Best Doctorate in Criminal Justice Programs

Application deadlines and processes are usually unique for doctoral programs in criminal justice. For example, applicants to PhD programs in criminal justice may need to submit the appropriate application earlier than the original deadline if they plan to apply for funding. The specific materials that students need to include in the application also vary by school. Some of these doctoral programs require scores from the GRE and most schools require students to include transcripts of their postsecondary education. Other application materials commonly include letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, a personal statement or statement of goals, and a writing sample. The writing sample must demonstrate students' research and writing abilities.

Educational and professional prerequisites for Ph.D. programs in criminal justice may also vary between programs. Several of these doctoral programs will admit students who only have a bachelor's degree and have yet to earn a master's degree. Other programs may require students to have some graduate-level coursework. For example, depending on the program, students may need to have prior graduate-level coursework in areas such as statistics and research methods. Although most PhD programs in criminal justice require applicants to include a resume or CV, it is not common for these programs to require professional work experience. However, programs may show preference to applicants who have prior research experience, leadership experience, or other unique experiences that may benefit the program.

Many PhD in Criminal Justice degree programs are regionally accredited by organizations such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This means that a school's programs have met general educational standards for quality and students who attend the school are eligible for federal aid and can likely transfer credits to other schools more easily.

Depending on the subject area, some degree programs have additional program-level accreditation from an organization related to the given subject. In the case of criminal justice, most doctoral programs do not hold accreditation, but some bachelor's and master's degree programs in the field do. For example, some programs are accredited by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS). Other criminal justice training programs, such as police academies, may also hold accreditation from organizations like the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Students might choose a doctoral program at a school where master's or bachelor's programs have earned accreditation. Employers may prefer program-level accreditation because it indicates a high-quality program that may better prepare students for their career in the field than other non-accredited programs.

Some PhD programs in criminal justice give students up to 7 years to complete their full-time program. However, most students can finish their program in 4 to 5 years when taking it full-time. Several doctoral programs do offer students a part-time format option, but the time to degree completion may take longer. While course load each semester can also affect the time to degree completion, how long a student takes to complete their dissertation is one of the biggest variables in the time it takes to earn a degree.

The curriculum for PhD programs in criminal justice varies somewhat from school to school, but it is common for these degree programs to require some core criminal justice courses, research methods courses, and electives. Depending on the program, students may take between 48 and 72 credits of coursework for their degree. The core criminal justice courses typically provide advanced insight into specific areas of the field. Students may take courses such as decision making in criminal justice, theories of crime and deviance, criminal justice policies, and criminal justice program evaluation.

Research methods courses not only train students to conduct research in the field, but also help prepare students for their dissertation project. These courses may cover topics in field research, research methods, statistical analysis, research design, and more. Finally, some programs may offer different specialization areas, but many doctoral programs in the field give students the option to choose from a range of electives.

Preparing Your Criminal Justice Dissertation

A dissertation is a large research project that is generally conducted at the end of a doctoral program after students have completed their coursework. In order to qualify for candidacy status and work on their dissertation, students usually need to pass a preliminary exam or complete a qualifying project. Then, they begin to form their dissertation committee, which is typically made up of faculty members, and start working on a dissertation proposal or pre-dissertation research. This initial research gives students an idea of whether there is enough information on their chosen topic and helps them think through the methods for their project. Typically, students have to complete a prospectus defense where their committee examines this initial research and provides feedback. Based on this feedback, after students have passed, they begin to work on researching and writing their dissertation. This process may take 1 to 4 years when completing the program full-time. The final step is defending the dissertation in front of the dissertation committee.

As mentioned, most criminal justice doctoral degree programs do not have given concentration areas. However, some allow students to further focus their studies and/or research by offering various electives and diverse research opportunities with faculty members. Students may decide to take electives in areas such as policing, emergency management, cyber crime, criminal justice history, or crime mapping to develop specific skills and knowledge for a future career.

There are some rare PhD programs in criminal justice that offer specializations in different areas, such as criminal behavior, law and public policy, policing and law enforcement, investigative science, and more. Students in these specializations may take courses or participate in activities related to their given specialization.

Criminal justice degree programs are widely available at the undergraduate and graduate degree levels. Many of these programs are offered in flexible formats and students may choose to study criminal justice from the associate to the doctoral degree level or pair a criminal justice degree with another related subject area. For instance, some students may try to decide between a political science and criminal justice degree or psychology, economics, and other related areas. Below, we look at some of the different degree options for students interested in criminal justice.

Criminal Justice Associate Degrees

At the associate level, students can pursue an Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Criminal Justice. Many of these programs are offered in online programs and provide easy transfer pathways for students who want to go on to earn their bachelor's degree in the field. These programs can be completed in 4 semesters and provide students an introduction to topics such as the criminal justice system and the criminal justice process.

Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degrees

There are several degree options at the bachelor's level as well, including Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), and Bachelor of Criminal Justice degrees. Online bachelor's degree programs in the field are common and depending on the program, students may be able to focus their studies in concentration areas such as security management, substance abuse, homeland security and counterterrorism, corrections, and more. Some of these programs can be completed in as little as 18 months, but traditionally, students without an associate degree complete these programs in around 4 years.

