Online PhD Criminal Justice

by Janice Stratton

online phd criminal justiceOnline PhD Criminal Justice Programs: Take Your Goals to the Highest Level

Have you considered yourself an ideal candidate for PhD study in your field–criminal justice–but not been able to enroll in a program due to concerns with residency requirements or relocating?  If that’s the case, you should start researching the online PhD criminal  justice programs that are becoming ever more numerous.

At this time, very few universities are offering PhD programs online, and even fewer are offering an Online Criminal Justice PhD.

Currently, Walden University leads the pack with their cutting-edge doctoral programs in criminal justice, homeland security, public policy, and emergency management.

Online PhD in Public Policy and Administration – Criminal Justice & Homeland Security

Walden University offers the highly sought after PhD in Public Policy in five areas of concentration: Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Law and Public Policy, Terrorism, and Emergency Management.

  1. PhD in Public Policy and Administration – Criminal Justice
  2. PhD in Public Policy and Administration – Homeland Security Policy and Coordination
  3. PhD in Public Policy and Administration – Law and Public Policy
  4. PhD in Public Policy and Administration – Terrorism, Mediation, and Peace
  5. PhD in Public Policy and Administration – Emergency Management

The Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration program, regardless of area of specialization, prepares you to meet the challenges of governance and effective service delivery as government and nonprofit institutions increasingly become intertwined. You’ll integrate scholarly research with your professional experience, gaining the knowledge, confidence, and expertise to create effective solutions.

Finding the Real Thing

You’re right to be skeptical of online academic degree programs–to a point.  Certainly online education has dealt with its share of con men, diploma mills, and scams.  The internet didn’t invent the diploma mill, but there are plenty to be found there all the same.  Nonetheless there are also fully accredited programs which are offered by reputable education institutions.  Some of the colleges and universities offering online PhD criminal justice programs are themselves entirely based online; others are traditional campus based colleges and universities which are keeping up with the times.  If you disregard online options that could help you earn your PhD, you’re not doing yourself any favors.

Be sure to check out the accreditation of the schools you decide to apply to.  It’s a simple process and it’ll ease your mind.  Beyond that, you should look for an online PhD criminal justice program that offers you a chance to pursue your own particular research interests in this field.  Researching the alumni of the program and the faculty involved in the program–and of course, your choices of advisers–is a key step in making your final decision.

And be aware that just because a program is online doesn’t mean it’s “easier” than a “real” PhD.  In fact, reputable online PhD criminal justice programs often are intentionally more challenging than on-campus programs–colleges are very aware that there is still some suspicion regarding online degrees, and go out of their way to ensure that their programs are of the highest academic quality.