3* - 5 quarter credits
  • HS9924 - Dissertation Research 4* - 5 quarter credits

Seven Elective Courses

  • Choose any graduate courses.
* This course has a prerequisite. Contact an enrollment counselor for more information.
Course Descriptions

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Learn more about our related specializations:

PhD

Master's degree

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