The program in criminal justice offers the bachelor of science degree to individuals interested in seeking a comprehensive education leading to a professional career in criminal justice. The program is designed to accommodate the needs of new college students, the continuing student, the transfer student, and the experienced criminal justice practitioner. We now offer sufficient courses in the evenings for students to graduate with a degree in criminal justice without taking daytime classes.
Students intending to transfer from community colleges to this University for a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice are advised to complete general education requirements while attending the community college. Courses equivalent to CRJU 101, The Criminal Justice System in Society, and and lower division cognate courses (SOC 100, PSY 100, POSC 100 and PHIL 170), should be taken while attending community college. Other criminal justice courses taken at community colleges will be accepted as lower division electives provided the college where they were taken designated them as transferable to CSU. These courses can not be substituted for upper division criminal justice courses.
A. Major Course Requirements: Completion of forty-six (46) units of criminal justice as follows:
1. Core Courses: thirty-four (34) units of the following: CRJU 101, 110, 301, 302, 303, 304, 320, 325, 330, 340, and 350.
2. Three (3) units from one of the following restricted options courses: CRJU 401, 402, 403, 404, 406, or an approved 490 special topics course.
3. Three (3) units of any upper-division elective criminal justice course (i.e., an upper-division course not used to satisfy the core or restricted core requirements).
4. Six (6) units of an upper division integrative experience in one of the following three ways:
a. CRJU 492: Internship (6 units); or
b. CRJU 497: Independent Study/Directed Research (3 units) and any 400-level elective; or
c. CRJU 497: Independent Study/Directed Research (3 units) and CRJU 498: Senior Thesis (3 units).
Each core or restricted option courses on the student's program planner must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. In addition, a course which a grade lower than "C" is received must be retaken and successfully completed prior to enrolling in a course for which it is a prerequisite. A student receiving a grade lower than a "C" may proceed with other courses with approval of the undergraduate advisor or department chair.
B. Cognate Course Requirements: In addition to the 46 units of criminal justice coursework specified above, all students are required to take six cognate courses (18 units) in related disciplines: SOC 100, PSY 100, PSY 370I, POSC 100, PHIL 170, and PHIL 352. All six of these cognate courses satisfy CSULB General Education requirements. Thus, Criminal Justice students have a pathway towards meeting their General Education requirements in a thematic manner that is relevant to the study of Criminal Justice.
To be eligible for admission to the major in criminal justice, applicants must have met requirements for admission to the university as a freshman or transfer student. Additionally, applicants to the major must have completed 30 units applicable toward a CSULB degree prior to the term for which the application to be a criminal justice major is submitted.
It is highly recommended that our cognate courses be completed as part of these 30 units (SOC 100, PSY 100, PSY 370I, POSC 100, PHIL 170, and PHIL 352). The number of applicants who can be admitted is limited by space availability. Eligible applicants will be selected for admission based on cumulative grade point average with a minimum of 2.4.
Students intending to transfer from community colleges to this University for a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice are advised to complete general education requirements while attending the community college. Transfer students are also encouraged to complete our cognate courses (SOC 100, PSY 100, PSY 370I, POSC 100, PHIL 170, and PHIL 352) prior to matriculating as a Criminal Justice major. Courses equivalent to CRJU 101, Criminal Justice in Society, should also be taken while attending community college. Other criminal justice courses taken at community colleges will be accepted as lower division electives provided the college where they were taken designated them as transferable to CSU. These courses cannot be substituted for upper division criminal justice courses.
