Ok everyone, I am currently stressing out! I have started my online PsyD program at the University of the Rockies. It is a PsyD with a specialization in Criminal Justice degree. I have zero interest in pursuing a license to practice. I have been in law enforcement for ten years and I would like to teach criminal justice and psychology classes down the road as an adjunct professor at community colleges, small public universities, and online. I have a BA and MS in criminal justice but it is tough to get an adjunct position down here, so I'd like to pursue my doctorates. Am I pursuing the right degree? I have looked at several Criminal Justice PhD programs, especially online at Capella and Walden. A huge benefit of UoR is the BM campus is about 1 hr away from. Not a far drive for the residency programs. The other schools would require me to fly out of stated several times during school. I really don't have the time or money for that. I hope I'm doing the right thing! So far if anyone is interested, I have been pretty impressed with UoR. Very helpful staff, good teacher, and excellent classroom program. The school is RA.
It costs too much! I looked at the program and thought it was way too expensive to be worthwhile...something like $800+ per hour!
Do you have a strong interest in psychology? If so, then perhaps you explore a career in forensic psychology. As a forensic psychologist, you would combine your training and experience in CJ with psychology. In this case, it might be worth it to you to pursue your PsyD in Clinical Psychology, perhaps through U of R's on-campus program. While it is not mandatory for forensic psychologists to be licensed, it will greatly increase your chances for employment in the field. If you go with U of R, keep in mind that they are not APA accredited, which may be important to you if you decide to leave Colorado to work in another state (which might require their psychologists to have APA accredited doctorates). The following link provides a good overview of forensic psychology: http://www.wcupa.edu/_academics/sch_cas.psy/career_paths/forensic/career08.htm Best of luck!
japhy- Thanks for the reply. I am actually going to look into that now. I know they have a re-specialization program at UoR, if you want to pursue the clinical side. Thanks again!
This program is what, sixty or seventy grand? Adjunct gigs pay one or two thousand per course, maybe, and that's assuming you can find one in the first place. The gods of math do not smile on this particular plan. -=Steve=-
Yeah, I've thought about this. I would like to retire from LE around 55 and teach full-time at a community college. The UoR program will run around 55k and the Capella program runs around 35k. The only good thing I have going from me is the public safety forgiveness program. I have to pay 10 years of my loans and the rest gets erased. It will still be a tough 10 years of payments though! I am also doing this for my own personal goals. I've always wanted a doctorate degree. I'm kind of in a rut because I really don't want to research for a PhD and I don't want to get a license with the PsyD! I will probably just end up going with the PsyD at UoR because, yes it is more expensive but the program is 1 year shorter and the school is not too far away from me for the residency requirements.
Since it sounds like you are sticking with the PsyD program with U of R, and you're interested in forensic psychology, I would recommend that you switch to clinical psych concentration now in order to obtain your license, vs. re-specializing later (which will mean more time in school and more loans in the end). Best of luck and let us know what you decide to do. I'm considering U of R as well, although since I live in PA, the PsyD clinical concentration is not an option for me. I do have to say that 55k is a lot for possibly very little ROI (even if it's "only" for 10 years). If you decide to go the clinical psych route, then you might be able to do okay. However, if your goal is to obtain a doctorate for personal goals and possible adjunct work, why not pursue a DL CJ or psych doctoral program from another country? These options are usually much less expensive than the offerings in the US.
It seems that you have a few options available, including: Continue with your current program with U of R (PsyD CJ concentration) - Limited ROI here, at least as I see it Switch to the U of R PsyD clinical concentration, and obtain your license with the goal of landing a job as a forensic psychologist See if there is an APA accredited, on-campus PsyD program in your area with flexible residency requirements (this would provide you with greater mobility in the event that you move to a state that requires psychologists to have an APA accredited degree and internship) Pursue a less expensive doctorate in CJ, psych or a related field Forget about obtaining a doctorate and continue looking for adjunct work using your MS in CJ degree
Just a curious question but how did you make the jump from CJ to Psych? I see your BA and MS in in CJ.
How committed are you to psych? It doesn't sound like research is your thing, but if you could see yourself doing that, and your grades and GRE are decent there are plenty of funded programs for Clinical PhD, Counseling PhD, as well as a few for PsyD. You are interested in CJ, have you, or are you interested in the military as well? They have scholarships called HPSP, for PhD psychologists, you can apply your second year in a program and they will pay tuition as well as about two grand a month salary to you. I agree that forensic psych would be a natural match with a law background too. If you are only interested in psychology and say convicts, or something along that nature, you could probably look at Sociology programs as well.
How many students have been admitted to the Psy.D. program from the inception of the program and how many have graduated? That ratio will tell you how well equipped the school is/was to produce doctoral graduates. For example, if a doctoral program at a hypothetical school has been around for five years, admitted 100 doctoral students, and graduated one doctor, then that might be a red flag... the administrators may say that is an indicator of establishing a tradition of high academic standards; that is debatable, but what is not debatable is the school has established a tradition of collecting tuition from 100 students and only conferred one doctoral degree...
The degree program I am taking has a specialization in Criminology and Justice studies. So its similar, kind of quasi Psych/Criminal Justice degree.
Thanks for the feedback. I've been thinking pretty damn hard about this but I will probably stick with option 1.
PsyD. PsyD Programs are primarily for those who are looking to become practitioners. the course of study prepares you for the practice of whereas the PhD program is more research and supervisory based. PhD programs are designed especially for those that intend to become professors or administrators in schools or Deans. I recommend changing programs. From what I have learned PhD is less strenuous than a PsyD. I will have my PsyD next year its been tough but worth it, because im going into private practice and work closely with hospitals. I hope this has helped you out a lot...be encouraged and hang in there, you came this far, no matter what you choose to do, i have confidence that you can and will make it!
