PhD in Law Enforcement

Introduction to law enforcement, policing and investigation:
The fields of law enforcement, policing and investigation deal with preventing and investigating crimes, apprehending criminals and enforcing the law and keeping society in order. These diverse fields employ police officers, detectives, forensic scientists, prosecutors, federal agents and other public servants who put their lives on the line everyday to keep our cities and towns safe. In order to work in this field you must be physically fit and have the ability to work under pressure. Knowledge of another language such as Spanish is also extremely helpful if you are considering a career in law enforcement.

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What will I study during the PhD?
A doctoral degree in law enforcement, policing and investigation can be obtained online or through an on-campus program. In order to enroll in this degree, you should at least have a bachelor’s degree but a master’s degree in public safety or a related field is highly recommended, and must meet specific experience requirements. The degree includes two years of studies followed by two years of research. Classes are offered in the areas of criminology, criminal justice, dynamics of crime, law and justice and victimology. Once students complete their research, they present it to their professors in the form of a thesis. Upon approval of the thesis and the completion of a dissertation, the doctoral degree of law enforcement, policing and investigation is awarded.

What does the future hold?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an increase of up to than 19% in employment opportunities in law enforcement from the period 2010-2020. With a doctoral degree in this field, you are a good candidate for various academic positions, research organizations and federal law enforcement agencies. O*NET reports that teaching positions such as those of post-secondary law enforcement and criminal justice teachers have a median wage of $58,040 annually, as of 2012.

How long does it take to get a Ph.D. in Law Enforcement?

A Ph.D. program in law enforcement is an advanced degree usually set aside for those who want to teach or conduct research in the field. Typically, a Ph.D. program takes 4 to 7 years to complete. During this time, you could learn about security and resilience, criminal justice or strategic security. You will be able to find some online programs that offer distance learning courses as well.

What are the requirements to get a Ph.D. in Law Enforcement?

To get a Ph.D. in law enforcement, candidates need to have completed 63 plus credit hours in a master's program from an accredited university. Students must provide their transcripts from their earlier educational experience as well as have up to 5 years of work experience in the field. Students who want a Ph.D. usually work within academia and are required to have higher credentials than others in the field. Exact requirements tend to vary between colleges, but by and large, the above will be applicable.

How much can I make with a Ph.D. in Law Enforcement?

College Professors in the field of law enforcement, otherwise known as postsecondary teachers earn a median wage of $78,470 per year. While a master's degree is considered enough to become a post-secondary teacher, professors having a doctoral degree as well as some experience in the field might have better earning potential.

Frequently Asked Question(s)

Q:Is there a doctorate online police investigation degree?

A:Yes. The doctorate in law enforcement and policing investigation can be opted online. Online doctorates are very popular since they allow applicants to keep working alongside completing the degree. Doctorate degrees require comprehensive research work and hence can easily be completed online. Institutes such as the Capella University offer the online doctoral degree in law enforcement policing investigation.

Q:What is the employment outlook for a professional with a Doctorate in Law Enforcement?

A:The employment outlook for a professional with a Doctorate in Law Enforcement is very favorable. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, this sector is going to see an increase of more than 12% till 2018. This is a very lucrative career path, with professionals finding employment in both government and private sector..

Q:What are the benefits of opting for the distance learning Doctoral programs Policing Investigation?

A:The online Doctorate in Law Enforcement Policing Investigation allows students a bunch of benefits over the campus-based programs. Online programs offer students the flexibility of taking the class from anywhere in the world, at a time they see fit. They are allowed to take as much time as they see fit to complete the program and offer students the opportunity of taking a full-time employment.

Q:What is the course structure of the Security Essentials course of the PhD in Policing program?

A:The PhD in Policing degree program has a course on Security Essentials, worth 2 credits. The course highlights on the basics of security, the essential requirements of security, studies of human behavior, analysis of the risk level, determining criminality and probability, identification of countermeasures, reactive vs. proactive response as well as the real world security scenarios.

Q:While reading about the Doctorate in Law Enforcement Investigations, there was focus on the course on Criminology. What is involved in this course?

A:The Doctorate in Law Enforcement Investigations degree program in the United States have a course worth 5 credits on Criminology. This course provides inspection into the classic as well as current theories and developments in the research, policy and theory regarding issues such as serial and mass murder, occult and hate crimes, drug crimes and terrorism, etc.

Q:What is the significance of the course in managing police organizations in PhD in law investigations?

A:Managing Police Organizations is an important course in PhD in law investigations. This course is worth 3 credits and involves management techniques. These techniques are specifically designed to help with police organizations. Students also get a chance to understand management philosophy and personal management methods. However, students are reminded that this is an exclusive course and might not be offered with every Doctoral program.

Q:How long are the doctoral programs in policing investigation?

A:The doctoral programs in law enforcement policing investigation can be completed within one to three years if opted in a traditional school system. Students can also take longer or less than the mentioned time span if they opt for the degree in the online program. Online programs are self-paced hence they do not have specified completion time.

Q:What is the significance of the course on Research Methods when completing Law Enforcement PhD degree?

A:Research Methods is an important part of the Law Enforcement PhD degree. This course deals with principals of research design, quantitative analysis methods, and research concepts and design. It is an important aspect of the qualification as it allows students to understand the core concepts and the methods involved in conducting a comprehensive research.

Q:What do I need to do before I can go for doctorate programs in law enforcement?

A:Doctorate programs in Law Enforcement are the highest level of education available in the field of Criminal Justice. In order to get to that level of education, you need to make sure you have completed a good amount of education. You can start with a basic diploma or certification and move up to higher levels of education with bachelor's and master's level degrees before you go for a doctorate.

Q:While reading about what to do with a law enforcement doctor degree mentioned a course in criminal procedures. What is included in this course?

A:Course on criminal procedures would be mentioned when searching for what to do with a law enforcement doctor degree. This course guides students about the principals of criminal procedure. Students also learn about evidence, search and seizure, interrogation techniques, court proceedings and court trial procedures. Prospective students interested in this course are advised to search our website for more information.

Q:Reading about long distance PhD degree in policing mentioned the program outline. What courses are included in this program?

A:Reading about long distance PhD degree in policing would mention the program outline. Some of the courses included in this program are Philosophy of Law, Justice and Social Control, Advanced Criminological Theory, Criminal Justice Ethics Administration and Public Policy, Race and Ethnicity in Crime and Criminal Justice. The above mentioned are part of the core module. Interested students are advised to search our website for more information.

Q:Which job positions can I get after getting a phd in law enforcement?

A:After a PHD in law enforcement you will have a number of careers to choose from. Criminal Justice and law Enforcement teachers teach post secondary classes in law enforcement, their median pay was $56,980 annually. Police and Detectives are charged with the responsibility to protect property and lives, their median pay were $56,980 annually (BLS 2012).

Q:What are the admission requirements for the phd in policing and investigation?

A:The admission requirements for the PhD program in policing and investigation are the completion of an undergraduate and master's level degree. Some schools also have cumulative GPA requirements that may need to be met. Students will also have to submit a completed application form along with letters of recommendation and transcripts of previous studies.

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