Home Doctoral Degree in Criminal Justice PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in New Hampshire

PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in New Hampshire

Working in the criminal justice industry can give you a certain type of insight. The more time you spend in the system, the more you may realize ways in which the system could be improved or made more efficient. Even if you never planned on changing career paths, you may now be inspired to further your education with a PhD and lead the path to positive change.

Ready to learn more? Take a look at the list of criminal justice graduate programs below to start comparing options.

What Can I Do With My PhD in Criminal Justice in New Hampshire?

Preparing yourself for leadership, research, and legislative positions within criminal justice means making decisions for the greater good. A new bill proposed in New Hampshire is extremely controversial, as it would allow for the establishment of a needle exchange program to reduce the spread of disease between drug users (Concord Monitor, 2016). As a doctoral candidate, you would need to look at this issue and its effects from a variety of viewpoints.

The field of criminal justice does not just deal with suspects and those who have committed crimes; it also protects victims. In a move to protect victims and give them more volunteer resources, legislators in New Hampshire have proposed a bill that would protect child advocates from liability (New Hampshire Public Radio, 2016).

The career you choose determines how you can change this field. Judges, who earn an average of $115,100 per year in New Hampshire, may see a 5% increase in demand through 2022 (O*Net, 2016). Job openings for criminal justice professors, who earn an average of $57,200 per year, may swell 21% during the same timeframe (O*Net, 2016).

What Will It Take to Earn My Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in New Hampshire?

As you compare criminal justice PhD programs, there are many factors to weigh in your decision. Of course, the strength of a program’s academic requirements is important. You may look at each school’s curricular requirements, areas of concentration, and practical experience opportunities.

The list below includes courses that are commonly required for PhD candidates:

  • Criminological Theory
  • Crime and Conflict
  • Theories of Justice
  • Applied Research Methods
  • Quantitative Research Methods
  • Families and the Law
  • International Approaches to Child Advocacy
  • Advanced Topics in Justice Studies

However, you should also meet with potential dissertation advisors and professors. Throughout your dissertation, you may spend a significant amount of time with your advisor, so it’s essential to have one who is familiar with your area of research and with whom you feel comfortable.

Financial aid is an area of concern for many students. There are conventional options, such as the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police Scholarship, but you may also receive partial or full funding from your school, particularly if you have an extremely strong application. A number of schools provide monthly stipends in addition to full funding.

What Will It Take to Earn My Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in New Hampshire?

The courses you complete give you applicable, relevant knowledge in criminal justice. However, the required work experience is also valuable to your future career. PhD students generally have to work as research and teaching assistants to earn part of their funding and stipends. Depending on the school you choose, you may dedicate yourself solely to teaching or research, or do both. This is particularly advantageous for those who hope to go into research or academia.

Anticipate spending at least two years on your dissertation; for many students, this stretches to three or four years. Once your dissertation is written, you must defend it to a panel of professors and PhDs, at which point you can receive your doctoral degree.

The more you learn about your field of study, the more chances you have to affect change. Request information from criminal justice schools in New Hampshire to learn more.