BA Criminology and Criminal Justice

Our BA in CCJ program is designed to teach the knowledge and skills needed to be proficient in both Criminology (the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of crime) as well as responses to crime and criminal justice science (the study of official responses to crime) in the areas of law, policing, courts, corrections, and treatment and advocacy. Criminology and criminal justice studies are two different but overlapping academic fields. Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of crime as well as responses to crime. Criminal justice science is the study of official responses to crime, namely in the areas of law, policing, courts, corrections, and treatment and advocacy. Our BA in CCJ program is designed to teach the knowledge and skills needed to be proficient in both fields. Students should finish the program prepared to enter a wide range of criminology and criminal justice-related occupations.

For first-year students, a U.S. high school diploma or its equivalent is required, and you must not have previously attended a college or university. As part of the application process, we will decide how your international transcripts translate into U.S. credits. We strongly recommend that you take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), or the American College Test (ACT), or both, and submit your scores to WP. This is not mandatory for admission, but certain majors and merit scholarships may require these test scores.