Graduate / Frequently asked questions
Where do graduates of the program get employment?
A number of our Masters students are already employed in the criminal justice field. For example, our recent crop of successful students include a detective in the Philadelphia Police Department, the warden of a local jail, and one student who has just been accepted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a Federal Agent. Our PhD program aims to create leaders and researchers in the criminal justice field. Recent PhD graduates have been accepted to assistant professorships at good schools such as Drexel University and Sam Houston University. Other PhDs from our department currently work with the federal government in Washington DC.
What study areas have successful PhD students worked in?
Follow this link to see a list of our recent PhD candidates, their dissertation titles, and advisors. Recent PhD graduates.
What if I did not get a 3.0 (B average) GPA in my undergraduate studies? Is there any exemption?
The rules are set in place by the Graduate School of Temple University. However the Dean of the Graduate School considers exceptions to the admissions requirement if the student meets one of these criteria:
- Achieved a 3.25 cumulative grade point average in a least 9 credits of graduate work at an accredited university in the United States or equivalent academic performance in a university outside the United States.
- Scored above the 65th percentile on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Exam (or other standardized test, such as the Graduate Management Admission Test).
- Earned a 3.5 grade point average during her/his final two years of undergraduate work.
How accessible is financial assistance?
Students requiring financial assistance should be aware that the department has a good track record of supporting a significant number of students through a variety of ways. The best way to maximize the chances of financial support is to achieve as high a score as possible in the GRE examinations. Students with combined GRE verbal and quantitative scores in excess of 1200 have an opportunity to attract university fellowships that guarantee four years of funding, while many other students are considered for teaching assistant positions in our department which we guarantee for three years. Please read the financial assistance page.
How much funding is available?
Funding is highly competitive, however the department does have a strong track record of funding success. If offered a TA or RA position in the first year, we will cover three further years of funding, for a guarantee of four years. This includes full tuition costs and a complete (12 months) year of health insurance per year. Thereafter, subsequent funding is dependent on the availability of research or teaching resources - a situation that changes from year to year as it does in any academic department. University fellowships come with a four year funding guarantee.
Is there a graduate student association?
Yes there is! We consider a strong graduate student body to be a vital part of the student experience. The graduate student association is involved in a combination of vocational and recreational activities.
I already have a Master's degree. Must I take the GRE exams?
Yes, afraid so. The GREs are a graduate school requirement, so everyone has to take them. Graduate School policy 02.23.12 allows departments to require from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). In our case we accept the GRE only. While they are not a perfect testing tool and while we recognize that they are not an ideal indication of a student's ability, they do represent a fairly reliable indication of likelihood that a student will succeed in our program. Furthermore they are one basis for national comparisons of graduate programs so we are always on the lookout for the best students. To give you an indication of the standard, the average incoming GRE score (combined quantitative and verbal) for our program is more than 1100. Bear in mind that this does not guarantee acceptance: see the next FAQ below. The GREs must have been taken within the past 5 years or appear on the official Temple University record of a student who has been previously enrolled.
Are there any particular parts of the application that are more important than others?
Generally not, though GRE score is one criterion that is particularly scrutinized. Bear in mind that getting in excess of 1100 does not guarantee acceptance, because as a small collegial program we seek students that are a good fit for our research-active faculty. Therefore some students score highly but their research interests and aims do not gel with our faculty. On occasion, the right student may score slightly lower but their research interests, experience and letters of support from academics are all in areas in which we are a strong department and we look positively on their application.
Do graduate students publish academically?
Yes they do, and there is an expectation of this as well. Many of our students work with faculty to develop publications either independently, or in collaboration with faculty or other students. Many of the faculty publications are co-authored with our current or former graduate students, and can be seen from our graduate student publications page.
I have criminal justice work experience. Does that get me extra credit?
We are always supportive of students with experience in the criminal justice field. That experience is often valuable in class and in bringing a real world touch to the research programs. That being said, we have an international reputation for being a strong academic research department and one of the leading quantitative PhD programs in the country. Therefore while we always welcome students with experience in the field, the entry criteria are the same.
In what way can I help my application?
Two particular things help your application. First, try and achieve the best GRE scores that you can. Doctoral programs (such as ours) are ranked on the caliber of our students, and one measure of that is GRE score. While we recognize that it is not an ideal indication of a potential student's worth, it is a national standard in the US, and the basis for entry and funding decisions.
Secondly, pay attention to our list of faculty and their interests, and try and identify faculty members that you would potentially like to work with on a thesis or research project. Then, include this information and why you would like to work with that person in your letter to us. We endeavor to keep our student numbers fairly low and thus provide a better education for our students, but in turn this means that we pay particular attention to ensuring that you are a good fit with our faculty.
Are there opportunities for practical research?
Very much so. Our faculty are involved in research projects and oversight bodies for local jails, correctional facilities, the courts and local police departments. Read the faculty biographies to get a better flavor of the many programs that we are involved with.
How and when should I apply for advance standing?
As long as you have a Masters degree from an accredited institution with grades of B or better, you are eligible for advance standing. If you have any classes with less than a B, then we do not give advance standing for just those classes, but you will receive credit for the parts of your transcript that are B or better. Applications for advance standing are received internally once you have completed one full semester with us as a student.
Where do students live?
A number of our students are already residents of the area. New students to the University either live on, or near our vibrant main campus, or in various neighborhoods around the city. Graduate students have the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of University accommodation, while many choose to live in either the leafy suburbs of Mount Airy or in the vibrant center of Philadelphia, Center City. Both are a short distance from the main campus and the campus has its own regional rail and subway stops.
Can I visit the department?
We think it is great that people want to visit us and completely understand that prospective students want to see where they will be working and studying for the next few years. In an average year we get inquiries and expressions of interest from hundreds of potential students, and over 50 full applications, so the potential for disruption to staff, students and faculty in the department is quite considerable. We therefore tend to limit visitors to the potential students that have submitted full applications and that are likely to attain our admittance criteria. Visits for our future students usually take place between February and April and include an interview with faculty in the student's area of interest, as well as a campus tour with one or two of our graduate students.
Who do I contact if I have specific questions about the program?
Please e-mail Dr. Kathleen Auerhahn, chair of the graduate program, at auerhahn@temple.edu. Unfortunately, due to time constraints and research schedules, she is unable to respond to telephone inquiries, however e-mail is usually reponded to within 24-48 hours.