Policy Statement - 10-02 Forensic Studies, Minor in

Minor in Forensic Studies (code CRIMUM02)

This new minor was recommended by the Academic Senate on November 19, 2009 and approved by the President on December 2, 2009.

The minor in forensic studies is designed to provide students with an understanding of the nature of criminal evidence and an appreciation of how forensic investigative methods are used in quest for justice. The minor is particularly useful for students majoring in engineering, the natural sciences, the social sciences, art, and various human services disciplines.

The minor may be combined any major at CSULB, although criminal justice majors may not “double count” CRJU 230, 412, 430, 440, 441, 442, 443, 490, or 492 for credit towards their major elective courses and the minor in forensic studies. 

Requirements

The minor in forensic studies requires completion of a minimum of twenty-seven (27) units as follows:

1.Completion of six (6) units of the following required prerequisite courses with grades of “C” or higher: CRJU

101: Introduction to Criminal Justice in Society; and CRJU 110: Introduction to Justice Research, Writing, and Reasoning.

2. Completion of fifteen (15) units of the following required core classes: CRJU 230: Survey of the Forensic Sciences; CRJU 301: Criminal Courts and Judicial Processes; CRJU 350: Constitutional Criminal Procedure; CRJU 412: Criminal Investigation; and CRJU 440: Criminalistics:  Forensic Science in the Crime Laboratory.

3. Completion of six (6) units of forensic electives from the following options:

a. CRJU 430: Criminal Evidence and Trials;

b. CRJU 441: Investigating High-Tech Crimes;

c. CRJU 442: Forensic Psychology and the Criminal Justice System;

d. CRJU 443: Forensic Pathology and the Medical-Legal Investigation of Death;

e.CRJU 490: Special Topics (when the topic is approved as an applied forensics special topics course);

f. CRJU 492: Internship (only for approved forensic-related internships); or

g. any approved applied forensics courses offered in a related discipline.

Each course in the minor must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.  In addition, a course in 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. 

Students who would like to declare the minor in forensic studies must have completed the two prerequisite courses (CRJU 100, 110) and have an overall G.P.A. of 2.5. Alternative admission requirements may apply during times when the department is impacted. 

EFFECTIVE: Fall 2010

 

Campus Code:  (CRIMUM02)

College: 15

Career: UG

CSU Code:  19991

CIP Code: 43.0106

 

PS 10-02