Colleges and Schools
The Criminal Justice specialization addresses current issues related to public safety, juvenile delinquency, the courts and prisons, as well as solutions to the control and elimination of criminal behavior. Students study demographic shifts, economic disparity among racial and ethnic groups, urban decay, interpersonal violence, and the increasing role of substance abuse and poverty in criminal behavior. Graduates are prepared to lead the complex process of changing the community’s social, educational, and economic infrastructures to reduce violence.
Completion Requirements
- 134 quarter credit hours
- Foundation course (6 cr.)
- Core Knowledge Area Modules (KAMs) (42 cr.)
- Foundation Research Sequence (14 cr.)
- Specialized Knowledge Area Modules (KAMs) (42 cr.)
- Proposal, dissertation, and oral presentation (30 cr.)
- Professional Development Plan and Program of Study
- Minimum 10 quarters enrollment
- 20 days of residency (two 4-day and two 6-day residencies)
For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call your enrollment advisor at 866-492-5336.
Walden offers frequent start dates so that you can begin when it’s convenient for you. Next Start Date: December 1. Admission policies vary by program. Call 1-866-492-5336 or apply now.
Curriculum
Foundation Course
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| SBSF 8005 | Foundations for Doctoral Study | 6 |
For Students with a Criminal Justice Background
Students who have a master’s degree in Criminal Justice or a closely related field, take the following core KAMs:
Core KAMs
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
|
KAM I: Principles of Societal Development |
||
| SBSF 8110 | Breadth: Theories of Societal Development | 5 |
| SBSF 8120 | Depth: Current Research in Societal Development | 5 |
| SBSF 8130 | Application: Professional Practice and Societal Development | 4 |
| KAM II: Principles of Human Development | ||
| SBSF 8210 | Breadth: Theories of Human Development | 5 |
| SBSF 8220 | Depth: Current Research in Human Development | 5 |
| SBSF 8230 | Application: Professional Practice and Human Development | 4 |
| KAM III: Principles of Organizational and Social Systems | ||
| SBSF 8310 | Breadth: Theories of Organizational and Social Systems | 5 |
| SBSF 8320 | Depth: Current Research in Organizational and Social Systems | 5 |
| SBSF 8330 | Application: Professional Practice and Organizational and Social Systems | 4 |
For Students Without a Criminal Justice Background
Students who do not have a master’s degree in Criminal Justice or a closely related field must complete the following core KAMs. These KAMs are designed to provide graduate, foundational knowledge in the areas of societal development, human behavior, and organizational and social systems from a criminal justice perspective.
Core KAMs
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| KAM I: Principles of Societal Development | ||
| SBSF 8110 | Breadth: Theories of Societal Development | 5 |
| HUMN 8120 | Depth: Current Research in Societal Development: Criminal Justice | 5 |
| HUMN 8130 | Application: Professional Practice and Societal Development: Criminal Justice | 4 |
| KAM II: Principles of Human Development |
||
| SBSF 8210 | Breadth: Theories of Human Development | 5 |
| HUMN 8220 | Depth: Current Research in Human Development: Criminal Justice | 5 |
| HUMN 8230 | Application: Professional Practice and Human Development: Criminal Justice | 4 |
| KAM III: Principles of Organizational and Social Systems |
||
| SBSF 8310 | Breadth: Theories of Organizational and Social Systems | 5 |
| HUMN 8320 | Depth: Current Research in Organizational and Social Systems: Criminal Justice | 5 |
| HUMN 8330 | Application: Professional Practice and Organizational and Social Systems: Criminal Justice | 4 |
Foundation Research Sequence
The first and second courses are online seminars, requiring students to participate in weekly, Web-based discussions. The third course combines online activities and a 12-hour, face-to-face meeting concurrent with a Walden residency. Faculty members guide discussions, require specific readings and written assignments, and evaluate assignments.
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| SBSF 8417 | Research Seminar I: Human Inquiry and Science | 4 |
| HUMN 8427 | Research Seminar II: Design in Human Services Research | 5 |
| HUMN 8437 | Research Seminar III: Data Analysis in Human Services Research | 5 |
Specialized KAMs
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| KAM V: Advanced Theory and Practice in Human Services | ||
| HUMN 8512 | Breadth: Theories and Models of Human Behavior for Professional Practice: Criminal Justice | 5 |
| HUMN 8522 | Depth: Contextual Evaluation of Contemporary Theories and Models in Human Services: Criminal Justice | 5 |
| HUMN 8532 | Application: Integrating Theory and Practice in Human Services: Criminal Justice | 4 |
| KAM VI: Intervention Strategies in Human Services | ||
| HUMN 8612 | Breadth: Advanced Theories of Intervention in Human Services: Criminal Justice | 5 |
| HUMN 8622 | Depth: Human Services Delivery Systems and Ethical Considerations: Criminal Justice | 5 |
| HUMN 8632 | Application: Integrating Intervention Strategies and Ethical Practice: Criminal Justice | 4 |
| KAM VII: Advanced Case Study in Human Services | ||
| HUMN 8712 | Breadth: Theories of Case Study Research and Applied Change in Human Services: Criminal Justice | 5 |
| HUMN 8722 | Depth: Relating Case Studies to Applied Change in Human Services: Criminal Justice | 5 |
| HUMN 8732 | Application: A Case Study of Applied Change in Human Services: Criminal Justice | 4 |
Course Descriptions (pdf)
