The Criminology and Criminal Justice Option is intended for those students who have an interest in the study of criminology and criminal justice. It provides students with theoretical and practical foundations for an understanding of deviance, criminal behavior and criminal justice institutions. In addition, this option provides the student with skills for further education or entry-level employment in the areas of criminology and criminal justice.

1. Lower Division Required Courses (13 units)

MATH 140 Introductory Statistics (4)
SOC 150 Introductory Sociology (3)
SOC 202 Sociological Analysis (3)
SOC 250 Introduction to Crime and Criminal Justice (3)

2. Upper Division Research and Theory Core Courses (16 units)

SOC 364/L Social Statistics and Lab (3/1)
SOC 368/S Sociological Theory I and Research Seminar in Sociological Theory I (3/2)
SOC 408 Criminological Theory (3)
SOC 497/L Methods of Social Research and Lab (3/1)

3. Social Diversity (3 units)

Select one course from the following list:

SOC 305 Culture and Personality (3)*
SOC 306 Jewish Communal and Family Structure (3)
SOC 307 Ethnic Diversity in America (3)
SOC 324 Sociology of Sex and Gender (3)
SOC 333 Chinese Society (3)
SOC 335 Jewish Identity in the U.S. (3)
SOC 390 Race Relations (3)
SOC 401 Class, Status and Power (3)

*Denotes course satisfying Upper Division GE Requirements.

4. Law and Policy Studies (3-4 units)

Select one course from the following list:

AIS 304 American Indian Law and Policy (3)*
POLS 450 Jurisprudence (3)
SOC 426 Social Legislation and Social Policy (4)
SOC 434 Sociology of Law (3)

*Denotes course satisfying Upper Division GE Requirements.

5. Crime and Victimization Courses (6 units)

Select two courses from the following list:

Note: At least one of these courses must be 400-level.

GWS 370 Women and Violence (3)*
SOC 304 Sociology of Deviance (3)
SOC 348 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
SOC 418 Gender and Crime (3)
SOC 428 Domestic Violence (3)
SOC 438 Diversity and Crime (3)
SOC 485A Selected Topics in Crime (3)

*Denotes course satisfying Upper Division GE Requirements.

6. Criminal Justice Courses (6 units)

Select two courses from the following list:

POLS 455 Criminal Procedures (3)
SOC 415 Gender and Criminal Justice (3)
SOC 454 Policing Society (3)
SOC 474 Corrections (3)
SOC 485B Selected Topics in Criminal Justice (3)

7. Research/Service Learning Requirement (3 units)

Criminological experience in the field and/or in research is required prior to graduation. This requirement may be met by taking one of the following classes and earning a grade of “C” or higher, or in limited circumstances, with a waiver:

POLS 494J Judicial Internship (3)
SOC 420 Mentoring to Overcome Struggles and Inspire Courage (MOSAIC) (3)
SOC 489 Research in Crime and Criminal Justice (3)
SOC 498CEE Criminal Justice Internships (3)

Other service learning courses in topics related to crime and/or criminal justice (subject to departmental approval).

Waiver Option (subject to departmental review and approval)

In certain circumstances, a student may have experience in the field of crime and criminal justice comparable to an internship or service learning experience. These students may qualify for a waiver of the research/service learning requirement. This waiver application will require documentation of no less than 100 hours spent in the field, as well as a five page essay connecting conceptual learning in criminology with the experience. If a waiver is granted, the student must take one additional 300- or 400-level course in Sociology.

8. General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
If 9 units of Upper Division GE are taken within the context of the option requirements, the student may need to take additional units to meet the University’s degree requirement for a total of 40 Upper Division units.

Total Units in Major/Option: 50-51

General Education Units: 48

Additional Units: 21-22

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

If you would like more information about this program, please contact vickie.jensen@csun.edu.