PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in Utah

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

If you’ve developed critical thinking skills and a passion for this field, criminal justice schools Utah programs may take your education to the next level. Earning a doctoral degree helps you open your mind to the big picture of criminal justice and the future of this industry.

The recent State of Judiciary address in Utah tackled criminal justice concerns in the state (Fox 13 Now, 2016). Current priorities include developing new solutions for the industry, allocating more money to rehabilitation programs, strengthening transition programs, and providing treatment programs to those who struggle with addiction.

Legislators in Utah have voted to relocate some of the state prisons (Utah Policy, 2016). This presents a sudden opportunity for the industry to enhance coordination efforts and future plans.

One of the benefits of earning a doctorate in criminal justice is the variety of career paths that can open up to you. If you want to work in a legal setting, look into becoming a judicial law clerk. Judicial law clerks bring in an average of $36,230 per year in Utah (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). Per O*Net, job openings in this field may swell 11% through 2022 (2016).

Another option involves going into academia as a criminal justice professor. The average income for a criminal justice professor is $60,060annually (BLS, 2016). Between 2012 and 2022, job openings may jump 24% (O*Net, 2016).

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

Criminal justice PhD programs are generally very rigorous, so you must be prepared to tackle issues of ethics, research, theory, and policy in your doctoral program. Beyond the Master’s degree level, a PhD requires approximately 40 credits of study.

Most of your curriculum may be comprised of high-level courses that challenge your understanding of this industry. Commonly required courses include:

• Criminal Justice Statistics
• Contemporary Criminal Justice
• Theories of Crime and Delinquency
• Research Methods in Criminal Justice
• Law and Social Control
• Technology and Innovation in Criminal Justice
• Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice
• Legal Foundations of Criminal Justice
• Criminal Justice Planning, Budgeting, and Evaluation

It’s crucial to know how to apply the knowledge you gain to practical work settings. Some programs are intended for working criminal justice graduates with extensive experience in the field. If you do not have work experience in this industry, you may be expected to complete a semester-long internship.

Another component of your doctoral education is your dissertation. It makes up 12 to 21 credits of your degree and involves in-depth work in one specialized area of criminal justice research. The time spent on your dissertation can strengthen your reputation and help you develop research skills that are particularly valuable in academia.

Additional work experience may be available through your institution. Many programs offer some type of funding to PhD candidates, whether it’s full or partial tuition. You may even get a monthly stipend. Part of this agreement usually involves working as a teaching assistant or research assistant—both of these roles are beneficial if you plan to work in academia.

In total, you may spend about three years earning your degree if you have a Master’s degree in criminal justice. Criminal justice graduate programs intended for Bachelor’s graduates may require five to six years of study, as they combine graduate-level and doctoral-level courses.

If you’re ready to explore high-level career options in criminal justice, advancing your education could be the first step. Learn more by contacting criminal justice PhD programs below.