How to Get a PhD in Criminal Justice

Rising crime and an overcrowded prison system have brought corrections to the forefront of the criminal justice field. Policymakers and law enforcement administrators rely on corrections experts to devise more effective responses to crime. Corrections scholars and industry leaders analyze the effectiveness of corrections programs and develop strategies for rehabilitating convicted criminals.

The doctoral degree in corrections offers a direct path to the top of the profession. Depending on which corrections doctorate you pursue, you could find yourself teaching in a university classroom, performing ground-breaking research, advising policymakers and criminal justice leaders, or leading a corrections program.

Completing a PhD in corrections or criminal justice takes careful planning and a clear vision of the road ahead. This guide leads you through the application process step by step, with links to online resources along the way.

A Guide to the PhD in Criminal Justice

The best preparation for a doctoral degree in criminal justice is a clear vision of your interests and career goals. Education at the doctoral level is self-directed, tailored to your needs and designed to transform you into an expert in a specialized area. An understanding of the corrections discipline and the opportunities available to you can help you focus your priorities and find a PhD or professional doctorate that matches them.

Criminal Justice and Corrections as an Academic Discipline

Criminal justice and corrections landed on the academic map in the 1890s, with the influence of pioneering sociologist and criminologist Emile Durkheim. By the 1920s, criminal justice had become an academic discipline in its own right, distinct from sociology and criminology. The field initially emphasized law enforcement over courts and corrections. Corrections took on a higher profile after the 1960s, when crime rates began to soar and broad changes in corrections policies took effect. The prison building boom of the following decades also fueled interest in correctional theory, institutional corrections, and alternative responses to crime.

Criminal Justice Today

Criminal justice is an interdisciplinary field encompassing both applied and theoretical research. Lawrence Sherman, a leading criminal justice scholar, defines criminal justice as ''applied criminology, that portion of criminology that specializes in studying the police, the courts and prisons.'' Degree programs "combine sociology, psychology, history, economics, politics and statistics, and use the scientific method."

Corrections, the study of punishment and criminal rehabilitation, is typically considered a specialty of the criminal justice discipline. The field takes an applied, policy-directed approach to punishment and rehabilitation. At the doctoral level, some corrections programs adopt the criminology discipline's theoretical approach to crime and punishment as a social phenomenon. Corrections scholars investigate punishment and rehabilitation strategies using both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

To learn more about the discipline, visit WorldWideLearn.com's Guide to Majors. The guide includes general information about criminal justice as well as a specific page on corrections.

Doctoral Degrees in Corrections

As recently as 1970, only two universities offered doctoral programs in criminal justice. Today, you'll find a broad selection of PhD degrees in criminal justice with a concentration in corrections. In addition, universities are developing professional practice doctorates to meet the needs of advanced corrections professionals.

• The Doctor of Philosophy remains the standard doctorate in criminal justice, modeled after social science doctorates. The PhD is designed for aspiring educators and academic researchers, and emphasizes original scholarship.

• Professional practice doctorates answer demand for experts in applied research and correctional healthcare. Options include the Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ) and the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). PsyD programs offer corrections degrees in corrections counseling, substance abuse treatment, and correctional mental health.

WorldWideLearn.com's Online PhD Degrees and Doctoral Programs resource page offers an overview of the different doctorates available today.

Specializations in Corrections

Corrections offers a number of options for specialized research. As a doctoral student, you can explore one of the following research areas:

Institutional Corrections

• Prison Studies
• Prison Inmate Education
• Corrections Technology
• Probation

Healthcare

• Correctional Healthcare
• Substance Abuse treatment
• Correctional Mental Health

Issues in Corrections

• Community Corrections
• Rehabilitation and Recidivism
• Juvenile Corrections
• Minorities and the Corrections System

The direction you choose will determine which academic program is best for you and influence your career prospects.

Corrections Career Track

The PhD in criminal justice or corrections prepares graduates to take a leading role in criminal justice education, public policy, or administration.

Academic Careers. Most PhD students go on to academic careers as university professors, where they teach undergraduate courses, pursue research, and publish their findings. The PhD program prepares students for academic work through apprentice-like student teaching and research assistantships.

