February 04th, 2013

Individuals pursuing a criminal justice degree complete in-depth examinations of criminal behavior and study laws and policies established to maintain justice and order in society. Offering B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degree options, as well as an online undergraduate degree, students enrolled in the Washington State University (WSU) Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology engage in courses related to public policy, public administration, research methods, and sociology.

The nation’s second-oldest program, the criminal justice department at WSU was founded in 1943 by one of the first members of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. With instruction mindful of ethics, academics, and professionalism, criminal justice students at WSU may go on to enter the workplace as law enforcement officers, defense attorneys, or judges.

Aside from students training to begin a career in the field, current law enforcement officers also choose to pursue criminal justice coursework in order to expand professional skills and meet departmental promotion requirements. In addition to criminal justice training, individuals planning to work as police officers are required to complete separate academy training. Also, further post-collegiate instruction offered by state-run training commissions can ready individuals to instruct peers in the law enforcement field.

Jon Schorsch earned degrees in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Washington State University in 1992. He is currently completing a graduate degree in public administration at Seattle University.