Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
West Liberty, USA
LLB
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at West Liberty University combines criminal justice, sociology, social work, psychology, and law. You’ll learn from instructors experienced in law, juvenile delinquency, counseling, corrections, probation, parole. Coursework includes lectures, discussions, presentations, writing, hands-on training, a 200-hour internship during a semester. The program offers evening classes and transfer credit for police and correction academy graduates. WLU near Wheeling, West Virginia emphasizes community and belonging.
Career Outcomes: Graduates pursue law enforcement; corrections; probation and parole; counseling; law; private security. Other roles include juvenile justice specialist, rehabilitation counselor, criminal investigator. Keywords: policing, corrections, criminal law.
Criminal Justice is a program within the Department of Social Sciences combining aspects of criminal justice, sociology, social work, psychology, history, and law. Students study with a variety of instructors with expertise in law, juvenile delinquency, counseling, corrections, probation, parole, and law enforcement. Students develop a broad range of communication skills through discussions, presentations, and writing.
These skills provide an excellent foundation for careers in law enforcement, probation, parole, counseling, and law. Students will experience lectures, class discussions, and hands-on training in a variety of law enforcement areas. Students are also required to complete a two hundred (200) hour internship which must occur during a semester of study.
The hallmark of this program is its flexibility. Many courses are offered during evening hours to accommodate working individuals. The program also offers transfer credits for approved state police, municipal/local police, and correction academy graduates. West Liberty University also offers a minor in Criminal Justice.
Year 1
Semester 1 Fall
- Eng 101 College Composition
- Psych
- CJ 152 Intro to Criminal Justice
- CJ 236 Criminology
- Geo / Polss / Soc / Rel or Lang
Semester 2 Spring
- Eng 102 College Composition
- Fine Arts
- CJ 238 Juv Justice
- CJ 281 Contemporary Corr
- History
- Coll 101 College 101
Year 2
Semester 1 Fall
- Com 101 Fundamentals of Oral Comm
- Phil / Psych
- CJ 302 Ethics in CJ
- Restricted Elective in CJ
- Bio or Chem and Lab
- CJ 201 Sophomore Seminar
Semester 2 Spring
- Eng 202 Explorations in Literature
- Math 160 Intro to Statistics
- Elective / Minor
- Geo / Pols / Soc / Swk
- Elective / Minor
Year 3
Semester 1 Fall
- CJ 320 Victims of Crime
- CJ 354 Drugs & Society
- Econ / Fin
- Elective / Minor
Semester 2 Spring
- CJ 303 Criminal Law
- CJ 416 Research Methods in CJ
- Hum / Lang
- Restricted Elective
- Elective / Minor
Year 4
Semester 1 Fall
- CJ 305 Contemporary Law Enforcement
- CJ 452 Crim Procedure
- Restricted / Elective
- Elective / Minor 3
Semester 2 Spring
- CJ 483 Prac in CJ
- CJ 485 Sr Sem in CJ
- Electives to Total 120 Credits
Cory Hewitt Memorial Scholarship – Cory was a 2001 (cum laude) graduate of West Liberty State College, majoring in Criminal Justice. While at WLSC, he was actively involved in campus life (including a staff writer position with the Trumpet) and community activities. He was a member of the United States Army Fighting 705th Ordinance Company, Explosive Ordinance Demolition. Cory was killed in action while serving his country in Mosul, Iraq on December 21, 2004.
Since Cory was proud of his West Liberty heritage and thoroughly enjoyed his college experience while there, his family and friends felt that the best way to honor his memory was to assist other deserving young men and women in their pursuit of excellence at WLU.
The Cory Hewitt Memorial Scholarship is a $500 per year tuition scholarship. This is a one (1) year scholarship.
Kenneth B. McMillen Social Science Scholarship – This scholarship was established in honor of Kenneth McMillen, an Associate Professor of Political Science at West Liberty from 1946 to 1980.
The Kenneth B. McMillen Scholarship will provide a Social Science major with a $1000 scholarship for his/her third year and potentially fourth year, disbursed at $500 per semester.
David T. Javersak College of Liberal and Creative Arts Scholarship – This scholarship fund is named in honor of Dr. David T. Javersak, Professor Emeritus and Dean Emeritus of West Liberty University. Dr. Javersak taught history for 39 years and served as Dean of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts from 1986 until his retirement in 2007.
Scholarships of $500.00 will be awarded each year to students majoring in Criminal Justice, English, Social Science (concentration in History or Geography & Planning), and Social Work (four scholarships total). Scholarships will be awarded based on academic performance and/or financial need. Students may reapply each year providing that they remain in a designated degree program and maintain the required GPA.
The need for Criminal Justice professionals is always going to exist. For example, the country has been experiencing an explosion of individuals in the corrections system. As a result, there is going to be a need for individuals to supervise, treat, counsel, and arrest those who violate the law. A Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice can lead to the following careers:
- Law enforcement officer (federal, state, county, municipal)
- Corrections (federal, state, county)
- Counseling
- Probation (adult and juvenile)
- Parole
- Law
- Private security.
If you have an interest in law enforcement, probation, parole, law, or counseling, are willing to work hard, and enjoy challenging yourself then you are a good candidate for the Criminal Justice program. You will need to be self-disciplined and able to attend class regularly and meet the deadlines of those classes. You should also have the desire to enjoy working with the general public.
