William Paterson University

What you'll study

The major comprises 39 credits (21 credits of core courses and 18 credits of electives) within the 120-credit BA. Core and elective topics include criminology theory, criminal law, crime causation, crime prevention, and specialized subfields such as terrorism and white-collar crime. The curriculum emphasizes criminal justice data analysis, analytical research methods, and communication skills through writing and collaboration. Example core modules listed in the program are:

• CCJ 2610: Essentials of Criminal Justice — examines the structure and functions of police, courts and corrections and contemporary challenges for those agencies.
• CCJ 3680: Criminology — introduces crime, law and criminology; theories of crime causation; patterns and extent of different crimes; and social reactions to crime in American society.

Entry requirements

Applicants must submit an online application and a $50 application fee, plus official transcripts from all prior colleges (or a high school transcript if no college experience). Minimum cumulative GPA required is 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students must be at least four years post-high-school or, alternatively, two years post-high-school with 60 or more college credits to enroll in the WP Online accelerated programs.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles across the criminal justice system and adjacent sectors. Typical employment paths cited by the program include federal and state law enforcement, corrections officer, probation or parole officer, court officer, criminal justice administrator, social services or social work, and positions in nonprofit organizations.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The program is offered with pay-by-the-course tuition; published per-credit tuition for the online BA is $381. Prospective students should also investigate institutional scholarships, employer tuition assistance and federal student aid options; contact admissions or financial services for specific funding opportunities.