Criminal Justice Administration

We merge the worlds of tactical skills and critical thinking, so you can be better prepared for various careers in criminal justice.

Whether you’re learning to interview a suspect or how to prepare a search warrant, you’ll benefit from an extreme amount of hands-on experience built into the curriculum. Practice your tactical approach and de-escalation skills with the University's Lasershot Firearms Simulator that is housed within the campus Crime Scene Investigation Center, or investigate mock crime scenes, prepare a case for mock trial, serve a search warrant, and conduct surveillance exercises.

In class, you will gain knowledge of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as how the Criminal Justice System functions, by examining the social, psychological, and political aspects of contemporary crime and punishment.

You will graduate understanding the history, function, and role of the American legal system, as well as research techniques, law enforcement procedures, and other skills essential to your future success in the field.

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Get real-world experience

Students have the opportunity to intern at sheriff’s offices, probation offices, federal agencies, private detective agencies, police departments, law offices, coroners' offices, and other organizations.

Learn from experts in the field

Criminal Justice professors and educators are experts who have worked in the field and know the necessary skills and tools required for you to succeed. They'll help further prepare you through out-of-the-classroom experiences like CSI Camp, The Mock Crime Scene Workshops, and more.

National Recognition

College Factual

The undergraduate Criminal Justice Administration Program is also the No. 1 school on College Factual’s “Most Veteran Friendly in Pennsylvania for Criminal Justice” list for 2023.

intelligent

For the third consecutive year, Waynesburg’s Master of Arts in Criminal Investigation Program was No. 1 in the nation and earned the distinction as the “Intelligent Pick” by Intelligent.

Learn more about other academic and value rankings for Waynesburg University

Alumni Testimonials

The Criminal Justice Program is by far one of the best programs in the country. Within 6 months after graduation, I received multiple job offers in the criminal justice field including probation and parole, corrections, police, teaching and mentoring.

Jordan Helmick, Pentagon Police Dept.

Criminal Justice students at WU are taught by the best instructors the field has to offer, including experienced special agents, detectives, and attorneys. The breadth of coursework equips students with a practical knowledge of American rule of law.

Daniel Czajkowski, U.S. Government Agent

The WU Criminal Justice program gave me the foundation I needed to be successful as a patrol officer. From my early days in the training and certification process, I felt I was ahead of the rest due to the knowledge I took with me from the program.

Patrolman C. M. Caldwell, Morgantown Police Department

To say that the Criminal Justice program is outstanding is an understatement; the curriculum, professors, classroom scenarios, and extracurricular activities that are provided are something a student will simply have to experience for themselves.

Special Agent Lauren Wagner, Drug Enforcement Agency

The education that I received at Waynesburg built the foundation of my career with US Customs and Border Protection. The advanced training tools that Waynesburg teaches are some of the same that I use as a Less-Lethal Force Instructor with my agency.

Officer Damon McClintock, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Job and Internship Fair

Waynesburg University’s Department of Criminal Justice Administration and Social Sciences periodically hosts a Job & Internship Fair. These events typically connect students and alumni with recruiters from various federal, state, local and private agencies.

Recruiters from the ATF, the IRS-CID, Arlington County Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and the United States Pentagon Police, among others, have attended the Job & Internship Fair. Numerous alumni have returned to Waynesburg University for the event, both to recruit for their agency and to job search.