PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in Connecticut

In any industry, change is inevitable. In the last few years, this has been especially true for the world of criminal justice. Connecticut, a state that generally has crime rates below national averages, is still part of massive reform efforts going on across the country. These reforms are backed by research, statistical data, and practical experience in the industry. Earning a PhD criminal justice may give you extensive experience with research, policymaking, and advocacy.

Featured Online Criminal Justice Programs

What Can I Do With My PhD in Criminal Justice in Connecticut?

As is the case in most other states, Connecticut has seen crime rates decrease on a yearly basis for several years (Connecticut Department of Public Safety, 2016). This includes a decrease in violent crime as well as property crime. However, experts still struggle to reduce rates of specific crimes like murder and arson.

Connecticut is known for its wide implementation of Second Chance Society reforms. In coming years, legislators hope to lower bail amounts for certain offenders, raise the age of juvenile arrest, and provide support for offenders who are reintegrating into society (FOX 61, 2016).

Overall, the job outlook is stable for PhD-level criminal justice careers. Through 2022, O*Net anticipates a 5% increase in administrative judge positions and a 7% increase in judicial law clerk jobs (2016). Administrative law judges earn an average of $82,200 per year in Connecticut, while judicial law clerks claim an average of $71,600 annually (O*Net, 2016).

Systemic change comes from those with the experience and education needed to influence an entire industry. Learn more about your doctoral options by contacting criminal justice schools in CT.

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

There are several options to consider as you look into criminal justice PhD degrees CT. If you learn best in a classroom among peers, a conventional program may suit you. If you work a lot or cannot predict your schedule, you may want to look into online degrees.

Most PhD programs are designed for graduates who already have a Master’s degree. If you do not yet have a Master’s degree, you may need to earn a total of 70 to 75 credits, as opposed to the 40 to 50 required for a PhD.

The cost of school may play a significant role in your school choice. Across Connecticut, most PhD programs cost between $7500 and $17,000 per semester. However, many PhD students receive full funding from their schools in exchange for research and teaching work. For this to be an option, you may need extremely strong grades, an extensive background in criminal justice, and research interests.

At this level of education, it’s important to know exactly what your goals are and become an expert in your selected research areas. To that end, many universities and colleges allow you to declare an area of concentration. Some options in Connecticut are listed below:

Investigative Science
Law Enforcement
Criminal Behavior
Forensic Science
Victimology
Criminal Justice Management

The courses included in your curriculum are meant to challenge your thinking, help you think critically about criminal justice issues, and make you look at topics as they fit into the big picture.

Course names are unique to each school, but you may take courses like those listed here:

Law, Society, and Ethics
Critical Issues in Management of Criminal Justice
Methods of Research Design and Statistical Analysis
Criminal Profiling
Emergency Management
Criminal Behavior and the Family
Organizational Procedures
Victimology
Criminal Justice Leadership

If you envision a society where crime rates are as low as possible and offenders successfully transition into society, earn a PhD and put your plans into action.

Take a look at our list of schools below and contact programs for more information.