In addition to having the region’s most affordable tuition, we offer thousands of dollars in scholarships every year. Learn more about scholarships and aid for your criminal justice degree at Wayne State College.
Criminal Justice Degree
About the Criminal Justice Degree Program
Careers in the exciting fields of law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole, crime scene investigations, forensics, court and social services, homeland security, and private and corporate security are more popular than ever. For these careers, a degree in criminal justice is the perfect route. The criminal justice program is designed to provide you with the necessary practical knowledge and skills for rewarding careers in this field. It’s also offered online for those who are already working in the field and wish to obtain a degree. The criminal justice degree program covers the basis for understanding the economic, political, and social environments in which the criminal justice process operates, which means you have the flexibility to apply your degree to a variety of careers.
Percent of recent WSC graduates employed or in graduate school
based on the most recent graduate survey
Our Focus is Results
Wayne State has the keys to your success and offers just what you need to become well prepared for the real world in the criminal justice degree program.
Skills Learned
- Criminal law and procedure
- Role and function of policing in society
- Correctional processes and the role of probation and parole
- Theoretical criminology
- Forensic crime scene investigations and criminal investigations
- Homeland security and the nature of terrorism
- Understanding of gangs, violent crime, and victimology
Possible Careers
- Police officer / sheriff
- Crime scene investigator
- Forensic analyst
- Anti-terrorism agent
- Correctional officer
- Probation/parole officer
- Border patrol agent
- U.S. Marshal
- Case manager
- Juvenile services
Employers
- Law enforcement agencies
- Federal agencies
- Anti-terrorism units
- Probation offices
- Correctional facilities
- Security companies
- Child protective services
- Immigration services
- Crime scene labs
- Emergency management agencies
Learn From the Best
Our faculty are accomplished. Several are highly regarded as experts and have been recognized with notable honors and awards. And with a low student-to-faculty ratio, you'll be sure to receive an excellent education in the criminal justice degree program.
Rachel Kunz, J.D.
Assistant Professor
Molly McDowell
Assistant Professor
Outside the Classroom
At Wayne State College, you’ll have opportunities to enhance your education in the criminal justice degree program by participating in clubs, organizations, events, and more.
Clubs and Organizations
- Alpha Phi Sigma (National Criminal Justice Honor Society)
- Pi Gamma Mu (International Honor Society in Social Sciences)
- Wayne State Criminal Justice Association (WSCJA)
Service-Learning
Make a difference in the community while learning skills you can apply toward your future career in criminal justice. Wayne State’s Service-Learning program has received national awards in recognition of outstanding community service, with more than 400 students participating in Service-Learning projects each semester.
Opportunities
- Field trips – Take advantage of these unique learning opportunities beyond the classroom. You’ll get to attend parole hearings, tour prisons and law enforcement agencies, and connect with crime lab specialists and other experts in the field.
- CSI Laboratory – Future criminal justice professionals can learn how to enter a structure that may have a crime occurring (hostage situations, active shooters, raid entry procedures, building searches, etc.), and it provides a site for students to conduct a crime scene investigation by collecting, documenting, and processing criminal evidence (evidence documentation, bloodstain spatter analysis, fingerprint acquisition, firearm trajectories, shoeprint casing, etc.). The laboratory is located here on campus.
- Peer tutoring and mentoring programs – Help fellow students master their courses and improve their skills, be part of a support system for new students, and make new friends - all while gaining valuable experience that will better prepare you for the future.
- Study Abroad - Earn credit toward your degree while experiencing exciting global adventures overseas.
Internships
An internship is not required to graduate with a degree in criminal justice; however, experience is always a plus. You’ll have a chance to work with local agencies to help gain some field experience and earn credit toward your degree. Career Services is also available to help you find the best internship and job opportunities.
