Why 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.