PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in Hawaii

Whether you currently work in Hawaii’s criminal justice system or this is your first time exploring this industry, there is much to learn about the complicated criminal justice system. Not only is Hawaii responsible for protecting its residents, it must also prevent and prosecute crime against the millions of tourists that make their way to Hawaii every year. In fact, preventing crime is key to keeping Hawaii’s travel reputation strong and protecting its economy.

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

As a result, Hawaii has passed dozens of criminal justice bills in recent years. Recently passed bills include those that require the prompt testing of rape kits, establish a criminal record monitoring service, increased crisis intervention training, and body cameras for police officers (Maui Time, 2016).

Your employment options may differ quite a bit, due to Hawaii’s island layout and self-contained criminal justice agencies. You may choose to become a judicial law clerk, a career path that is expected to remain steady through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022). The median salary for a Hawaii judicial clerk is $49,360 annually (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).

With a PhD and enough experience, you may go on to become a judge or magistrate. The median salary for a Hawaii magistrate is $203,050 per year (BLS, 2022). Job openings may increase 2% through 2030 nationwide (CareerOneStop, 2022).

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

Explore your options by contacting criminal Justice PhD programs on this page.

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

Earning a PhD in criminal justice in Hawaii is a venture that typically requires four to seven years of study. Over this period of time, you can delve into complex and challenging justice topics, develop an understanding of Hawaii’s laws and statutes, and explore the theories of criminal justice and criminology. Overall, you may earn roughly 45 credits if you have a Master’s degree or 75 credits if you have a Bachelor’s degree.

As a new PhD student, you work your way through your program’s set curriculum. Partway through your education, you may be required to take a comprehensive examination that covers research areas, research techniques, and criminal justice ethics. This test is often required before you move on to your dissertation.

Before you get to this step, however, you may take criminal justice courses like:

Seminar in Criminology
American Punishment
Research Methods and Design
Advanced Statistics
Gender Violence Over the Lifecycle
Analysis in Criminology and Juvenile Delinquency
Analysis in Corrections

These courses cover criminal justice theories as well as relevant topics from other fields, such as sociology and public administration. By the time you take your comprehensive examination, you should have a good idea of your research goals and interests. While working on your dissertation, you are expected to build an advanced understanding of current evidence related to your topic and how this evidence impacts the field as a whole.

In general, tuition at criminal justice schools in Hawaii tends to be somewhat higher than tuition at mainland schools. However, you may discover that this does not impact your PhD education. Some schools severely restrict their acceptance of students and only accept doctoral students for whom they can provide full funding. In exchange, be ready to work as a research assistant and teaching assistant.

You can also look into scholarships through state agencies, such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The education you gain in a doctoral program may benefit your career in numerous ways. Prepare for your future now and contact criminal justice PhD programs in Hawaii for additional information.

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