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The Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Social Work prepares students for careers in social work and social services, community relations, policy analysis, government, law enforcement, community corrections, prison and jail programs, juvenile corrections and youth services, court operations, victim advocacy, private security, legal professions, and many more.
"When you go to a criminal justice professor, you're going to someone who is already well-versed in the field; you're going to someone who has already served as a county prosecutor, a judge ... not only are you getting the knowledge you need for your future career, you're also getting a mentor."– Titi Sharpe shares his story.
Alumni in arts, humanities, and social sciences are employed or in graduate school within 6 months after graduation
Average starting salaries in sociology and criminal justice fields (NACE)
Noteworthy dpeartment area Jobs and Mid-Career Salaries with 8+ Years of Experience (PayScale)
Students in this program will learn fundamental facts about how the criminal justice system operates in the United States, how and why criminality varies across people and places in the US and around the world, and policies intended to reduce crime and/or punish perpetrators.
View academic program requirements and course descriptions in the University Course Catalog:
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The Bachelor of Social Work at William Paterson is an interdisciplinary degree program comprised of 10 required social work courses as well as courses in sociology and public health. The program culminates with a 400-hour internship experience during the fall and spring semesters of the senior year.
Students in the general sociology program will learn about patterns in social behavior and a variety of possible explanations for those patterns. There will be particular focus on inequalities by race, gender and social class.
Students minoring in CCJ learn about the basics of the criminal justice system and about theories that help explain why crime varies over time and place. They also can choose from a variety of electives about policing, corrections, forensic social psychology, and more.
A minor in sociology helps undergraduates become effective citizens, with the ability to grapple with such issues as multiculturalism, inequality, and globalization. By integrating these key concepts, students become capable of critical inquiry and civic engagement.
In today’s data-driven world, the ability to translate complex datasets into clear, rhetorically persuasive, and engaging stories is a critical skill for professionals across industries. Data Storytellers use narrative-style tactics to bring data out into the open where it can become easier for audiences to understand. They have sufficient data literacy to be able to understand the numbers, and storytelling and marketing skills to be able to present it to stakeholders in a way that will make the most sense to them. This program combines foundational data analysis techniques with the art of storytelling, enabling students to not only interpret data but to present it in ways that resonate with diverse audiences. The Data Storytelling Certificate is ideal for individuals looking to enhance their ability to interpret and communicate data in an impactful and accessible way, combining technical skills with rhetorical and creative storytelling strategies. Learn more >
Students in our Sociology, Criminal justice, and Social work programs have many opportunities to learn and develop outside the classroom, such as engaging with community groups and organizations, attending special presentations and expert panels, conducting research with professors, and presenting at conferences. They also develop connections and work with industry professionals through a wide array of internships. Students can earn selection in Alpha Phi Sigma, the criminal justice honor society, as well as join extracurricular activities including the Sociology/Criminal Justice Club, among others.
In our Sociology, Criminal justice, and Social Work programs, students learn in-demand skills that employers have identified as critical for job candidates, including :
Graduates of our programs have job opportunities in a wide array of areas such as health and social services, business and non-profit organizations, community work, corrections, colleges and universities, publishing, computer work, public relations, and federal, state, and local government, and law enforcement, among many others. Many also go on to attend graduate school.
Our professors are proud practitioners in their fields and love to share their expertise beyond the classroom. Mentorship is at the core of our department, and it’s our goal that every student work directly with a faculty member to expand their knowledge and worldview.
criminology and criminal justice and psychology double major, currently pursuing a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling.
And we're ready to help you grow. At William Paterson, we provide students with the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to forge forward as a powerhouse—both in the classroom and in their careers. Apply today to discover your potential.
Students in William Paterson University's Criminology and Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Social Work programs starting in Fall 2026 will have access to a new virtual reality training system designed to enhance their classroom learning with immersive, scenario-based experiences.
The University recently acquired the WrapReality virtual reality platform, which allows students to engage in realistic simulations, making it one of the pioneers in utilizing this technology for student success across the country. The VR system supports William Paterson's emphasis on experiential learning by giving students hands-on practice with situations they may encounter in careers across law enforcement, corrections, social work, law, and related fields. The technology will be integrated into coursework to provide students with opportunities to practice communication, ethics, critical thinking, decision-making, and de-escalation skills in a controlled learning environment, says Professor Colleen Eren, who directs the University’s Criminology and Criminal Justice program.
"The Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Social Work programs at William Paterson have strong academic components. We teach students social science theory, how to understand and apply empirical research. But we also want to give students the kind of applied knowledge that will set them apart in their chosen professions and keep them excited about learning,” Eren says.
Students will find themselves, among dozens of VR simulations guided by their professors, entering prisons and interacting with incarcerated people—both those seeking to harm and those seeking to improve themselves, conducting constitutional traffic stops, investigating and mediate domestic violence situations, facing active shooters on a school campus, teaching individuals with substance abuse disorders how to resist relapse, de-escalating potential violent confrontations with aggressive civilians, and confronting officers engaged in unethical policing practices.
The addition of the new training system reflects William Paterson's ongoing commitment to experiential learning and the use of innovative technologies that support student success.
Learn more about the University’s bachelor’s degree program in Criminology and Criminal Justice here.
