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Ph.D. Admission Requirements

Admission to the doctoral program is governed by the requirements specified by the Graduate College at Arizona State University. In addition to the basic requirements established by the Graduate College, the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice requires the following:

• An earned Master's degree or a juris doctor degree from an accredited institution. The Master's degree may be a degree in criminal justice, criminology, or another field (e.g., sociology, political science, history, social work, public administration, psychology, or philosophy).
• Outstanding students with a baccalaureate degree may be admitted directly into the Ph.D. program. These students’ work will be reviewed after completion of 30 hours of graduate coursework. Students whose work passes the review are awarded the Master of Arts in Passing.
• The applicant's scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members or others qualified to evaluate the applicant's academic potential for doctoral study.
• A resume.
• A personal statement, not exceeding five pages, that describes the applicant's prior education, relevant professional experience, and career goals, and that explains how the Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice will help the applicant attain his/her career 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.
• Applicants who wish to apply for a graduate assistantship must also submit the School's application for a graduate assistantship.
• International students seeking admission to the program must meet ASU Graduate Faculty requirements governing the admission of international students.

The deadline for submission of all application materials for the PhD program is February 1. The School's Graduate Admissions Committee will make recommendations for student admissions in March. Newly admitted students will begin taking courses in the fall semester of each year. If more students than the School can reasonably handle apply for admission in any given year, the Committee will admit those most qualified.