PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in Idaho

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

In line with neighboring states, Idaho is pushing forward with a criminal justice reform plan. This bipartisan plan addresses issues in all areas of the industry. Some of the goals of criminal justice reform include shortened sentences for nonviolent offenders, punishment options that do not rely on incarceration, and more efficient use of state funds (Boise State Public Radio, 2016).

With a PhD, you may take your career in a number of different directions. Careers span all settings, from prisons and parole boards to courtrooms and police stations. If you decide to become an adjudicator, you may determine liability and work in other government-related matters.

Demand for judges is expected to swell 2% nationwide by 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022) and Idaho adjudicators report an average salary of $69,920 annually (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).

Another courtroom career option is becoming a judicial law clerk, a position with growth that should remain steady through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022). The median salary for a judicial law clerk is $57,630 per year (BLS, 2022).

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

It’s time to use your experience and your passion for criminal justice to improve the system. Make your move now by contacting criminal justice schools in Idaho for more information.

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

As you start preparing to earn a PhD in criminal justice, there is a lot you must consider. First, remember that the focus of a PhD program is research and scholarship. The majority of your time in a doctoral program may be spent writing, editing, and defending a dissertation.

As you go through this process, you may spend hours upon hours with your dissertation advisor. For that reason, the faculty members at any given school may be a significant part of your decision. Working with professors who have extensive experience in your intended area of research can take your research to the next level.

You may also want to look into each program’s funding options. PhD candidates are expected to produce research that benefits the university, so universities and colleges often provide partial or full funding for PhD candidates. To earn this funding opportunity and a monthly stipend, you may have to work as a teaching and research assistant for criminal justice graduate programs.

By the time you graduate with your doctoral degree, you should feel confident of your knowledge in many areas of criminal justice. It is more important, though, that you develop an expert-level knowledge in your chosen area of concentration. PhD degrees in criminal justice offer varying areas of specialization, including public administration, political science, and criminology.

As you complete your classroom requirements, you may enroll in courses like:

• Topics in Criminal Justice
• Advanced Criminology Theories
• Deviance and Crime
• Sexual Crimes
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Quantitative Research Methods

At the conclusion of your education, you create a thesis proposal presentation. This is followed by an oral defense of your dissertation. Making it through these steps may allow you to transition from PhD candidate to PhD. In total, you may earn between 60 and 80 credits for your doctoral degree.

Graduate degrees in criminal justice broaden your understanding of this field, its future, and your role in it. Request information from criminal justice programs to find out what your next step is.