Undergraduate Admissions
Prospective undergraduate students are evaluated on a variety of qualifications, including: classes taken, GPA, SAT scores, special interests and academic accomplishments, among others. For complete information on admissions requirements and the application process, visit the Office of Admissions.
For more information about the Undergraduate Program, please visit our undergraduate program page.
If you are currently a student at UCI, and would like to transfer into the department of Criminology, Law and Society, please see information on changing majors here. Students wishing to change their major to CLS must have an overall GPA of 2.3, a C or better in C7, and a C or better in one additional Social Ecology course (e.g., P9, E8, etc.).
Master of Advanced Study Program Admissions
Applicants for the online Master's program must provide the following:
1) Transcripts from each college or university attended indicating you have attained at least a bachelor's degree. Admission standards to UC Irvine require a 3.0 GPA, but some special considerations may apply.
2) Three confidential letters of recommendation that speak to your ability to perform in a post graduate academic program are especially useful. These letters should be from professors, supervisors, or others (no family) who can attest to your work ethic, analytical thinking, communication skills, leadership potential, motivation, and commitment.
3) Scores from the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test (UCI code: R4859). No minimum scores have been established for admission.
4) A personal history and personal statement demonstrating your writing ability and clarity of thought, describing your previous goals and achievements, your current goals, and how the degree will help you achieve them.
The committee members will carefully consider each element of your application in balance, as they are seeking well-rounded degree candidates with a proven history of academic and/or professional success. Your personal statement is a critical element of the application process — an opportunity to describe your academic history and your career path. The committee is especially interested in the demonstration of your ability to think analytically and act strategically. Your letters of recommendation are another important part of the process and you should choose recommenders who can write clear statements about your character, achievements, and abilities.
Once you have completed your online application and provided all materials listed above, the Admissions Committee will begin reviewing your packet.
There are two application cycles for Fall 2011 start. The first application cycle begins September 15, 2010 through March 1, 2011 and the second cycle is from April 15, 2011 through June 1, 2011. You are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure your space in the program while your materials undergo review.
Doctoral Program Admissions
Students wishing to apply to the PhD program must provide the following:
1) An application fee
2) Two official transcripts from each college or university attended
3) Three letters of recommendation
4) Scores from the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test (UCI code: R4859)
5) Statement of purpose
All PhD applications are due January 15th, but applicants are encouraged to submit their materials earlier, if possible. Applicants are accepted for full-time study beginning in the Fall quarter only. The Ph.D. in Criminology, Law and Society is a rigorous program, demanding full-time study, and is therefore not appropriate for career professionals who wish to combine working with studying for an advanced degree. Such individuals may be interested in our on-line Masters Degree program.
The CLS admissions committee considers every element of the application packet in order to evaluate the degree of fit between our program and the student’s goals, the student’s preparation for graduate study, and the likelihood of the student succeeding in our program. We admit students whose undergraduate degrees are in a wide range of fields (including Criminology, Criminal Justice, English, History, Philosophy, etc.) but it is important for applicants to be pursuing a research career (whether in policy or academia) in Criminology, Law and Society. GPA, GRE scores, personal statement, prior experience (especially research, publications, and conference presentations) and letters of reference are considered in our assessment of candidate materials.
For complete information on admissions requirements and the application process, visit the Graduate Division.
For more information about the PhD program, please visit the Prospective PhD Students page.
Through UCI's Program in Law and Graduate Studies, students can concurrently earn a JD and PhD in Criminology, Law and Society. Details about this program are available at: http://www.law.uci.edu/plgs/index.html.