Program Overview

West Chester University is home to one of the first academic criminal justice programs on the East Coast, and has been serving the community for nearly half a century. The department was founded on cutting edge principles, and our Master of Science in Criminal Justice program remains on the forefront of innovation today. Our Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program offers a flexible and supportive learning environment as well as professional advisors who will work with you directly to customize your program. The M.S. program is interdisciplinary in nature, including courses rooted in history, law, philosophy, research, psychology, management, and political science to provide students with a sophisticated working knowledge of the major systems within the field.

 

Program Highlights

  • Full- and part-time study options

  • Small classes and personalized attention

  • Dedicated and expert faculty, committed to values of idealism, honesty, integrity, justice, and fairness

  • Customized advising plan

  • Interdisciplinary program

  • Affordable tuition

 

What can I do with this degree?

Graduates of WCU’s MS Criminal Justice program are successful professionals with positions in the criminal justice system at the federal, state, and local levels, and in the private sector in security, investigations, and research. Some of our graduates continue their academic pursuits by earning a Ph.D. or a J.D.

Select positions held by our graduates:

  • Anti-Fraud Senior Investigator
  • Anti-Money Laundering Supervisor
  • ATF Special Agent
  • Background Investigator
  • Chief of Police
  • Corporate Investigator
  • Criminal Justice Lecturer
  • DEA Special Agent
  • Extradition Administrator
  • FBI Special Agent
  • Investigative Analyst
  • Lawyer
  • Police Officer
  • Probation Officer (at local, state, and federal levels)
  • Problem Sexual Behavior Specialist
  • Security Officer
  • Sergeant
  • SIU Investigator
  • Special Agent in Charge
  • Special Investigator

 

Select companies and organizations where our graduates work:

  • BB&T Bank
  • Capital One
  • Chester County District Attorney
  • Chester County Juvenile Probation
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Federal Emergency Management Administration
  • Former Feds Group
  • Horsham police
  • KeyPoint Government Solutions
  • Nebraska state probation administration
  • Office of Military and Veteran Services at Stockton University
  • Philadelphia Police
  • Secret Service
  • United States Army
  • Vanguard
  • Wilmington University Criminal Justice Institute
  • YouthBuild Philadelphia
Graduate Assistantships & Financial Aid
The Graduate School
Tuition & Fees

Request Information

Loading...

Newsworthy

  • Tyree C. Blocker was appointed as the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner in 2018, and is a graduate of our Master's program. Commissioner Blocker began his illustrious career as a state trooper in 1975, working in patrol, criminal investigations, staff services and organized crime with Troops J, T, K, and the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. He worked his way up through the ranks during his 30 year career and retired in 2005 with the rank of major. Over the course of his career, he supervised the administrative operations of 3 Troops, in 13 locations and 750 Troopers in 10 counties, including Philadelphia.
  • Neal Kokatay graduated from West Chester University with both his undergraduate and master's degrees in Criminal Justice. He was hired by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP) where he graduated as the valedictorian of the 126th basic training academy, Kokatay was quickly promoted from Parole Agent I to Parole Agent II, and more recently was personally recruited by Leo L. Dunn, the chairman of the board, to work in the central administration office in Harrisburg, PA. Kokatay is the Executive Assistant to The Chairman, tasked with being the board's primary coordinator as the agency implemented new parole board guidelines and transitioned to a new fourth generation risk assessment instrument. These instruments are used to predict risk and guide decision making for the purposes of granting or refusing parole, and determining the level/intensity of classification, supervision, treatment and programming for offenders.
  • Chief Inspector Dorsey joined the Philadelphia Police Department in 1984 and rose through the ranks of the department to reach her current position, which is the highest Civil Service rank in the police hierarchy. She currently oversee roughly 200 civilian and sworn employees in the Support Services Bureau where she is responsible for Court Evidence, Reports & Control, Headquarters Security, Impound and Records and Identification.