PhD in Criminal Justice Programs
(found programs from 36 schools)

Welcome to the most complete directory on the Web of PhD in Criminal Justice programs. It contains all the nationally accredited programs, from 36 schools across the country.

Pursuing a doctorate degree in criminal justice is one way to reach the highest level of the profession and make a lasting impact on the field. People who pursue degrees at this level are interested in expanding understanding of criminal behavior and how to deal with it. Prevention, intervention, effective consequences, and public policy development are all areas of importance. Graduates with this degree often achieve high-level academic positions or work in research, expert consulting firms, or public policy groups. They make significant contributions in a wide variety of criminal justice-related organizations.

You actually have quite a few degree choices in the criminal justice field. The most straightforward and common is the Doctor of Philosophy in criminal justice. This degree prepares graduates for careers in academia, research, consulting and policy development. Some institutions offer this degree with a specific focus. Some of the hot areas today are PhDs in Public Policy - Homeland Security and PhDs in Public Policy - Terrorism. Fast innovation in the field is turning up areas of specialization that may be ripe for your specific interests and could offer up interesting dissertation topics.

Other degrees are more specialized. You can earn degrees in a specific specialty such as a Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Forensic Psychology (a research-oriented degree) or a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Forensic Psychology (a practice-oriented degree). In both cases, you apply clinical psychology principles to criminal and legal issues.

Another popular option is a Doctor of Business Administration in Criminal Justice. Graduates with this degree go on to manage large organizations and departments in organizations like the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Department of Homeland Security.

A relatively new degree is sometimes called a Doctorate in Strategic Security. Graduates go on to work in the strategic security sector with titles such as Chief Information Officer. They coordinate personnel and security resources, often from multiple government agencies or private firms around the world. Intelligence gathering, interdiction and arrest are common goals.

Salaries with a doctorate degree in the field run the gamut. An assistant professor on a tenure track starts in the mid $40,000s according to HigherEdJobs.com. As for a full professor at a top urban university, HigherEdJobs.com reports you can expect to earn between $150,000 to $192,000 annually, with stipends for public speaking engagements and consulting included. Managing a corporate security department can also bring you a sizable salary in the $119,000 to $183,000 range, according to Salary.com. A top manager at the FBI earns between $95,000 and $165,000, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Before you can land any job, you'll have to complete the degree. Acceptance usually requires a high score on your GRE and excellent grades in your bachelor's or master's program. Most programs require you to come well-recommended, to do well in an in-person interview, and to write a strong essay. Once in the program, you will complete significant specialty-specific coursework. In addition to written tests, you will have to conduct original research under the eyes of your faculty and then write a dissertation explaining your hypothesis, how you conducted your research, and the implications of your results.

Networking will play a critical role in your success as a doctoral candidate and after you achieve your degree. A number of associations can help you find and line up grants to fund your research and can also connect you to scholarships. The American Criminal Justice Association (http://www.acjalae.org/) and its 273 university and college based chapters are a rich resource of information, programs, scholarships and more. The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (http://www.acjs.org/) has a specific focus on research, policy development and education. You will find programs and helpful resources at the national and regional level. It also makes sense to connect with more specialized associations organized around specialty fields.

Funding your degree can be challenging. Many employers have tuition reimbursement programs and offer outright scholarships. Government agencies and non-profits have ongoing grant programs and may be willing to fund some of your dissertation if the subject matter intersects with an area of need. You may be able to get a teaching stipend from your university and may also qualify for scholarships specific to that institution or the criminal justice department itself.

Featured Schools Accepting Students from Across the US:

Capella University

Online Programs Offered:
PhD - Criminal Justice
PhD - Emergency Management
PhD - Public Safety Leadership

Walden University

Online Programs Offered:
PhD Counselor Edu/Supervision - Forensics
PhD Counselor Edu/Supervision - Trauma/Crisis
PhD Human Services - Criminal Justice -CB
PhD Human Services - Criminal Justice -SD
PhD Public Policy - Criminal Justice (Course)
PhD Public Policy - Criminal Justice (Mixed)
PhD Public Policy - Homeland Security
PhD Public Policy - Homeland Security (Mixed)
PhD Public Policy - Terrorism/Peace (Course)
PhD Public Policy - Terrorism/Peace (Mixed)

Capella University

Online Programs Offered:
PhD - Criminal Justice
PhD - Emergency Management
PhD - Public Safety Leadership

Walden University

Online Programs Offered:
PhD Counselor Edu/Supervision - Forensics
PhD Counselor Edu/Supervision - Trauma/Crisis
PhD Human Services - Criminal Justice -CB
PhD Human Services - Criminal Justice -SD
PhD Public Policy - Criminal Justice (Course)
PhD Public Policy - Criminal Justice (Mixed)
PhD Public Policy - Homeland Security
PhD Public Policy - Homeland Security (Mixed)
PhD Public Policy - Terrorism/Peace (Course)
PhD Public Policy - Terrorism/Peace (Mixed)

In addition to the campus based programs, there are numerous online programs available for many of the common Criminal Justice degree types (Associate, Bachelors, Masters, PhD) and specialties. Please feel free to use the links on the left-hand side of this page to explore some of the online degree programs available. Thanks for visiting!