West Virginia Northern Community College (WVNCC) has announced changes to their Criminal Justice Program that will take place with the upcoming Fall Semester, which begins August 23. Students can now earn an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice completely online, in addition to in-person classes. Also, students this fall will be able to utilize a brand-new Crime Scene Lab.
The Crime Scene Lab will be located on the Wheeling Campus in the College’s Education Center. The lab includes the opportunity for students to diagram and reconstruct crime scenes. The lab includes fingerprint kits, bullet trajectory kits, DNA collection kits and more. The students in Criminal Identification and Investigation will hear from local detectives who will share their experiences with investigating crimes. Students enrolled in Criminal Justice on the New Martinsville and Weirton Campuses will also be able to utilize the new lab.
“Not only do our Criminal Justice students get a great education at Northern, they will gain hands-on experience with the new Crime Scene Lab,” commented Assistant Professor and Criminal Justice department chair John Lantz. “Students will also be ready to immediately join the workforce upon graduation and make significant contributions to law enforcement agencies and their community.”
The lab will also be used for training purposes for local law enforcement agencies.
In addition to the new lab this fall, WVNCC also announced that their Criminal Justice Program can now be completed 100% online, if students prefer. Historically, the program has only been offered in person.
“Now students will have the flexibility to obtain their degree while working around their current life circumstances, whether that be working during the day, childcare, etc.,” added Lantz. “We want our program available to as many students as possible, and offer the flexibility they need to be on their way to a new career in law enforcement.”
Students at WVNCC can either earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice and enter the workforce in two years or obtain their Associate Degree and then transfer to a local university to continue their education in Criminal Justice to complete a Bachelor’s Degree. WVNCC has a transfer agreement with several local universities so all credits will transfer seamlessly.
Lantz has been teaching Criminal Justice at WVNCC for four years. He has his Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Marshall University and spent 25 years in Law Enforcement as a probation officer.
West Virginia Northern Community College’s mission is to educate and empower individuals to achieve academic and career goals, leading to a highly-skilled, well-rounded, and accomplished workforce that successfully competes and adapts in a global economy. The College responds to the needs of the region it serves by offering a high-quality learning environment that is accessible, safe, and accommodating while nurturing teamwork and community service.
