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The Division of Justice and Law Administration—originally established as the Department of Criminal Justice—was founded in 1976 by Professor Solomon Gross and Dr. Frank Muska with a $14,000 grant from the Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. The inaugural cohort consisted of fourteen students.
During its early years, the Department focused primarily on criminal justice education. Over time, its academic scope expanded significantly, evolving into a multi-option program that includes Law Enforcement, Legal Studies, Criminology, Corrections, Probation and Parole, Offender Rehabilitation, a Paralegal Sequence, and Homeland Security.
The Division has benefited from sustained leadership (chair position) that has guided its growth and academic development:
Under this collective leadership, the Division grew into one of the largest majors at Western Connecticut State University.
The Division recently updated the name of its undergraduate degree from Justice and Law Administration to Criminal Justice, reflecting disciplinary norms and student career pathways. Currently, the Division employs eight full-time faculty members, supported by approximately twenty part-time faculty.
Each semester, the Division typically offers 45–50 courses, serving a diverse student population preparing for careers across law and justice professions.
At the graduate level, the Division offers a Master of Science in Homeland Security, an online, asynchronous program structured in a cohort model, which currently enrolls nine students.
During the 2023–2024 academic year, the Division transitioned from the Ancell School of Business to the School of Professional Studies after more than four decades of affiliation.
The Division has long served as a significant workforce pipeline for the criminal justice system in Fairfield County and beyond. Graduates pursue careers in federal, state, and local law enforcement; the legal profession; corrections; probation and parole services; social service agencies; private security; education; and numerous related professions.
The Division awards annual student honors recognizing excellence across each criminal justice track, as well as one award per cohort in the graduate Homeland Security program.
Guided by the motto “Where theory meets practice,” the Division maintains a strong tradition of integrating academic scholarship with professional and practitioner-based experience, supported by faculty drawn from diverse disciplinary and professional backgrounds.
