Students entering the Doctor of Philosophy program in Criminology & Criminal Justice should meet the minimum university admission requirements.A completed master's degree (or its equivalent) in criminology, criminal justice, or in an appropriate field (e.g., administration of justice, sociology, or political science) from a regionally accredited institution of higher education – a thesis is generally expected, The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants, Successful completion of prior coursework in research methods and statistics at least equivalent to that required by the ODU B.A. in sociology/criminal justice and M.A. degree in applied sociology (research methods, statistics, computer and data analysis), Three letters of reference from sources capable of commenting on the applicant's readiness for advanced graduate study in criminology & criminal justice, A writing sample of at least 20 double-spaced pages on a topic related to the applicant's expertise or area of interest, A typed statement of approximately 1,000 words summarizing the individual's motivation for applying to the program as well as the professional contributions s/he intends to make assuming successful completion of the degree, If the applicant's native language is not English, a current score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of at least 540 and/or an interview in which the applicant's comprehension and fluency in English can be assessed.A minimum of 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) overall for the master's degree,