Major Code: 234

The Criminal Justice program is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in the legal professions such as law enforcement, corrections and private investigation. Students will learn how these professions integrate into a system of criminal justice.  This program is offered in two formats allowing students to choose from the traditional on-campus experience or a completely online experience.

In addition to General Education Outcomes, upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Read substantive and procedural case law with an understanding of how they impact law enforcement, juvenile justice and the correctional systems.
• Develop computer skills in the areas of internet investigation, research and electronic messaging.
• Have familiarity with the inner workings of agencies on the local, state and federal levels that compromise our nation’s criminal justice systems.
• Have an understanding of basic law enforcement investigative techniques, crime scene preservation and analysis.
• Have an understanding of the principles of homeland security, international threats, and terrorism.
• Have an understanding of the current events and issues that law enforcement and the criminal justice system deal with in today’s society.
• Understand the rights of the accused from arrest to post conviction appeals and how law enforcement, court and correctional personnel function to balance individual rights and the need to protect society, convict the guilty and humanely punish, as well as rehabilitate the offender.

Currently many graduates of the Criminal Justice program are employed in the West Virginia State Police and Ohio State Highway Patrol agencies as well as in various law enforcement agencies in the Upper Ohio Valley. Many graduates are working in the correctional field as correctional officers, adult and juvenile case workers and as treatment specialists both in the public and private domain.

Future employment opportunities, according to experts in the field of criminal justice, will continue to grow at the federal, state and local levels. New positions include computer analysts specializing in internet crimes, forensic technicians and criminal profilers.

Job Titles: Correctional Officer (CO), Intake Officer, Counselor, Law Enforcement Track

Wage and Employment Trends:

• Median Salary Range $22,000 to $39,000 (Onet, 2017)
• Projected to grow much faster than average (employment increase of 14% or more) over the period 2014-2024 (Onet, 2017)

University Transfer Options:

• Completion of this program offers students the option of transferring to the following colleges to complete a four-year degree in Crinimal Justice:

  • Franscican University of Steubenville 

  • Robert Morris University

  • WVU - Potomac State College

CIP Code: 430107