PhD Criminology, Law and Society at University of California, Irvine

Programme overview

The PhD studies crime, institutional responses to illegal behaviour and the interaction of law and society, including the causes and consequences of crime, social regulation and the civil justice system. It prepares graduates for research and policy roles.

Faculty: School of Social Ecology | Department: Department of Criminology, Law and Society | Duration: Normative time to degree 6 years (maximum 7); 5 years with master's waivers | Study mode: full-time | Location: Irvine, CA, United States

What you will study

Students take research methods and data analysis courses, core courses in criminology (micro and macro approaches) and Law and Society I and II, and four electives. They complete a second-year research project, a written comprehensive exam in year three and a dissertation defence.

Career pathways

Graduates take positions at major universities, government and private research agencies, and policy institutes.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

UC Irvine Graduate Division (all graduate programmes): bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited institution with minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. International applicants whose prior degree was not taught solely in English need TOEFL iBT 80 overall or IELTS 7 overall with no module below 6 (departments may set higher). GRE requirements are set by each programme; there is no minimum GRE score.

Requirements published at program group level.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,722 a year (2026-27). Graduate tuition (resident rate) from the standard Graduate/Credential Student Fees schedule for state-supported graduate degree programmes; the page does not list programmes by name, so this is the standard graduate band. Tuition line only; excludes Stud Source

Graduate applications are submitted online through the UCI graduate application portal; the non-refundable application fee is $135 for U.S. citizens and lawful U.S. permanent residents and $155 for all other applicants. Deadlines are set by each programme. GRE is required by some programmes only; TOEFL or IELTS English proficiency is required of graduate applicants unless waived.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.uci.edu/admissions/

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