Criminal Justice is an exciting and dynamic field. Our program provides graduates with the skills and knowledge to secure both entry-level and more advanced positions in the field, and with the opportunity to make a real difference in peoples' lives and in the world in which we live.

Criminal Justice is multi-disciplinary in nature, and encompasses aspects of law, political science, government, management, psychology, sociology, geography, biology, and more. Our program reflects this interdisciplinary approach, and offers an exciting and contemporary array of courses that will challenge academicians and practitioners alike.

Program Overview

West Chester University's MS Criminal Justice program provides a high quality advanced education to both full-time and part-time students. The program is well-suited to working professionals, and offers evening courses and selected on-line electives. Professors are all seasoned professionals in their fields of expertise, and offer practical as well as academic excellence in the classroom. The Department is one of the most highly regarded by professional agencies for the quality and rigor of the program, yet because the University is state-supported, graduate tuition rates are among the lowest in the region.

Our graduates are successful professionals who serve in governmental positions at the federal, state, and local levels. These include positions in law enforcement; adult and juvenile correctional/treatment facilities and agencies; and in criminal justice administration, planning, and research. Some of our graduates pursue careers in the private sector in security, investigations, or research. Others continue their academic pursuits by earning a Ph.D. or a J.D. Many of our graduates hold teaching positions at colleges or universities, and some go on to become department or college administrators.

Our Mission

The primary focus of the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program is to provide a challenging, rigorous, and dynamic program of advanced instruction which will:

• Ensure a sophisticated working knowledge of the major systems in the discipline;
• Facilitate the development of critical analytical skills to effectively address and assess the more complex issues in the fields of study;
• Build the knowledge base and skills to facilitate advancement in the criminal justice professions;
• Integrate the fields of study into practical applications so that the student takes valuable practical knowledge and applied skills into the workplace;
• Enable the successful graduate to rise to positions where positive and significant changes can be made in our increasingly complex and challenging global environment; and
• Prepare students for advanced graduate study.

To these ends, students graduating with an M.S. degree in Criminal Justice should be able:

• to gain sophisticated working knowledge of the major's components in the criminal justice system;
• to develop critical analytical skills in addressing the complex issues in a contemporary criminal justice system;
• to develop information literacy skills in addressing the complex issues in a contemporary criminal justice system;
• to enhance their communication skills to a level commensurate with the interpretation and implementation of policy and programs in the area of criminal justice; and
• to develop skills to enhance sound ethical and moral judgments.