PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in Mississippi

Your education and experience could create positive change in Mississippi. Explore your options for earning a doctorate in criminal justice below.

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

As crime rates around the country drop, some parts of Mississippi have seen an alarming trend. In some communities, particularly in southern Mississippi, shooting crimes have increased significantly (Sun Herald, 2016). Experts note that the majority of these crimes involve young adults and teens. Researchers and legislators who can address these problems head-on can save lives and keep people safe.

Recidivism rates tend to be high in general, and solving that problem is one of the long-term goals of criminal justice experts. In Mississippi, one chief of police claims that criminals are returning to the street without proper preparation and assessment, leading to prompt re-offending (WAPT, 2016). He claims that greater cooperation between different sectors of the industry could solve this problem.

Criminal justice PhD programs may include the knowledge and work experience you need to apply for high-level positions. Between 2012 and 2022, O*Net expects job openings for administrative law judges to increase 2% and job openings for judicial law clerks to increase 8% (2016). They report an average salary of $90,200 per year for administrative law judges and $29,800 annually for judicial law clerks (O*Net, 2016).

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

Even if you have both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in criminal justice, be ready for the huge changes that can come with a PhD program. While undergraduate and Master’s degree programs may focus primarily on job skills and lend some time to research and theory, PhD programs typically prioritize research.

Over a period of three to six years, depending on your current level of education, you may analyze research, conduct research, and use current research to shape and defend your dissertation. In addition, you should get plenty of time teaching undergraduate and graduate students. Your school may recommend or require you to complete an internship as well.

Since this degree is so academic in nature, many of your courses may delve into data and evidence. Others focus on discussion and debate.

As you learn about this degree, look for these courses or courses similar to them:

• Seminar in Civil Liberties and Criminal Law
• Qualitative Research and Analysis
• Quantitative Research and Analysis
• Regression Analysis in Justice Administration
• Advanced Criminal Justice Theory

Completing a PhD and writing a dissertation are huge tasks, and most students consider this degree a full-time job. To that end, schools often discourage students from working full-time while in school. It is fairly common for Mississippi PhD programs to require PhD candidates to work part-time as research or teaching assistants. With this type of aid package, it’s possible to receive free or discounted tuition in addition to a monthly stipend. For this reason, doctoral programs tend to be extremely competitive in nature.

If you do plan on working full-time while earning this degree, consider PhD criminal justice online programs. You may be able to complete your degree at a more relaxed pace and avoid scheduling conflicts.

The skills you may gain in a PhD program can benefit you in many ways. Discover how you can advance your education by contacting Mississippi criminal justice schools below.