Empirical Paper
After successful completion of the qualifying examination and required courses, students must complete a sole-authored empirical paper. This paper must be judged to be of sufficiently high quality to be consistent with publication in a leading journal, as determined by the evaluation of a committee of three faculty members.
The goal of the paper requirement is to demonstrate: (1) familiarity with criminological theory and a relevant substantive literature; (2) competence in research methods; and (3) an ability to imaginatively use these skills and knowledge to address research questions of relevance for the field. Students are encouraged to seek guidance and feedback from relevant faculty and colleagues while working on the empirical paper, though it must be sole-authored, independent work.
The paper must be limited to 40 pages in length (inclusive of tables, figures, appendices, and references) and formatted in the current style of the journal Criminology. Ordinarily, the empirical paper should be submitted by the end of year three. It must be submitted within one year of the completion of all coursework.
Proposal Submission
To initiate the empirical paper, the student will form an Empirical Paper Committee comprised of a chair and two faculty readers. The student will submit a one-page proposal to the committee, who will provide an assessment of the proposal. Ordinarily the proposal will be assessed within approximately two weeks of its receipt by the committee. When a proposal is not approved by the Empirical Paper Committee, the student must submit a revised proposal, accompanied by a copy of the original proposal. Proposals can be submitted to the committee for review up to two times. Since completion of this stage of the process is included in the one-year timeline, students are strongly encouraged to initiate their proposal review early. Once the committee is satisfied, the student should submit to the Ph.D. director the final proposal, accompanying preliminary bibliography, and description of the comprised Empirical Paper Committee (identifying the chair and two faculty readers). The proposal may be submitted at any time during the academic year.
Paper Submission
Empirical papers will be accepted for submission at any time during the academic year. The paper must be submitted via email to the members of the Empirical Paper Committee. The student must provide a brief description of the history and evolution of the paper, including the names and contact information of all persons who have commented on it.
Grading Procedures
The paper will be reviewed by the appointed Empirical Paper Committee. It will be evaluated based on the substantive knowledge reflected in the paper, the application of relevant theory, the use of appropriate data and research methods, the clarity of communication, and its innovative contribution to the field. Each committee member will receive a copy of the paper for the purpose of conducting an independent evaluation, and will grade the paper as a Pass or No-Pass.
Once independent assessment is completed, the chair of the Empirical Paper Committee will prepare a decision letter, submitted to the Ph.D. director as well as to the student, which includes an assessment of the paper's strengths and limitations and the committee's grading decision. Ordinarily, grading of the empirical paper will be completed and students notified of their results within approximately three weeks of the paper's submission.
Receipt of a No-Pass
If the committee deems the paper of insufficient quality to merit a Pass, the student must submit a new or revised paper within six months of the original decision. Upon receipt of a No-Pass, the student should meet with the chair of the Empirical Paper Committee to discuss the deficient area(s) of their paper and the steps they should take in revising the manuscript for re-review.
If the second round of reviews also is not successful, the Ph.D. director will convene a meeting of the SCJ faculty, who will deliberate about whether to dismiss the student from the doctoral program or to allow further revisions of the paper. Students who are dismissed from the doctoral program may appeal the decision.
Doctoral Program 
