Requirements for Admission

Admission to the Ph.D. program in Criminology & Criminal Justice is of two types - regular and conditional. Admission decisions are to be made by a committee of three faculty members including the Ph.D. Program Director.

Regular Admission Requirements

• A completed master's degree (or its equivalent) in criminology, criminal justice or in an appropriate field (e.g., administration of justice, sociology, or political science) from a regionally accredited institution of higher education - a thesis is generally expected;

• A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) overall for the master's degree;

• A combined minimum score of 1000 on the GRE general knowledge tests (verbal and quantitative) is generally expected;

• Successful completion of prior coursework in research methodology and statistics at least equivalent to that required by the ODU B.A. in sociology / criminal justice (statistics, research methods, capstone group research project) and M.A. degree in applied sociology (research methods, statistics, computer and data analysis)

• Three letters of reference from sources capable of commenting on the applicant's readiness for advanced graduate study in criminology & criminal justice;

• A writing sample of at least 20 double-spaced pages on a topic related to the applicant's expertise or area of interest;

• A typed statement of approximately 1,000 words summarizing the individual's motivation for applying to the program as well as the professional contributions s/he intends to make assuming successful completion of the degree;

• If the applicant's native language is not English, a current score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL) of at least 560 and/or an interview in which the applicant's comprehension and fluency in English can be assessed.

Conditional Admission Requirements

Conditional admission may be granted when an applicant's credentials suggest aptitude for doctoral study but do not meet the criteria outlined above. Admission under this standard requires a variable amount of preliminary coursework in addition to that which is normally required for the degree. The amount and content of additional coursework required with conditional admission is determined by the Ph.D. program director with conjunction with the graduate program committee on a case-by-case basis.

International Students

Graduate international students on non-immigrant visas whose native language is not English or who have not lived in the U.S. ten years, must provide evidence of English language proficiency through one of the following:

1. Submission of a TOEFL score of 540 or successful completion of Old Dominion University's Graduate Bridge Program,

2. Possession of an American Bachelor's or Master's degree equivalent from an accredited institution located in a country where English is the native language,

3. GRE verbal score of 480.

For more information contact the International Admissions Office.

Deadlines

February 15 - Students applying for funding (Graduate Assistantship) and Fall admission; there is no Spring admission.

All students must submit all original application materials directly to Old Dominion University's Graduate Admissions Office. Students requesting funding (Graduate Assistantship) must submit the Application for Graduate Financial Assistance to the Program Director.

Request for Application for Admission

Graduate Admissions Application and Information are available at: http://admissions.odu.edu/graduate.php

Questions?

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your interests, contact the Ph.D. Program Director:

Dr. Mona Danner
Old Dominion University
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Norfolk, VA 23529
(757) 683-5931
mdanner@odu.edu