PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in Tennessee
As a working criminal justice professional in Tennessee, you may have started to hone your professional goals and interests. With your work experience and prior education, you may have the background needed to think critically about regional and national criminal justice issues. Furthering your education can elevate your knowledge and your professional skills.
If you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree and you’re ready to advance your criminal justice career, contact criminal justice PhD programs at the bottom of this page.
What Can I Do With My PhD in Criminal Justice in Tennessee
Tennessee has taken many significant steps toward improved equality in the criminal justice system. State legislators have passed a law that makes it easy for the court system to wipe the records of people who have been arrested but who were never convicted (Times Free Press, 2016). This may protect people from having their futures restricted by crimes they did not commit.
However, you may find plenty of work left to do in the area of victims’ rights. Despite Tennessee’s Crime Victims Bill of Rights, independent studies have found numerous examples of victims’ rights being violated (Tennesseean, 2016).
Anticipated job growth in Tennessee is promising for doctoral-level jobs. Through 2030, CareerOneStop predicts job openings for judicial law clerks nationwide to remain steady (2022). During this period, you may see a 5% increase in demand for judges (CareerOneStop, 2022).
Salaries in this state are fairly close to national averages. Tennessee judicial law clerks have an average income of $77,930 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022) compared to $125,570 per year for judges (BLS, 2022).
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Tennessee contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.
What Will It Take to Earn My Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in Tennessee?
Earning a PhD in criminal justice is a multi-step process. Preparing for this procedure ahead of time can help you make the most of your educational time and build a reputation for yourself while earning a doctoral degree. Criminal justice graduate programs that result in a PhD typically require a total of 70 to 75 credits, which may drop to 40 to 45 credits if you have a Master’s degree.
In the early days of a doctoral degree, you may take core classes that introduce high-level concepts in criminal justice. These courses pave the way for high-level elective courses, internship opportunities, and dissertation research.
Some of the courses you may enroll in as a Criminal Justice doctorate student include:
- Public Policy Statistics
- Criminal Justice Administration
- Criminal Justice Programs and Policies
- Criminological Theory and Causes of Crime
- Organizations and Communities in Criminal Justice
- Intervention Strategies
- Research Methods in Criminal Justice
Many criminal justice schools Tennessee options divide doctoral programs into two portions. Upon completion of your graduate-level courses, you may write a Master’s thesis that demonstrates your ability to complete doctoral work. In the second part of your program, you take advanced courses, go through an internship, and write your dissertation. Internships may take place at government agencies, law offices, and private places of employment.
Typically, there is room in your schedule for elective courses, which permits you to get additional experience in your area of research.
Writing a dissertation begins with the selection of a research topic. You select a doctoral advisor with whom you work to craft a dissertation plan and find sources. Over a period of one to three years, you write your dissertation and perfect it with guidance from your advisor. At the conclusion of your PhD, you defend your dissertation and earn the right to call yourself a PhD graduate.
Through your research, teaching responsibilities, and administrative duties, you may heavily influence criminal justice on a state and federal level. Request information from criminal justice doctorate programs to find out more.
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