Maximize your Criminal Justice Experience at Westfield State

Westfield State University is offering undergraduate criminal justice students an accelerated pathway to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degree in just 5 years. These students will have the opportunity to enroll in graduate level criminal justice courses in their senior year and 6-credits will count towards both, the bachelors and master’s degree in Criminal Justice. This 4+1 program allows for students enrolled in this option to obtain their bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminal justice in less time than it would be to take them separately.

B.S./M.S. in Criminal Justice 4+1 Brochure   B.S./M.S. in Criminal Justice 4+1 Application   

Application due by February 15

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Why Westfield?

You will benefit from:

• A special academic advisor who will be there to provide you support during your undergraduate and graduate program, ensuring academic success.
• Faculty experts in both programs in fields such as homeland security, law enforcement, corrections and rehabilitation, criminal law, juvenile justice, crime mapping, gangs, religious extremism, and multinational crime.
• Students will be eligible to live on campus for the 5th year if interested.
• Career services at WSU hosts the largest criminal justice career fair in New England held on campus each year.

How Long will it take?

In the senior year, students will take 6-credits of the Criminal Justice graduate program in addition to their undergraduate courses. After their spring semester in the senior year, students will take one summer course, 12-credits in the fall, 3 credits in the winter, and 9 credits in the Spring semester, including a program Capstone. At the end of the year, students will be awarded a master’s degree.

What are the program requirements?

Students who are enrolled in the undergraduate Criminal Justice program and who have taken at least 75-credits, 30 of which are from Westfield State University, may apply for the Criminal Justice, 4+1 program in their Junior year.

To be eligible for the accelerated Criminal Justice 4+1 program, you must:

• Have an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher at the time of application
• Apply by February 15th in the junior year after completing 75-undergraduate credits
• Complete the application form and accompanying materials for the graduate application including:
  • Statement of interest in the program (narrative statement)
  • Three letters of recommendation

The GRE/MAT and $50 application fee is waived for these applicants.

Students will be notified of acceptance into the program by March 1st of their Junior Year. Students will also be assigned the graduate Program Administrator as their academic advisor to ensure students are taking the appropriate coursework.

What are the costs?

Current undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees can be found on the main Westfield State website at westfield.ma.edu. Courses taken at the graduate level are separate from undergraduate tuition.

Once a student is enrolled in the graduate Criminal Justice program, the College of Graduate and Continuing Education offers a limited number of graduate assistantships that can help with the costs of the graduate courses.  Additional information about financial aid can be found at GoBackNow.com or by contacting the CGCE office.

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