PhD in Criminal and Security Law
Online doctorate programs in criminal and security law educate students in the sociology of crime. You can learn what social factors contribute to the increasing crime rates and how to conduct scientific research on the crime.
Experts in the field can help draft laws to prevent crime, assist in the rehabilitation of criminal offenders, or conduct academic research. The field of criminology plays an important role in making communities safer for everyone.
Criminal and security law is the branch of sociology that deals with crime and criminals. You may want to look into doctoral programs in criminology if you have already studied sociology or the related field at the bachelor’s or master’s level and would like to develop more specialized knowledge.
Criminology PhD programs, much like master's programs in criminology, can help prepare you for a variety of career paths. Professionals with a PhD tend to pursue careers in research or academia. Advanced knowledge of criminology could also be beneficial if you work in the rehabilitation or correctional facility for criminal offenders.
It’s also applicable to the government agencies and private nonprofits that work to lower crime rates and increase public safety.
Here are some subjects that are typically covered in doctoral criminology programs:
- Criminal law
- Forensics
- Criminal psychology
- Sociology
- Statistical analysis
- Research methods
A doctorate in criminology is usually a very research-intensive degree program. You will likely learn a lot about how to collect the data and analyze research methodology.
As part of the PhD program, you will probably be expected to complete the dissertation. A dissertation demonstrates that you know how to conduct the methodologically correct research and contribute new knowledge to the field for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Ideally, this knowledge would have practical applications that could help to improve society.
Admissions Requirements:
What qualifications should you have before you even apply to an online doctoral program in criminology? Here are some common admissions requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher from the accredited university
- Minimum grade point average of 3.0
- Previous professional experiences
- Background in research
Admissions requirements can vary at different universities. Some universities may consider GPA to be the most important qualification while others might prefer students with previous work experience. Some universities require that you have a master’s degree, especially if you do not already have work experience in the fields.
DURATION:
PhD programs generally take 3 to 5 years to complete, but your time to completion can vary depending on the length of the programs and how many hours of coursework you take on each semester.
TOP UNIVERSITIES:
- California University of Pennsylvania
- Texas A&M International University
- University of Arizona
- University of North Georgia
- Washington State University