Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Intelligence

The Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Intelligence (Ph.D.) at UNG is designed to meet the intelligence and research needs of military, federal, state, and local governmental agencies, private corporations engaged in intelligence fields, and others who are interested in developing greater knowledge about the field of intelligence and research studies.

The objective of this degree is to prepare students for analytic, operational, research, and investigative intelligence positions within the federal government, the military, local law enforcement, and the private sector and to produce well-trained criminologists, researchers, teachers, and criminal justice practitioners

The Ph.D. in Criminal Justice program at UNG will require the completion of a minimum of 54 credit hours, contingent upon an earned master’s degree. The program will consist of 30 hours of core coursework, 9 hours of electives, and 15 hours will be dissertation credits. All students will be required to complete and defend a dissertation. In addition, students will be required to complete two teaching practicums.  This program is fully online and while coursework is asynchronous, some synchronous online meetings related to dissertation hours and teaching practicums may be required. 

Graduate Admissions Procedures

Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Admissions or from the program website. Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Admissions, notification will be sent to the applicant, and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. After review, notification will be sent by mail from Graduate Admissions to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.

Students who are admitted, but do not enroll within three semesters of acceptance must reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. All documents and materials submitted become the property of the university and will not be returned.

Admission Requirements

The following documents must be received prior to admission.

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official graduate transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. International transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Official evaluations must include certification that the applicant’s course work and degrees earned are equivalent to course work and degrees earned from a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the United States and include a cumulative grade point average.
4. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE).  Only those scores that are less than five years old will be considered.
5. Three UNG recommendation forms.
6. One Academic Paper/Writing Sample: Single-authored writing sample that demonstrates the applicant’s writing ability. Examples include a chapter from the applicant’s thesis or a paper written for course credit. The paper submitted should not be longer than 25 double-spaced pages.
7. Statement of Professional and Academic Goals: a 2-3 page statement that should include the applicant’s fields of interest and how the program will contribute to your goals.
8. Current professional resume.
9. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.
10. Field, military, POST or outside certifications cannot be used to meet admission requirements or as course credit.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission, an individual must:

1. Hold a graduate degree in an area of social science (criminal justice, criminology, sociology, psychology, etc. from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
2. Have completed with a grade of B or higher one graduate basic statistics course.
3. Have completed with a grade of B or higher one graduate research methods course.
4. Take the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE).   The Ph.D. program at UNG does not have a minimum GRE score, nor do the admission committees use a formula to determine admission eligibility. All aspects of the applicant’s file are taken into consideration for admission decisions. However, GRE scores that are well below a competitive range will greatly reduce your chances of admission. A 50th percentile score (about a 151 on Verbal and a 153 on Quant) is about average.
5. Meet all other program admission requirements. 

Provisional Admission

Applicants who have a related graduate degree outside of the social sciences or who do not have the necessary course prerequisites may qualify for provisional admission. To qualify for provisional admission, an individual must:

1. Hold a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
2. Take the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE).   The Ph.D. program at UNG does not have a minimum GRE score, nor do the admission committees use a formula to determine admission eligibility. All aspects of the applicant’s file are taken into consideration for admission decisions. However, GRE scores that are well below a competitive range will greatly reduce your chances of admission. A 50th percentile score (about a 151 on Verbal and a 153 on Quant) is about average.
3. Meet all other program admission requirements. 

Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than nine semester hours of graduate credit while enrolled in this status and must take the necessary course requirements determined by the Graduate Coordinator. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the completion of one semester. A student who earns a grade of B or higher in all classes completed during the provisional period will be given regular admission status. A provisionally admitted student who earns a grade of C or lower in any graduate level criminal justice course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid. 

International Applicants

Because of Homeland Security guidelines, an F1 visa cannot be issued for online programs. Individuals living and working in the United States whose visa status permits graduate enrollment, may be considered for admission. Refer to the admission requirements in the Admission Requirements and Procedures section of the Graduate Catalog.

Appeal of Admission

A candidate whose application is denied has the right to appeal the decision. A written letter of appeal must include strong evidence to support the basis for your appeal. The appeal should consist of information beyond what was previously submitted in your admissions file and detail your ability to be successful in graduate studies.

• Students whose appeals are granted will be admitted as provisional students.
• Students are not eligible for financial aid while taking courses under a provisional admission status.
• Students may not appeal for regular admission.

Appeals must be submitted to Graduate Admissions - University of North Georgia, 82 College Circle, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001, or grads@ung.edu.

