The Department of Criminal Justice
The Department of Criminal Justice at West Chester University has been serving the criminal justice community since 1974. As one of the first academic criminal justice programs on the East Coast, the department has been and remains on the cutting edge of the discipline. Our undergraduate and graduate programs are dedicated to preparing the next generation of leaders in criminal justice and criminology. Our esteemed faculty brings a wealth of experience from various sectors of the justice system, including law enforcement, legal practice, corrections, social services, and policy development. This diverse expertise ensures that our students receive a comprehensive and practical education that is deeply informed by real-world insights.
Our curriculum is constantly evolving to incorporate the latest research, technological
advancements, and best practices in the field. Students are provided with opportunities
for hands-on learning through internships, research projects, and partnerships with
local and national agencies. The criminal justice degree provides career-oriented
individuals the opportunity to obtain employment and/or career advancement positions
in a number of public and private agencies, including crime victims' centers, law
offices, child welfare agencies, juvenile delinquency centers, offices of the district
attorney and/or public defender, probation and parole offices, correctional facilities,
and law enforcement agencies
Academic
Programs
West Chester University's Department of Criminal Justice offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Minor in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, and a Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Criminal Justice. We also offer a unique “Accelerated” program in which students can earn their bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. One of our newest offerings is a graduate certificate in criminal justice.
Find out more information about each program.
Why Study at WCU?
Over 40 years of experience
The Department of Criminal Justice has been educating students and practitioners since 1974. Over the years, our program has developed into one of the strongest criminal justice programs in the region. Our graduates (both undergraduate and graduate) go on to represent WCU in a variety of criminal justice positions ranging from police officers to lawyers, from victim advocates to special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigations. The mission of West Chester University's Department of Criminal Justice is to provide a high quality, broad-based, interdisciplinary to undergraduate (B.S.) and graduate (M.S.) students seeking expertise or professional advancement in the criminal justice sciences.
Highly educated and experienced faculty members
West Chester University employs faculty who have earned advanced degrees from respected institutions and have extensive experience in the field. We supplement our full-time faculty with part-time adjuncts who are currently working in the criminal justice system. This integration of education and practice creates a classroom based on real-world experience. Our faculty members have a broad range of expertise in the field of criminal justice which allows WCU to offer a wide variety of classes to meet the needs and interests of students.
Premiere Practicum program
One of the unique features of the WCU Criminal Justice program is the requirement of a full-time, 12-week summer Practicum in which students in their junior or senior years experience employment in the criminal justice system first hand. Over the last three decades, we have developed relationships with over 600 local, state, federal, and private organizations where our students are gladly accepted for summer Practicum. Many students receive job offers from their Practicum agencies either immediately after Practicum or upon completion of their degree.