Professional Careers. Some PhD students and most professional graduates assume leading roles in the corrections industry. Career options include:

• Policy researcher (think tanks, private foundations, government agencies)
• Public Policy administrator
• Correctional psychologist
• Director of a corrections facility
• Federal Bureau of Prisons officer
• Corrections technology or prison education specialist

If you're unsure of your career goals, check out WorldWideLearn.com's Career Pathways resource. You'll find career planning and assessment tools to help you focus your ambitions.

Applying for a PhD in Corrections: An Action Plan

A general understanding of your academic options can serve you well as you prepare for graduate study. The following steps take you from here to the college classroom.

Step One: Find the Right Graduate Corrections Program

The secret to success in graduate study is finding the right program fit. Each PhD and professional doctorate brings different resources and faculty expertise to the study of corrections, creating a different experience for graduate students. Finding a program aligned with your research interests will ensure that you have the institutional support to succeed as a doctoral candidate.

1. List Accredited PhD Programs

Begin by researching available PhD programs in criminal justice and corrections. Look for doctoral programs accredited by an independent, U.S. Department of Education-recognized authority. Accreditation functions as a baseline measure of quality--it ensures the value of your degree and can impact your eligibility for federal financial aid.

Major accrediting agencies include:

• Middle States Association (MSA)
• Northwest Association of Schools & Colleges (NASC)
• North Central Association of Colleges & Schools (NCA)
• New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC)
• Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS)
• Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC)

The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) is the leading authority for online degree accreditation. You can find a complete list of approved national and regional accreditation agencies at the Department of Education's Web site.

Resources

WorldWideLearn.com features a selection of accredited graduate programs. Search Degrees by Subject to find an online or campus PhD degree in criminal justice, or browse a list of university partners.

The Sloan Consortium represents online education programs nationwide. The organization maintains a searchable database of degree programs in law, including both corrections and criminal justice programs.

2. Choose Campus or Online Format

Today's universities offer campus and online learning formats to accommodate students' personal preferences and circumstances. Your options include a full-time campus program, online degrees with brief campus residencies, and hybrid programs incorporating both formats.

• The academic PhD in criminal justice is traditionally a full-time campus program. Aspiring academics benefit from campus resources such as close faculty mentorship, access to library collections, and apprenticeships in teaching and research.

• The online PhD or professional doctorate in criminal justice offers a popular alternative for mid-career adults managing work and family commitments. The flexible program offers convenience and remote access, as well as opportunities for applied research. Criminal justice professionals returning to school for their doctorate may develop DCJ projects that address specific work-related issues. PsyD students can begin their clinical rotations alongside their online education.

The right program format for you depends on your personal circumstances and career goals.

Resources

These Online Degree Programs and Campus Education sections can help you narrow your search to programs that support your chosen format. To find campus locations near you, search Degrees by Location.

3. Explore Academic Programs

With so much variation among criminal justice PhD programs, it's essential to do your homework before applying. At the doctoral level, the most important indicator of a program's orientation is its resident faculty members. Look for a professor who shares your research interests and could serve as your mentor throughout the program.

The following factors will give you a sense of the program's academic orientation:

• Faculty research interests and publications
• Research facilities
• Specializations
• Curriculum and course requirements
• Special programs: conferences, journals, research centers, etc.
• Partnerships with local corrections facilities and public agencies

A thorough investigation of the programs on your list will ensure that you have the resources to produce influential research in your field.

Resources

WorldWideLearn.com offers a good starting point for your program research. The site offers a useful search utility that matches you with schools that meet your requirements. Fill out an online form indicating your academic program criteria, and a school representative will contact you to answer your questions about the PhD program in criminal justice.

School Web sites post detailed information about degree requirements and special programs. You'll also find links to professor bios and publications, graduate student dissertation topics, and course reading lists.

Academic journals can help you identify leading universities supporting research in your field of interest. You may even contact article authors for program advice or to explore the possibility of mentorship.

