Those who work in America’s criminal justice system have two primary goals: to improve public safety and to reduce crime. The rewards for doing our jobs are priceless. We stop murderers, terrorists, domestic abusers, and corporate fraudsters. We help rehabilitate people suffering from addictions and traumas. We help transform offenders into productive citizens. We build positive relationships with community members, employers, schools, and youth. We save lives.
The people who work in the criminal justice system—police, courts, corrections, and citizen roles—also face many challenges, such as corruption, fear, angry citizens, social inequalities, discrimination, danger, and more. To some, these challenges might seem impossible to overcome. But for those with the proper skill set, these challenges are transformational.
Our goal in the Criminal Justice (CJ) program is to teach you that skill set, let you refine it through practice, and give you the opportunity to change the world. Whether you join us for a class, a minor, or a major, you will have immediate access to all the resources and benefits of a world-class university to help you gain that expertise. The longer you are with us, the more opportunities you will have to develop and hone your individual skills, and the greater impact you can make on the world.
You will start your journey by learning about the values of Justice, Equity, Humanity, and Mercy. We will also immerse you in the philosophy of restorative justice, along with traditional approaches to criminal justice. You will learn how you can apply these values and the restorative philosophy to interactions with offenders, victims, witnesses, co-workers, families, community members, and anyone else you come into contact with as you fulfill your duties as a criminal justice professional.
Join us for a class and explore our Criminal Justice program at Penn State Wilkes‑Barre. You will see the difference. You will feel the difference. You will make the difference.
Meet the Criminal Justice Faculty
Career Opportunities
The four-year Criminal Justice bachelor’s degree offers students the flexibility to pursue an array of career opportunities in federal, state and local law enforcement and corrections agencies, court-related services, probation and parole services, and private-sector security. It is also an excellent undergraduate degree choice for those interested in pursuing graduate studies, including law.
- Conservation Officer/National Park Service
- Police Officer/Trooper/Sheriff’s Deputy/U.S. Marshal
- Special Agent
- Investigator
- Coroner/Medical Examiner
- Institutional/Community Corrections Counselor
- Parole Officer
- Case Manager (mental health, drug/alcohol, youth, halfway house)
- Correctional Officer
- Vicitims of Violence Advocate
- Crisis Intervention Counselor (runaway, suicide, violence)
- Crime Scene Technician
- Restorative Justice Counselor
- Prosecutor
- Defense Attorney
- Probation Officer
- Juvenile Probation Officer
- Judge
Minors
For that career competitive edge, this major pairs well with a variety of minors, including Sociology, Rehabilitiation and Human Services, Psychology, and Business.