Westchester Community College, State University of New York

Dear Criminal Justice Student:

As the Curriculum Chair, I am so glad you are considering our warm community, beautiful campus and award-winning programs to continue your education. My role within our department is to review and develop courses and materials that will provide you with the best education available in our field, supporting your academic achievement and preparing you for a rewarding career in one of the hundreds of criminal justice occupations. In addition, students pursuing other career paths have found our courses to be enlightening and applicable to myriad occupations. 

The Criminal Justice Department at Westchester Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS), with a concentration in Police or Corrections. In addition, an Associate’s in Science Degree (AS) is in development. A dynamic and engaging program in all aspects of criminal justice and criminological theory, practice, and structure, our classes are taught by professors with decades of academic experience and professional backgrounds ranging from forensic analysts, police supervisors and narcotics detectives, to criminological researchers and corrections wardens. Course work in this major is complemented by additional classes in the humanities, including a broad foundation in the social sciences.

Upon graduation, students are prepared for vocational success in law enforcement, corrections, social work, psychology, and law, or for transfer of their credits to a four- year Bachelor’s program. Our partnership with SUNY as well as many other colleges and universities, including John Jay, Mercy, Iona, Manhattanville, and more, ensures continued academic achievement. Graduates of SUNY Westchester pursue careers in local police departments and correctional facilities, as well as with the FBI, the DEA, and other federal agencies. 

Our college also values and encourages involvement in co-curricular activities. The Criminal Justice Club meets weekly to discuss related issues, and conduct field trips to prisons and police academies, as well as host a variety of guest speakers including prosecutors and crime scene technicians. We participate in interdisciplinary events with our cybersecurity and human services departments; internships are encouraged and supported.  

The Criminal Justice Department at SUNY Westchester is committed to social inclusion and equity, providing the education and opportunities to become agents of positive change, engaging with law enforcement and the public constructively, and developing meaningful and beneficial structural solutions. My colleagues and I are dedicated to your success, and are available throughout the year to answer your questions and provide direction and guidance. I hope that you will study with us, and learn from our community while developing your abilities as an advocate for justice.

Dr. Rebekah Zwick holds a BA in Sociology from Johnson State College, an MA in Sociology from Boston University, and a PhD in Criminal Justice from Nova Southeastern University. Her academic focus remains criminological theory and policing methodologies. She was previously a Supervising Investigator with the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, and a Compliance Manager for MTA. Her research has included police procedure and training as well as studies of social support networks for incarcerated men, and she maintains a NYS Private Investigator license. In over a decade of instruction, she has taught all courses within the sociology and criminal justice curriculums, and currently teaches Introduction to Criminology, Juvenile Delinquency, and Seminar in Criminal Justice Issues in addition to co-chairing the Criminal Justice Club and serving as a student mentor.

Rebekah Zwick, PhD
Department of Criminal Justice and Paralegal

Rebekah.Zwick@sunywcc.edu

Financial Aid

Nearly 33% of Westchester Community College students receive some form of financial aid. Financial Aid is available to students who qualify. In addition, the Westchester Community College Foundation offers $1.6 million in scholarships annually.

Sports

The Westchester Community College Athletic Department sponsors thirteen different intercollegiate athletic teams in various sports. The roster of sports offered includes Men’s Baseball, Women's Softball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Bowling, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's and Women's Track and Field, Men’s Soccer, and Women’s Volleyball. Visit the Vikings Athletics website for schedules, reports, and more.

Locations

We’re accessible: Public transit-friendly main campus and extension locations. Online classes for wherever you are. Valhalla (main campus); extension sites in New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Yonkers, Shrub Oak, Mahopac, Ossining, Port Chester and Peekskill (Center for the Digital Arts) and White Plains (Center for the Arts).