Ph.D. In Criminal Justice: As long as societies exist, crime will inevitably exist within them. In order to combat crime and keep it in check, the criminal justice system was created. The criminal justice system has a lot of positions within it, but if you want a leadership role, then a Ph.D. in criminal justice is quite frankly a must. One may also go through law school to know more about criminal justice.

A doctorate degree is the highest degree available in any field. Once you have it, you are automatically assumed to be an expert on the subject. With that being said, let us now take a look at everything that you can do with a doctorate in criminal justice. One can also check details about criminal justice associates degree and expects significant growth in this sector in the coming years.

Ph.D. In Criminal Justice – Career Options

Once you get that doctorate and a Dr. prefixed to your name, there are a whole lot of new avenues now open for you. Off the top of our heads, here is a list of jobs that you are now eligible for –

1. Forensic Science Technician
2. Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement teacher
3. Information Security Analyst
4. Emergency Management Director
5. Forensic Psychologist

There is a whole host of other career options available for one once they get their doctorate. A lot of people opt for this field and these careers simply because this sector has a lot going for it. 

For starters, the criminal justice system is ever growing. With the passage of time, the number of crimes will also increase and so it makes sense that the criminal justice system will too. So, there are always jobs available for those willing to apply.

The next thing is job safety. Since jobs are mostly being added, as long as you do a competent job, you will be able to keep it. Plus, the Ph.D. In Criminal Justice system for most parts is independent of market fluctuations. So the job security is pretty much unmatched.

As far as career growth goes, there is immense scope for it. All you need to do is to be ready to apply yourself in. The moment you do that, you will go up the ladder quickly. 

Online Ph.d in criminal justice Criminology online – Financial Benefit

Since the Ph.D. In Criminal Justice is ever expanding and independent of market fluctuations, the financial gains on offer are quite immense. Once you get inside it and do a proper job, your financial returns will only increase with the passage of time. 

Since there are a lot of varied careers within this field, we can’t possibly be expected to cover the financial benefits of all of them. So, the only ones we will be covering are the ones we have listed before –

1. Forensic Science Technician – 58,000 USD per year
2. Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement teacher – 78,000 USD per year
3. Information Security Analyst – 45,000 USD per year
4. Emergency Management Director – 98,000 USD per year
5. Forensic Psychologist – 69,000  USD per year

Please do keep in mind that the numbers provided here are averages. Different states will have different salaries and averages for the same job.

Ph.D in criminal justice: Is it worthwhile?

In most fields, Ph.D. has a poor reputation these days. The economics just don’t pay back when it comes to huge direct and incentive costs. What’s worse is that the university job market is a nightmare, with full-time jobs disappearing or being near-impossible contests with hundreds of eligible applicants.

In a few fields, though, the condition is the polar opposite. Since no qualified applicants can be identified, positions remain open for months. And, fortunately for you, one of those areas is criminal justice.

To be clear, we’re talking about the university work market, specifically tenure-track professorships. These positions include:

• Teaching at the college level
• Doing research
• Delivering institutional service

What’s causing the discrepancy between the demand and supply of students in Ph.D in criminal justice?

First, although the appetite for criminal justice among undergraduates is increasing, the number of Ph.Ds in the field remains small. Because of the success of crime investigation TV shows, criminal justice is such a common undergraduate major these days.

Graduates generally serve in a wide range of roles, so career opportunities are excellent. As a result, more students want to specialize in criminal justice. However, since most jobs in criminal justice departments or other institutions only require a master’s or undergraduate degree, students have little opportunity to pursue doctoral studies.

As a result, there are a lot of undergraduates enrolling in criminal justice schools, but there aren’t enough PhDs to train them as teachers.

• Representatives from many universities said that recent job openings for criminology professors drew only a few applicants, some of whom weren’t even eligible. 
• One work vacancy at a university in Texas, for example, drew 18 candidates, with only seven of them meeting even the most common criteria.
• According to the colleges, their odds of meeting anyone who can meet the academic requirements are slim to zero. 

Another professor said that because there are very few criminal justice PhDs, the degree almost assures a tenure-track job opportunity, if not many. These positions don’t normally pay a lot of money, but they are surely comfortable.

Many PhDs in other fields will certainly do something for a tenure-track position, regardless of pay. Overall, while this can make it difficult for colleges to recruit professors, it places job seekers in a great place!

Why you should pursue Ph.D in criminal justice? Smell of opportunity

So, if you’re considering doing a doctorate in criminal justice, remember that the degree would place you in excellent work conditions in today’s job market. A doctorate in criminal justice allows students to study criminal justice policies and sociological analysis techniques in greater detail. Here are the necessary skills to succeed in the field:

• Deductive and logical thinking
• Active listening skills
• Communication skills

More information regarding Ph.D in criminal justice 

A four-year or longer commitment is needed to earn an online doctorate in criminal justice, with 40-60 credits required. Working professionals benefit from the versatility of online programs, especially those that deliver self-paced or asynchronous classes. A Ph.D. may be preferred by students engaged in science or teaching, but a D.C.J. is also preferred by consultants, policy experts, and criminal justice professionals.

Ph.d in criminal justice programs – More Reasons For Getting a Doctorate

Apart from the aforementioned reasons, there are quite a few more. For starters, a lot of employers limit the salaries that can be earned with a master’s degree alone. So, with a doctorate, you will be able to earn a lot more.

Not to mention, once you do have your doctorate, you are then considered to be an expert in the subject. As a result, you are seen as someone who is fit to take leadership roles. If you are someone who is passionate about Ph.D. In Criminal Justice, then with a doctorate, you will be able to better serve the community and its people. 

Doctor of Criminal Justice – Distance learning

You can get a Ph.D. in criminal justice from any traditional university or college or through an online one. The duration of the course can vary. A lot of it depends upon the program you decide to take. 

If you opt for a 90 credit course, then it can be done within 3 years. However, it might take you closer to 4 years if you opt for the 120 credit course. The duration can also go up or down based on the personal schedule and requirements posed by the curriculum. 

Criminology P.hd Programs – Cost Details

As said before, there are different programs available to get a Ph.D. in criminal justice However, the average costs for traditional and online programs are pretty much the same. The average tuition fee works out to something like this –

1. 22,000 USD per year
2. 700 USD per credit

So, the overall costs can run up to around 66,000 USD for a 90 credits course and 90,000 USD for a 120 credits course.

Another thing to keep in mind here is that different colleges will charge different admission fees. Plus, if you are opting for a traditional style of education, then there will be a cost for commuting along with Ph.D. In Criminal Justice. So, do factor in all these costs before applying for your doctorate.

Ph.d Criminal Justice Online – Resources to help you out with your doctorate

In case you are a doctorate student and need resources, you can look at the following sites for help. All of their resources are genuine and accurate. So you won’t be landing in a soup for using them –

1. Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
2. U.S. Department of Justice
3. U.S. Department of Education
4. Crime and Justice Research Alliance
5. FBIJobs.gov

As you can see from the list above, a lot of these resource providers are government bodies themselves. So, you won’t be finding any better such bodies or sources out there. 

So, with all of this being said, let us now take a final look at things. A doctorate in criminal justice will open a lot of new doors for you. Whatever you do with those opportunities, is down to you. However, once you do have that doctorate you will be eligible for leadership roles within the field. So, if you are looking to get a Ph.D. in criminal justice, then you should totally go for it. And in case you need any further assistance in doing so, feel free to reach out to us at Online schools near me.