WVU criminal justice online

Last Updated on December 28, 2022

Degree Offered

  • Bachelor of Science

Nature of the Program

The Criminal Justice program is designed to provide a multidisciplinary understanding of crime and the criminal justice system, while increasing the student’s ability to critically analyze issues associated with the field of criminal justice. The program prepares students for local, state, and federal law enforcement, corrections, courts, homeland security, investigation, and related careers. The program also offers an excellent background for those wishing to pursue graduate studies or law school. Among its notable features are courses in criminal law, law enforcement administration, criminal investigations, corrections, juvenile justice, research methodology, and a semester-long capstone practicum internship.

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

General Education Foundations
F1 – Composition & Rhetoric3-6
ENGL 101
ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B – Science & Technology4-6
F3 – Math & Quantitative Reasoning3-4
F4 – Society & Connections3
F5 – Human Inquiry & the Past3
F6 – The Arts & Creativity3
F7 – Global Studies & Diversity3
F8 – Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)9
Total Hours31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Curriculum Requirements

GEF Requirements (2B, 5, and 6)10
WVUE 191First Year Seminar1
ENGL 101
ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research (GEF 1)
6
ENGL 305Technical Writing3
MATH 124Algebra with Applications (GEF 3)3
ECON 225Elementary Business and Economics Statistics (GEF 8)3
POLS 220State and Local Government (GEF 8)3
POLS 313American Constitutional Law3
PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology (GEF 4)3
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology (GEF 8)3
SOC 221Families and Society3
SOC 235Race and Ethnic Relations (GEF 7)3
SOC 311Social Research Methods3
SOC 360Women and Men in Society3
SOC 430World Religions3
CRIM 232Criminology3
CRIM 302Deviant Behavior3
CJ 101Introduction to Criminal Justice3
CJ 202Principles of Criminal Law3
CJ 310Law Enforcement Administration3
CJ 320Courts and Judicial Systems3
CJ 475Seminar in Criminal Justice-Capstone3
HUMS 100Community Service1
HUMS 210Introduction to Welfare3
HUMS 320Public Administration3
HUMS 489Practicum Capstone Internship6
Restricted Electives (6 credits must be 300-400 level)24
ACCT 421Fraud Management: Legal/Ethical Issues
CJ 233Juvenile Justice
CJ 324Drugs, Crime and Society
CJ 240Correctional Counseling
CJ 316Community Based Corrections
CJ 410Criminal Investigations
FRNX 315Interviewing Theory
FRNX 318Crime Scenes
POLS 102Introduction to American Government
POLS 400Terrorism and National Security
PSYC 281Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
ANTH 105Introduction to Anthropology
CRIM 324Gender and Crime
SOC 207Social Problems in Contemporary America
SOC 305Social Stratification and Power in American Society
Electives9
Total Hours120

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FALLHoursSPRINGHours
WVUE 1911SOC 101 (GEF 8)3
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3ENGL 102 (GEF 1)3
CJ 1013HUMS 2103
MATH 124 (GEF 3)3CRIM 2323
GEF 2B4Elective3
GEF 53 
 17 15
Second Year
FALLHoursSPRINGHours
PSYC 101 (GEF 4)3HUMS 1001
CJ 2023POLS 220 (GEF 8)3
ENGL 3053SOC 2213
Restricted Elective3ECON 225 (GEF 8)3
Elective3Restricted Elective6
 15 16
Third Year
FALLHoursSPRINGHours
CRIM 3023SOC 235 (GEF 7)3
SOC 3113CJ 3103
SOC 3603CJ 3203
HUMS 3203SOC 4303
Restricted Elective3Restricted Elective (300-400)3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FALLHoursSPRINGHours
POLS 3133HUMS 4896
CJ 4753Restricted Electives6
GEF 63 
Restricted Elective (300-400)3 
Elective3 
 15 12
Total credit hours: 120

Areas of Emphasis Offered:

Corrections Area of Emphasis

CJ 233Juvenile Justice3
CJ 240Correctional Counseling3
CJ 316Community Based Corrections3
SOC 207Social Problems in Contemporary America3
Total Hours12

Law Enforcement Area of Emphasis

CJ 233Juvenile Justice3
CJ 324Drugs, Crime and Society3
CJ 410Criminal Investigations3
POLS 400Terrorism and National Security3
Total Hours12

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