Criminal Justice Master's Degrees

Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS) degree programs in criminal justice are common. Some MS programs may be designed more for students who are planning on pursuing doctoral study in the field, while MA programs are often designed for those wanting to enter the career field. Students may have the option to pursue an additional specialization area, such as criminology and deviance, policing, and criminal law and procedure. Online degree programs are available and some programs include an internship experience for hands-on learning.

Criminal Justice Graduate Certificates

Students can pursue a wide range of graduate certificates to help specialize in a particular area, such as behavioral science graduate certificates and criminal justice graduate certificates. Criminal justice graduate certificates can require between 16 and 18 credit hours and are not as involved as a master's degree. For example, students are not typically required to take research methods courses and complete a thesis for a certificate program like some master's programs require. Typically, students can earn a criminal justice certificate in 1 year or less.

Criminal justice degrees are very versatile and students can pursue a wide range of careers. Some of these careers may specialize in a particular area of the field, such as careers in criminal justice law enforcement and corrections or careers in criminal justice safety studies. Other students may want to pursue careers in a specific industry, such as criminal justice jobs in the military or criminal justice careers involving writing. In general, doctoral students can pursue advanced careers in the field that may take on more leadership and research responsibilities. We'll detail a few examples of potential career options below.

Become a Postsecondary Teacher

Postsecondary teachers, including criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, usually need a doctoral degree, but sometimes a master's degree may be sufficient. Depending on their field of expertise, some of these teachers may need to hold industry-specific licensure or certification and prior work experience in the field is always beneficial.

Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers at the postsecondary level may be responsible for teaching multiple courses in the field at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels. This requires lesson planning and being available to help students as needed. Depending on the institution, teachers may have additional responsibilities, such as advising students, overseeing the work of graduate students, and serving on committees. According to the BLS, as of 2020, the median annual salary of criminal justice and law enforcement teachers at the postsecondary level was $63,560.

Become a Correctional Treatment Specialist

Correctional treatment specialists usually need to have at least a bachelor's degree, but education requirements vary by jurisdiction. They also usually need to meet other minimal requirements, such as passing a background check and drug screening, being at least 21 years of age, and holding a valid driver's license. Typically, these professionals will undergo a training program and have to pass some kind of certification test at the end. Internships and other hands-on experiences can be a benefit to aspiring correctional treatment specialists.

Correctional treatment specialists can also be called correctional counselors or case managers and are responsible for working with probationers and parolees to create rehabilitation strategies. They also develop release plans and oversee any necessary questionnaire and psychological tests that their clients need. They continue to manage clients' cases to help ensure they stay out of trouble and have the resources that they need, such as education and counseling. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists was $55,690, as of 2020.

Become a Policeman or Detective

Police and detectives typically need to have at least a high school diploma, but some agencies or departments may require a college degree. These professionals must also meet a range of minimum requirements, such as being citizens, being at least 21 years of age, and meeting physical requirements. Police and detectives have to undergo extensive training and detectives typically need to have multiple years of work experience as a policeman. Those with advanced degrees may move into higher positions within agencies.

Police and detectives are responsible for protecting their communities. Police respond to emergencies and nonemergencies, while detectives help collect evidence of crimes. Detectives and criminal investigators also monitor and arrest suspects and may specialize in one particular type of crime. Per the BLS, the median annual salary of police and detectives was $67,290, as of 2020.

Professional organizations are one way that professionals in a given field can stay updated on the current events, research, and happenings in their area of expertise. These groups also typically provide networking events and opportunities for professionals to collaborate and further promote their field. There are many different professional organizations available in various areas of criminal justice, such as those focused on corrections or justice research. However, there are also broader, more general groups that professionals from any area within criminal justice may join. A couple of these groups include:

• Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences- The ACJS offers membership and is broken into several different regions, as well as sections based on subject area. Professionals can attend the group's annual meeting, access publications, and apply for awards and grants.
• American Society of Criminology- The ASC is an international group that focuses on the prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency. The group also has several different divisions and allows professionals to connect at their annual meeting. The ASC website also provides a career center where professionals can search jobs and internships.

Doctoral degrees in criminal justice can be expensive when you add up tuition and fees, let alone housing, transportation, and other costs. Typically, it will cost students less to attend a doctoral program in their state of residency. For example, one PhD program in criminal justice charges residents $966 per credit hour, while charging out-of-state residents $1,329 per credit hour. Another public school charges $723 per credit for in-state students and $1,507 for out-of-state students. Usually, tuition does not include various kinds of fees, textbooks, or other course materials. Students will need to factor in the cost of books, materials, housing, food, transportation, and other living expenses to get a total cost of earning their degree.

The good news is that there are several ways that students can minimize how much they pay for their doctoral degree in criminal justice. While loans are always an option through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students should first check for funding options through their school(s) of choice. Some programs will allow students who apply early to also apply for an assistantship and/or fellowship. Teaching or research assistantships require students to work around 20 hours a week, but provide some level of tuition remission and a stipend. Fellowships are generally more competitive and reserved for students with the most outstanding academic records. Depending on the fellowship, students may earn tuition remission for up to 2 years and a stipend.

Scholarships are also widely available for criminal justice students. Often, these awards come from criminal justice-related organizations, such as the ACJS. For example, the ACJS offers the Dorothy Bracey/Janice Joseph Minority and Women New Scholar Award that gives $1,000 to new minority and female scholars in the field.