Criminal Justice

B.S.

Major

Minor

Criminal Justice

The department of Criminology and Criminal justices houses programs is both Criminal Justice and Emergency and Disaster Management. Our Criminal Justice Program is one of WCU's largest, with residential or online options. The online Emergency and Disaster Management Program is rated as one of the best online emergency management programs by BestColleges.com. The Emergency and Disaster Management Program is also offered as a residential major and minor. Each program of study brings together theory and hands-on practice through the curriculum, internships, independent studies, and student-faculty interaction, a hallmark of our department. The goal of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is to provide students with a strong interdisciplinary foundation. Graduates are prepared to respond appropriately and ethically in challenging 鈥渞eal world鈥� situations as they move on to careers in criminal justice, emergency and disaster management or for further education. Graduates lead careers in law, law enforcement, public service, crime scene investigations, victim services, institutional corrections, research, higher education and much more.

Our curriculum emphasizes the interdependence of theory and practice in addressing "real world problems." Our emphasis on application guided by scholarship provides a strong, interdisciplinary foundation for future criminal justice and emergency and disaster management professionals. The focus for undergraduate students is to achieve mastery of fundamental academic competencies and a basic level of expertise in the fields of criminal justice and emergency and disaster management.

The faculty are committed to provide high-quality education in criminal justice, emergency and disaster management, and criminology to our majors, other students across the University, and to the professional community.

College of Arts and Sciences

What You'll Learn

All faculty teaching in our programs hold an M.A./M.S. or PH.D. from top tier universities in the field. Our faculty have worked with an array of agencies and organizations in law, law enforcement, courts, corrections and victim programs. You will gain a broad understanding of the crime problem and our social control machinery. Engaged learning is our foremost feature, allowing our students the opportunity to research topics of special interest under the sponsorship of faculty and present their findings on campus as well as state and national conferences. Special emphasis is placed on research and communication skills throughout our curriculum. We have an array of opportunities to gain out-of-the-classroom experience with internships and study abroad opportunities.

Where You'll Go

Careers of our graduates cover a very broad range including policing, courts, corrections and emergency management at the local, state and federal levels. Many of our alumni work with at-risk youth or adjudicated delinquents and in crime and delinquency prevention programs. Our graduates are also well represented in academe, the legal profession, victim services, and private security.