Online Doctorate in Criminal Justice – General Intellectual Pursuit of Improved Criminal Justice

60
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Safeguard Communities and Lead in Law Enforcement with Liberty’s Online Doctorate in Criminal Justice – General
The job of a criminal justice practitioner is not always easy. Officers are on standby 24/7 – protecting citizens from the dangers of meditated and unmeditated crime. Judges face difficult decisions, government prosecutors must build strong cases, and probation officers strive to help parolees acclimate to their recently restored freedom.
You understand that effective law enforcement officials need training, discipline, knowledge, and compassion to succeed in their work — and you know that the best leaders inspire their teams to work diligently in the service of their community. If you’ve dedicated your career to the safety of the citizens you serve, Liberty University’s 100% online Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ) – General degree can help you increase your knowledge of crime prevention and deterrence as you pursue senior leadership roles in the criminal justice system.
The goal of our Doctor of Criminal Justice online is to help you become a confident leader — one who can navigate complex challenges, provide effective solutions in a timely manner, and earn the trust of citizens and officers alike. By partnering with Liberty for your online doctorate in criminal justice, you can earn a life-changing credential capable of helping you launch your career to new heights.
Your officially conferred degree name will be Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ) – General.






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What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Liberty University’s Doctor of Criminal Justice?
As a pioneer in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create an online criminal justice degree program that challenges you and also respects your commitments. We realize that your personal responsibilities don’t go away when you enroll in a degree program, which is why our Doctor of Criminal Justice — General can be completed 100% online with no set login times and no required intensives. As an online student, you won’t have to commute to campus at any point during your degree.
Another advantage of pursuing Liberty’s online Doctor of Criminal Justice is the degree’s versatility. While this program can be used for career advancement in law enforcement, it could also be your ticket to a teaching position at a college or university.
The credibility of our online Doctor of Criminal Justice is backed by our institutional accreditation. Liberty University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which means that our academic programs have met rigorous standards and can help you reach your career goals.
What Will You Study in Our Online Doctorate in Criminal Justice – General?
Our online Doctor of Criminal Justice program consists of 5 sections: core courses, research and evaluation courses, advanced focus classes, the general specialization, and a capstone sequence.
In the core courses, you will study theories of crime and comparative criminal justice systems. You will also study advanced juvenile justice policy and advanced corrections policy. The research and evaluation courses will guide you through advanced research design, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and a program evaluation.
The advanced focus section of our online criminal justice doctorate will cover transnational organized crime, advanced topics in terrorism and intelligence, and organizational conflict in criminal justice systems. In this section, you can also learn how to manage the stress that comes with working in criminal justice.
The general specialization of our online criminal justice doctorate consists of 3 free-elective courses. This means that you are offered your choice of 3 doctoral government courses – allowing you to study the topics you’re most interested in.
The capstone sequence is the final phase of your degree. The criminal justice doctoral capstone consists of 5 classes that can help guide you through the process of identifying an issue in the field of criminal justice, conducting research on that issue, and then providing a data-based solution to the problem.
Potential Career Opportunities
- Crime scene investigation unit manager
- Police chief/sheriff
- Police detective
- Prison warden
- Professor
- Public policy advisor
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the Helms School of Government.
- View the Graduate Government Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan

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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 the 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.
Please note: The Office of Graduate Admissions may request additional documentation when conducting admission reviews to evaluate a candidate’s record before a final admission decision can be made.
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

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Submit your application online or over the phone.
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
What’s the difference between an online doctorate in criminal justice and a PhD program in criminal justice or criminology?
The difference between a Doctor of Criminal Justice online and an online PhD in Criminal Justice lies in the emphasis. Our online doctorate in criminal justice carries a practical emphasis while our online criminal justice PhD carries more of a theoretical, research-based emphasis. Despite the differences between the degrees, each program is appropriate for personal enrichment and career advancement.
If you’d like to pursue an academic career in research or as a professor upon completion of your doctoral studies, our criminal justice PhD online or a criminology PhD program may be the best fit for you. If you’re considering the idea of someday venturing into academia but would like to continue serving as a law enforcement official for now, our Doctor of Criminal Justice online may be ideal.
Does this degree have any campus requirements?
This degree is offered 100% online with no required intensives.
What accreditation does Liberty University have?
Liberty University is regionally accredited by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
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