Transfer Credit & Residency Requirement

To be awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Intelligence degree, students must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours of course credit and 15 dissertation hours applicable to the degree in residence. In addition, no more than 9 semester hours of transfer credit may be applied toward meeting the degree requirements. All course requirements, including transfer credit, must be completed within a seven-year period. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of C or lower was earned. To apply for transfer credit, a student must complete the transfer of graduate credit form (myUNG password required) and submit the form to the Graduate Coordinator for approval.

Academic Policies

Incomplete Grades

The Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice adheres to the uniform grading system in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog. No student carrying two incomplete grades may enroll in additional course work without the written consent of the graduate coordinator. Incompletes must be finished by the beginning of the second semester after which the incomplete was awarded. There are three semesters within the academic year – fall, spring, and summer. Incompletes that are not finished by the beginning of the second semester will automatically become an F grade. No degree will be conferred on a student who has an unresolved Incomplete grade.

Repeated Courses

No student enrolled in the program may repeat courses for credit in an attempt to improve a grade. 

Academic Standing Policy

Graduate students in Criminal Justice are expected to maintain satisfactory academic performance by earning a B or better in each of their courses.  Graduate students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following:

1. Probation - A student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:

a. The student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.

b. The student earns one grade of C or U.

No student may be a candidate for the degree while on probation due to a grade point average below a 3.0. Probation for a single C grade lasts for a minimum of one semester and will be removed after one semester if the student’s cumulative grade point average is 3.0 or higher. Students who are on probation may not register until advised.

2. Suspension - A student will be suspended for any of the following reasons:

a. The student earns any second grade of C or U.

b. The student does not achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 after two consecutive semesters on probation.

3. Dismissal - A student will be dismissed from the program for any of the following reasons: 

a. The student earns any grade below C.

b. The student earns any third grade of C or U.

c. The student does not achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 after two consecutive semesters of probation upon return from a suspension.

No student may be a candidate for the degree with a grade point average below a 3.0, or any grade below a C. No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will not be recognized for transfer credit.

Academic Suspension Appeal

A student may appeal to be reinstated to regular status in the program after a suspension period of one semester (fall, spring, or summer) from the date the student was suspended by submitting an appeal letter explaining the rationale for reinstatement to the Graduate Coordinator or Department Head.

The appeal letter must include the following:

• a discussion of the issues leading to the suspension, including grades earned in the program.
• an overview of what the student will do upon reinstatement to correct the issues that led to suspension.

Upon receipt of the appeal letter, the Graduate Coordinator and Department Head will review the letter and forward a recommendation for or against reinstatement to the faculty.   The faculty will review the letter and the recommendations from the Graduate Coordinator and Department Head, and then vote for or against reinstatement.  Students may appeal a decision against reinstatement to the Dean of Arts and Letters.  The Dean’s decision should be considered final.

Any student reinstated in the Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Intelligence program after suspension will return on probation and must earn a 3.0 cumulative grade point average or higher within 2 consecutive semesters of reinstatement, or risk dismissal from the program.  Students who are on probation may not register until advised.

Academic and Professional Integrity Policy

At the end of each semester, the program faculty or graduate coordinator may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The plan will be signed by the student and the graduate coordinator with copies forwarded to the Department Chair of Criminal Justice and the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters.

Academic Integrity

The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct.

Students in the Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Intelligence program are subject to the following minimum recommended sanctions for incidents of plagiarism:

• First offense - Students in the program who are found responsible for academic dishonesty will receive a zero grade for the assignment on a first offense, and will be placed on a corrective action plan as described in the Academic and Professional Integrity Policy.  If a zero grade on the assignment results in a final grade of C or lower, the student may be subject to further academic sanctions as stated in the MSCJ Academic Standing Policy. Students may also be subject to additional conduct related sanctions applied by the Student Conduct Administrator or the Student Conduct Hearing Panel.
• Second offense - Students in the program who are found responsible for a second offense of academic dishonesty will be subject to dismissal from the program. 

Professional Integrity

The Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Intelligence adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog.

Degree Requirements

Graduation requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Intelligence include:

1. Completion of 54 semester hours (30 semester hours of required core courses, 9 semester hours of electives, and 15 hours of directed reading and dissertation research).
2. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
3. No grade below a C.
4. Completion of all required courses and dissertation research in residence, with no more than nine semester hours of transfer credit.
5. Completion of all degree-related course requirements within a seven-year period.