Corrections journals include:

• The Journal of Correctional Education
• The Prison Journal (An International Forum on Incarceration and Alternative Sanctions)
• Punishment & Society (The International Journal of Penology)
• Probation Journal (The Journal of Community and Criminal Justice)
• Journal of Correctional Healthcare
• Crime & Delinquency

Major criminal justice journals include:

• Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice
• Criminal Justice Review

4. Evaluate Program Quality

Finally, focus your list by examining program quality. Aim for the perfect balance of quality and selectivity, keeping in mind the strength of your application. Your grades and test scores will play into your competitiveness as an applicant.

Consider the following factors to assess program quality:

• Reputation
• Selectivity
• Graduation Rate
• Job Placement Statistics
• Career Support Resources

Resources

Rankings offer an easy way to compare the reputation and selectivity of different PhD programs in engineering. The major rankings include:

• U.S. News & World Report, Best Graduate Schools in Criminology
• The National Research Council, Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs
• The Center for Measuring University Performance, The Top American Research Universities, 2008 Annual Report

Admissions departments can supply data on the PhD program upon request. Discover information on the average GPA and test scores of admitted students; placement history data of recent doctoral graduates; percentage of students pursuing academic and professional careers; and more.

Campus visits offer the best vantage point for deciding among programs. Meet with potential faculty advisors, tour campus facilities, audit a graduate class, and get a feel for the academic environment.

Step Two: Apply to PhD Programs in Corrections or Criminal Justice

Once you've settled on a final list of schools, you're ready to set the application process in motion. For guidance along the way, check out WorldWideLearn.com's Education Resources Guide. You'll find information about test preparation, online learning, prerequisite courses, and financial aid.

Though each school's application requirements will differ, you can expect to encounter the following steps:

1. Complete Prerequisites

Before you submit an application, make sure you meet eligibility requirements. You may have to take additional courses or tests to prepare for the PhD in corrections.

• Bachelor's or master's degree in criminal justice, sociology, psychology, public administration, or a related field.
• Standardized tests such as the GRE and the TOEFL (for international students)
• Work Experience
• Publications and research experience

2. Prepare Application Materials

Next, prepare your application materials well in advance of the deadline. Standard requirements include:

• Faculty or professional letters of recommendation
• Academic transcripts
• Test scores
• Statement of research interests

3. Secure Financial Aid

Finally, prepare financial aid applications for both academic and non-academic funding. Most PhD students rely on a variety of sources to fund their graduate education. Financial aid options include:

• University and private scholarships
• Federal and private loans
• Teaching and research assistantships
• Employer sponsorship
• Tuition waivers
• Research grants

For more information, visit WorldWideLearn.com's resource page on graduate education funding.

Step Three: Join the Academic Community

With the applications headed to the admissions committee, you're on your way to becoming an official criminal justice scholar. Spend the time building relationships with your new peers and exploring directions for research. Some of the resources for joining the academic community include:

• Joining professional and academic associations
• Attending conferences
• Reading academic research journals

The American Correctional Association is the largest professional networking organization in the field. The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences serves the academic community, with events and journals dedicated to criminal justice research. You'll also find smaller groups of like-minded academics. For example, the Corrections Technology Association focuses on the application of technology in corrections.

Conclusion

The PhD in criminal justice or corrections exposes you to a world of new ideas, groundbreaking research methods, and expert mentors. By arriving in graduate school with a keen sense of your research objectives, you're in a position to take full advantage of the opportunities that come your way. Use this guide to find and secure your place in academia, and set yourself up to become a leader in the corrections field.

Sources

• American Correctional Association.
• Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs, National Research Council.
• Butterfield, Fox. "A Newcomer Breaks Into the Liberal Arts: Criminal Justice." The New York Times (Dec 5, 1998).
• Correctional Education Association.
• Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, U.S. Department of Education.
• Doctoral Degree Program, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Maryland College Park.
• Doctorate in Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Nebraska Omaha.
• Dufee, David and Edward R. Maguire. Criminal Justice Theory: Explaining the Nature and Behavior of Criminal Justice. New York: Routledge, 2007.
• Owen, Stephen. "The Intellectual Journey of Criminal Justice: Forging a New Path." Paper presented at the annual meeting of the AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY. May 24, 2009.
• Programs in Law, The Sloan Consortium.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University.
• The Top American Research Universities, 2008 Annual Report. The Center for Measuring University Performance.
• Top Criminology Graduate Programs, U.S. News & World Report (2009).