PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in Minnesota

Sweeping changes have been approved across Minnesota. Legislators have agreed to lower prison sentences for first and second degree drug offenders to reduce prison overcrowding (Austin Daily Herald, 2016). Legislators are now debating whether or not to apply this law retroactively to those currently in the prison system.

Minnesota is one of the first states to try de-radicalization. This involves trying to change the beliefs of those who commit acts of terror due to religious or cultural influences. In the Twin Cities, two experts are working with four federal terror suspects to test whether or not deradicalization is successful (Star Tribune, 2016).

Is a PhD in criminal justice the right choice for you? Find out by requesting information from criminal justice schools in MN below.

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

Since a doctoral degree explores most areas of criminal justice, it may open new career opportunities to you. Through 2022, the job outlook for administrative law judges is expected to remain stable in Minnesota (O*Net, 2016). Professionals in this field earn an average of $102,200 per year (O*Net, 2016). Job openings for criminal justice professors may jump 4% by 2022, and professors in this field report an average income of $56,700 per year (O*Net, 2016).

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

Education is one of the highest priorities in Minnesota, which may give you a number of options when it comes to earning your PhD. If you have a Bachelor’s degree, you must select a program that includes Master’s-level coursework. Most programs that fit this requirement last between five and six years. If you have already earned a Master’s degree in criminal justice, you may earn your doctorate in four years or less.

Financial aid may influence your school choices and options. Since PhD students provide teaching and research assistance, funding is generally more widely available at this level of education. You can also apply for private grants, such as the Law Enforcement Officer Scholarship.

Many programs allow or require students to select an area of concentration. Some of the options available in Minnesota include criminal justice administration and criminal justice counseling. Each school sets its own curricular requirements, but course topics and outcomes are generally similar between schools.

Look at the list below to learn more about common doctoral criminal justice courses:

• Applied Graduate Research Methods in Criminal Justice: ways to conduct, analyze, and apply research in various areas of criminal justice
• Program and Policy Evaluation in Criminal Justice: analysis of programs and policies for efficacy, cost efficiency, and long-term viability
• Causation and Prevention of Crime: exploring complex criminology issues, including factors that contribute to crime and research-backed methods of crime prevention
• Management Within the Criminal Justice System: administration, management, and leadership skills and theory in criminal justice
• Qualitative Research Methods: conducting and utilizing qualitative research

Teaching and research are two of the main areas of focus in PhD criminal justice programs, but practical leadership and management experience may also be required. If this is the case for your school, you may need to complete a semester-long internship. Of course, the largest piece of research you create during your degree is your dissertation.

Earning a PhD may qualify you to influence systemic change on a statewide or national basis. Check out opportunities now by contacting criminal justice doctorate programs below.