PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in Florida

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

Earning a PhD in criminal justice may give you the education you need to reach your full potential as a criminal justice professional in whichever specialty interests you.

Reform is a huge priority in Florida, and it takes many shapes. One justice reform effort aims to keep incarcerated juveniles out of adult prisons, a move that may help juveniles avoid the cycle of reoffending as adults (WLRN, 2016).

Another important Florida bill addresses the issue of mental health issues overburdening the justice system. This bill would prioritize treatment over incarceration, a move that could substantially benefit offenders and taxpayers (WFSU, 2016).

With a criminal justice degree Florida, you may have the opportunity to try several different career paths. A PhD may qualify you for administrative law judge positions. Through 2030, job openings for administrative law judges in Florida are expected to increase by 3% (CareerOneStop, 2022). The average salary for an administrative law judge in Florida is $93,720 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).

In contrast, criminal justice professors in Florida bring in an average salary of $58,270 annually (BLS, 2022). Job openings may swell 18% through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).

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

Are you ready to use your Master’s degree to take the next step in your education? Get started now by contacting criminal justice colleges in Florida below.

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

To enroll in Florida criminal justice PhD programs, you must meet rigorous admissions requirements and standards. Most programs accept students with Bachelor’s degrees and students with Master’s degrees.

If you have a Master’s degree in criminal justice or another relevant field, your program may be approximately two years shorter than the program for a Bachelor’s degree graduate. The majority of schools expect a GPA of 3.5 in the final two years of an undergraduate degree or a 3.5 GPA for your entire Master’s degree.

Once you’ve been accepted to your program of choice, you begin tackling the learning goals of your school. This involves taking a variety of graduate-level criminal justice courses, often including those listed here:

• Seminar in Crime, Law and Justice
• Law and Society
• Research Methods in Crime, Law and Justice
• Criminal Justice Process
• Quantitative Research Methods
• Seminar in Criminological Theory

You may be required to select an area of specialization, depending on which school you choose. For example, some Florida programs require you to choose between a crime and justice track or a law and society track.

Experience is highly valued at this level of education, so get ready to complete one or more internships as required by your advisors. These internships may take you into different work settings that are relevant to your degree, allowing you to establish solid career plans.

The defining part of a PhD program is the dissertation. To complete your dissertation, anticipate spending at least one to two years on the writing process. From there, you defend your dissertation to a panel. Once it has been accepted, you can earn your doctoral degree.

Most schools offer some type of assistance to PhD candidates, whether it be partial or full assistance. However, you can also look into outside scholarships and grants. The Florida Sheriffs’ Association awards multiple scholarships during each academic year.

Your growth in the criminal justice industry can begin right now. Take a look at our comprehensive list of criminal justice degrees in Florida and contact nearby schools to learn more.