PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in Wisconsin
When people think of criminal justice, they rarely think of Wisconsin, a state that is overall considered very safe and non-threatening. However, there are quite a few high crime areas in Wisconsin, and safe communities are kept that way through the work of hard-working criminal justice professionals and community advocates.
Looking for a new way to apply your criminal justice knowledge and career skills? Learn more about earning a PhD from criminal justice schools Wisconsin options.
What Can I Do With My PhD in Criminal Justice in Wisconsin?
Despite Wisconsin’s many successes in this field, there are still areas in which improvements are desperately needed. Statistics indicate that heroin deaths in Madison are up 120% (State Journal, 2018). Hard drugs have huge mental and financial costs, and the state needs to focus on providing treatment for addiction and stopping unnecessary incarceration.
On the same note, some criminal justice departments across the state are addressing the drug issue in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Rapids plans on adding specialized positions to investigate drug-related crimes (Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, 2016). Through this, they hope to help addicts get support and services, and in turn reduce crime levels.
Overall, the criminal justice education industry is stable in Wisconsin. By the year 2026, CareerOneStop expects to see a 7% increase in criminal justice professor jobs and a 6% increase in demand for judges (2017). This is on par with the national average for all professions. In Wisconsin, criminal justice professors currently earn an average salary of $68,870 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). The average salary for a judge is $123,490 per year (BLS, 2017).
What Will It Take to Earn My Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in Wisconsin?
To function at the doctoral level as a criminal justice professional, you must enroll in a criminal justice PhD program that helps you think critically about the US criminal justice system and the Wisconsin system. Over the three to six years you spend at this level, you should explore the nature of crime, causes of crime, social control, justice system administration, and criminal justice program evaluation.
You build your knowledge in these areas in several different ways. You may take theory courses, such as those listed below:
- Processes of Deviant Behavior
- Forensics and Psychobiology of the Criminal Mind
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Advanced Criminology Theory
- Criminal Justice in America
- Criminal Jurisprudence
- Legal Psychology
- Justice and Equity in America
- Child Abuse and Neglect
As a student, you may read peer-reviewed research, analyze research, design research studies, and discuss the implications of certain studies. Furthermore, you may find out how these theories play out in different professional settings by completing a semester-long or year-long internship.
All of your knowledge and skills come together in your dissertation. This is a large and in-depth piece of research that analyzes a very specific question or area of concern in criminal justice. Although you must do the vast majority of the work yourself, you do get the help of an advisor to make your work as high-quality as possible.
Once you start narrowing down your list of potential schools, you may want to begin applying fairly early. Each school has different financial aid options, and applying early may give you a range of options to choose from. This freedom should give you the time to compare financial aid packages. Since PhD students are expected to contribute via research and teaching, packages may include partial or full tuition and a monthly stipend. If your financial aid does not cover all of your educational expenses, you may look into private scholarships and awards, such as the Wisconsin State Lodge Law Enforcement Memorial Scholarship.
Earning a doctorate in criminal justice may help you influence the future of this field and grow professionally. Start preparing for the next stage of your education by reaching out to criminal justice graduate programs below.
Online programs may not be available in all areas.
