Doctor of Criminal Justice Hone Your Expertise
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Degree Options
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Pursue the Administration of Justice with an Online Doctorate in Criminal Justice
Are you interested in defending those around you, your community, and the general public? The need for criminal justice professionals who can provide insight into and change the landscape of criminal justice has never been greater. At Liberty University, we believe the administration of justice is critical. Part of our mission of Training Champions for Christ involves protecting those who are most vulnerable.
In our Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ) program, you will have the opportunity to pick a specialization so you can hone your skills in a specific area. Are you interested in protecting your country and preparing for and preventing attacks domestically and abroad? Or are you looking to move up the ranks to a leadership role in a criminal justice organization? At Liberty, no matter where your interests lie, we are ready to partner with you as you prepare to take the next step in your criminal justice career!
What Will You Study in Our Doctor of Criminal Justice Online Degree?
In our online doctorate in criminal justice core courses, you can learn many of the basic tenets of criminal justice. For example, you will begin by taking courses in criminology, criminal justice administration, and justice policy. These courses are designed so that you can construct effective strategies and make needed changes within criminal justice organizations.
In addition, you will take courses that analyze different criminal justice systems, juvenile justice systems, and advanced corrections policy. You will also take research courses focused on transnational crime, organizational conflict, terrorism and intelligence, and stress management in criminal justice. After this, you have the choice to take elective courses and customize your path of study or to pursue a specific specialization in homeland security or leadership.
If you choose one of these specializations, you will then take further courses to foster your skills and challenge you to identify problems and create solutions within the criminal justice field. Some of the topics that you will study if you pursue a homeland security specialization include weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives (CBRNE) as well as counterterrorism and risk management.
If you choose the leadership specialization, you will study a wide variety of topics, including strategic management and advanced human resources advancement in criminal justice organizations. If you decide to pursue the general track and mix and match courses, you can pursue a wide swathe of criminal justice online classes that are offered by the Helms School of Government.
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the Helms School of Government.
- View the Graduate Government Course Guides (login required).
Why Choose Liberty’s Online Degree?
When looking for an online doctorate degree in criminal justice, we understand the importance of academic quality. At Liberty, our faculty are leading industry experts who have served in a variety of criminal justice roles. In addition, our professors have advanced degrees in related areas of study, so you know that you are receiving a relevant and rigorous education. In addition, Liberty is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Choosing Liberty means choosing a world-class education and a degree you can be confident in.
We understand that life can get busy – which is why we offer our criminal justice program 100% online. With no set login times, you can access your course materials whenever you need them and wherever you are. In addition to the flexibility that Liberty offers, we also believe that higher education should be affordable. That is why our tuition has been frozen for the past 9 years – and counting.
With the flexibility, quality, and affordability that Liberty provides, you can be confident in partnering with us for your doctoral studies!
Potential Careers for Doctor of Criminal Justice Graduates
- Compliance manager
- Crime scene investigation unit manager
- Criminal justice professor
- Federal agent
- Police chief/sheriff
- Police detective
- Prison warden
- Public policy advisor
- Threat assessment analyst
Degree Options for Liberty’s Online Doctorate of Criminal Justice
At Liberty, you can choose a specialization in our Doctor of Criminal Justice. That way, you can pick a course of study that best aligns with your career goals. If you have a very specific course of study that you desire to take, you can also choose our general specialization, which allows you to pick courses tailored to your unique interests.
Check out our specializations below!
General
Liberty’s online Doctor of Criminal Justice – General degree allows you to mix and match various 700-900 level courses that are housed within the Helms School of Government.* By doing so, you can pick courses that better apply to your unique desires and prospective career goals.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
*Courses may not be dissertation or capstone courses. Courses that are not housed within the Helms School of Government are subject to a case-by-case review.
Homeland Security
Liberty’s online Doctor of Criminal Justice – Homeland Security is designed to teach you how to address threats that face the United States and take preventative measures to ensure security both domestically and abroad. With courses that delve into intelligence and counterintelligence, weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives (CBRNEs), you can graduate more confident in your ability to handle national security- and defense-related issues in your career.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Leadership
Whether you desire to lead a federal agency or manage the human resources or internal affairs of an organization, Liberty’s Doctor of Criminal Justice – Leadership can help prepare you for the leadership challenges ahead. With courses in strategic planning, advanced leadership, and human resources development, you can rest assured that our leadership specialization is designed with your success in mind.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Doctoral Full Time | $595/Credit |
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Doctoral Part Time | $650/Credit |
Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour (learn more).
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our Online Doctor of Criminal Justice Degree
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
- Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.
Transcript Policies
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Military Tuition Discount
We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour. Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there resources available to online students?
As an online student, you can access a wealth of resources through our top-notch library portal.
Why should I pursue a DCJ?
If you are a criminal justice professional seeking positions of added responsibility, an online Doctor of Criminal Justice from Liberty can help you achieve your career goals!
Is the program flexible?
Most of our doctoral courses are available in an 8-week format with no set login times.
Inner Navigation
- Overview
- What Will You Study?
- What Sets Us Apart?
- Potential Careers
- Specializations
- Tuition & Aid
- Admission Information
- Military
- FAQs
Have questions?