Criminology and Justice Studies

The Criminology and Justice Studies program promotes the theoretical, analytical and practical understanding of crime, victimization and the criminal justice system from a social scientific perspective. The program provides a foundation for the study of criminology and criminal justice based in critical thinking and application, theory and research methodology, understanding diversity and global perspectives, writing, and fundamentals of law and ethical practice. Students who major in Criminology and Justice Studies are equipped to enter the criminal justice and related workforce with a solid understanding of the system of criminal justice and the ability to critically engage in an examination of that system and the work within it. Graduates of the program are also well equipped to enter into graduate study in criminal justice and other fields. Coursework in criminal justice complements many other fields, including sociology, political science, psychology, social work, counseling, child development, health and any other field that addresses or is impacted by deviant or criminal behavior.

Sociology majors with the option in Criminology and Criminal Justice will not be allowed to double major with Criminology and Justice Studies.

1. Basic Requirements (6 units)

2. Criminal Justice Foundations (21 units)

a. Systems of Justice (6 units)

CJS 270 Critical Justice Systems (3)
CJS 310 Juvenile Justice (3)

b. Criminal Law and Ethics (6 units)

CJS 320 Introduction to Criminal Law and Legal Analysis (3)
CJS 340 Ethics in Criminal Justice (3)

c. Criminal Justice Theory and Research Methods (9 units)

CJS 350 Criminological Theory (3)

Select one set of methods courses:

3. Applied Research and Field Experience in Criminology and Justice (3 units)

Select one from the following:

CJS 410CS Mentoring to Overcome Struggles and Inspire Courage (MOSAIC) (3)
CJS 480 Applied Research in Criminology and Justice Studies (3)
CJS 494A-E/AA-EE Criminal Justice Internships Seminar and Field Experience (1/2)
POLS 494J/A Judicial Internship (1/2)

Other relevant internship or service learning courses may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the department.

4. Area Studies in Criminology and Justice (18 units)

a. Cross-Cultural/Cross-National Criminology and Justice (3 units)

Select one of the following:

AIS 304 American Indian Law and Policy (3)
CJS 328 Diversity and Crime (3)
CJS 418 Gender and Crime (3)
CJS 438 Gender and Criminal Justice (3)
CJS 448 Global Perspectives in Crime and Justice (3)

b. Victimization (3 units)

Select one of the following:

CADV 310 Developmental Impacts of Abuse and Neglect (3)
CJS 326 Victimology (3)
CJS 446 Domestic Violence (3)

c. Criminology (6 units)

Select two from the following. At least one course must be from CJS.

GWS 370 Women and Violence (3)
CJS 328 Diversity and Crime (3)*
CJS 402 Gangs (3)
CJS 418 Gender and Crime (3)*
CJS 422 White Collar Crime (3)
CJS 432 Alcohol, Drugs, and Crime (3)
CJS 448 Global Perspectives in Crime and Justice (3)*
CJS 452AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Criminology (3)

d. Criminal Justice (6 units)

Select two from the following. At least one course must be from CJS.

AIS 304 American Indian Law and Policy (3)*
CJS 334 Law Enforcement and Security (3)
CJS 344 Corrections (3)
CJS 438 Gender and Criminal Justice (3)*
CJS 444 Community Corrections (3)
CJS 448 Global Perspectives in Crime and Justice (3)*
CJS 454AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Criminal Justice (3)
LING 310 Forensic Linguistics: Language and the Law (3)
POLS 426 International Law (3)
POLS 450 Jurisprudence (3)
POLS 455 Criminal Procedures (3)
POLS 457B Constitutional Law II (3)
PSY 443 Advanced Inquiry in Legal Psychology (3)
SOC 434 The Sociology of Law (3)

*Course will count in only one CJS program category.

5. General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement.

3 units are satisfied by the following course in the major: CJS 340 satisfies E Lifelong Learning.

If taken, CJS 280 satisfies B4 Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning; CJS 380/L or LING 310 satisfies B5 Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning; GWS 370 satisfies 3 units of upper division D1 Social Sciences; and AIS 304 satisfies 3 units of upper division F Comparative Cultural Studies.

Total Units in the Major: 48

General Education Units: 45

Additional Units: 27

Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120