How to Complete a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice
A Ph.D. in criminal justice enables you to make a difference in your community by initiating positive changes in the legal system and society itself. Candidates may specialize in forensics, public policy, statistics or international law. As with any doctoral degree, completing a Ph.D. in criminal justice takes many years and involves substantial educational prerequisites. However, those who are truly dedicated to public service will be able to surmount these challenges. You then will be in a position to launch an exciting and significant career.
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Things You'll Need
- Tuition
- Bachelor's degree
- Master's degree in criminal justice (optional)
- GRE test results
- Dissertation
Instructions
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Get a bachelor's degree. All criminal justice PhD. programs require a B.A. If possible, choose a subject in the social sciences. Criminal justice schools prefer degrees in that area.
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Consider obtaining a master's degree. The subject also should be part of the social sciences. For certain criminal justice programs such as the University of Nebraska, an M.A. is mandatory. At other schools, it will increase your likelihood of being accepted into the program.
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Take the GRE. Nearly all criminal justice programs require a GRE test score. Though most schools do not maintain an official cutoff for admission, a higher score obviously will increase your chances of admission. Prepare accordingly. There are numerous GRE preparation books and programs, such as Kaplan or the Princeton Review, that will help improve your score.
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Search for criminal justice Ph.D. programs that are a good fit with your abilities, interests and finances. Be selective in where you apply. According to the "Criminal Justice Online Blog," which provides detailed commentary on criminal justice careers, established programs at major universities "carry more weight" than online degrees.
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Make a short list of programs that you would like to attend. U.S. News issues an annual top 20 ranking of criminal justice programs that may be helpful in your decision.
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Apply to the selected programs. Along with providing university transcripts and GRE scores, many universities require recommendation letters from professors who have taught you previously. Most schools have strict deadlines so be sure to assemble your materials way in advance. In most cases, you also will need to submit an essay on why you plan to pursue a career in criminal justice.
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Choose a concentration. Criminal justice programs usually start with a core curriculum that may last two or three semesters. After that, you must choose an area of specialization such as cybercrime, forensics, statistics or penology. Take the appropriate electives. Toward the end of your coursework, you will need to take and pass a comprehensive examination based around your studies.
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Choose a topic for your dissertation. Be sure that you find the subject interesting as you will need to write several hundred pages about it over a period of years.
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Write your dissertation. Consult regularly with professors and relevant professionals.
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Defend your Ph.D before the criminal justice faculty. If they agree with your research and findings, they will award you your Ph.D. For best results, be sure to meet with them regularly throughout your stay in the program.
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References
Resources
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