PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in Delaware

While criminal justice does need reform on a national level, it is perhaps even more important for each state to address its own challenges in this industry and come up with state-specific solutions. In the state of Delaware, highly educated criminal justice professionals with experience in this industry develop reform plans, offer recommendations, and lead new programs.

Featured Online Criminal Justice Programs

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

Careful analysis of crime data indicates that Delaware suffers from extremely high rates of inequity in state prisons (News Works, 2016). One of the most common goals in this industry involves reforming the court system, ensuring fairness for all suspects, and making economic and educational opportunities more widely available to the people of Delaware.

In addition to unique state issues, Delaware faces many of the same tough decisions as other states. A controversial issue in Delaware legislation is the topic of police body cameras. While some experts argue for them, some people argue against the additional expense of body cameras (Delaware Online, 2016). Your work at the PhD level may give you the knowledge you need to make informed recommendations.
There are several career paths you may follow with a PhD criminal justice.

Administrative law judges in Delaware earn a median income of $63,820 annually (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022), and job openings should remain steady through 2030 (CareeerOneStop, 2022). Criminal justice professors report a median salary of $64,990 per year nationwide (2022); job openings may increase 25% through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Delaware contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.

Find out how a PhD may help you accomplish your research and career goals. Contact schools below for more information.

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

Once you earn a PhD, you may be considered among the most highly educated professionals in criminal justice. It’s important that you be ready to meet this challenge and represent the industry as a whole.

If you plan on building on your Master’s degree with a PhD, you may be able to complete your 50 required credits in about four years. If you combine your graduate and PhD education, you may spend six years in school earning 70 credits. Regardless of your program choice, you may explore the same core set of topics.

Classes commonly required in criminal justice PhD programs include:

Data Collection and Analysis
Theories and Approaches in Social Deviance
Application of Criminological Theory and Empirical Tests
Criminology and Systems of Criminal Justice
Research Practicum

To earn your PhD, you must meet the dissertation requirements of your school. A dissertation analyzes a highly specific issue, trend, or theory in criminal justice. Since it is meant to be representative of your entire academic career, it requires substantial work. The dissertation portion of your education may last between one and two years.

In addition to your dissertation, you may get experience in several other ways while earning your degree.

Most schools require you to complete an internship at a local criminal justice agency. PhD students also have specific teaching and research requirements to meet, which may prepare you for an academic or research career.

Advisors note that networking is an extremely important part of succeeding in criminal justice, which is why they encourage doctoral students to join criminal justice associations, volunteer, attend seminars, and build as many connections as possible.

If you want to take your criminal justice career as far as you can, you may benefit from a PhD. Start exploring your options now by contacting schools that offer criminal justice degrees in Delaware.