NCJ Number
66456
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1980) Pages: 36-40
Date Published
1980
Length
5 pages
Annotation
CURRENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE DOCTORAL PROGRAMS OF UNIVERSITIES ARE DESCRIBED TO PROVIDE PLANNERS AND ORGANIZERS WITH THE DATA NEEDED TO IMPROVE EXISTING PROGRAMS AND DEVELOP NEW ONES.
Abstract
GROWTH IN THESE PROGRAMS FROM 1966 TO THE PRESENT HAS INCREASED FROM 4 INSTITUTIONS OFFERING DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN 1966 TO 21 IN 1978. YET THE FIELD LACKS UNIFORMITY AND AGREEMENT ON WHETHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION SHOULD BE A CRIMINOLOGY SPECIALTY, A DIVISION OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, OR AN OFFERING BY A SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. CATALOGS FROM 24 INSTITUTIONS WERE ANALYZED TO REVEAL THEIR SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES. A TOTAL OF 23 UNIVERSITIES REQUIRED THEIR DOCTORAL STUDENTS TO BE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY CANDIDATES; 17 UNIVERSITIES HAD A DOCTORAL PROGRAM LOCATED WITHIN A TRADITIONAL NONCRIMINAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND OFFERED PROGRAMS IN 8 DIFFERENT AREAS. A MASTER'S DEGREE WAS REQUIRED BY 22, PRIOR TO A DOCTORAL PROGRAM. DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE VARY WIDELY IN THER LOCATION AND COURSE CONTENT. CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS ARE USUALLY OFFERED AS INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY OR SOMETIMES AS INDEPENDENT PROGRAMS. THERE WAS NO CONSISTENCY IN THE NUMBER OF SPECIFIC COURSE HOURS NECESSARY FOR THE DEGREE. BECAUSE A CONTINUED EXPANSION IS PROJECTED FOR DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, A UNIFORM CURRICULUM BASED ON MINIMUM STANDARDS IS GREATLY NEEDED. FURTHER RESEARCH IS ALSO NEEDED ON DEPARTMENTAL AND COURSE CONSOLIDATION, A UNIFORM CORE COURSE REQUIREMENT AND WHETHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION SHOULD BE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF STUDY. MOREOVER FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF BACKGROUND, DEGREES, PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCES, AND TEACHING LOAD SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE FACULTIES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED.