Program: B.A., Criminology and Justice Studies
Program Description
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.
Program Requirements
1. Basic Requirements (6 units)
CJS 102 Introduction to Criminology and Justice Studies (3)
or CJS 302 Crime, Criminal Justice and Society (3)
2. Criminal Justice Foundations (21 units)
a. Systems of Justice (6 units)
CJS 310 Juvenile Justice (3)
CJS 370 Criminal Justice Systems (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:
SBS 320 Social Science Research Methods (3)
and CJS 430/L Criminology and Justice Methods and Lab (2/1)
or
GEOG 206/L Introduction to Geographical Information Science and Lab (2/1)
and GEOG 306/L Intermediate Geographical Information Science and Lab (2/1)
3. Applied Research and Field Experience in Criminology and Justice (3 units)
Select one from the following:
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)
SOC 420 Mentoring to Overcome Struggles and Inspire Courage (MOSAIC) (3)
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:
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 402 Gangs (3)
CJS 422 White Collar Crime (3)
CJS 432 Alcohol, Drugs, and Crime (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.
CJS 334 Law Enforcement and Security (3)
CJS 344 Corrections (3)
CJS 444 Community Corrections (3)
CJS 454AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Criminal Justice (3)
COMS 325 Legal Argumentation (3)
COMS 446 Rhetoric of Crime and Punishment (3)
LING 310 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)
5. General Education (48 units)
Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
CJS 340 can be counted toward GE Lifelong Learning and the major.
*Indicates course available for Upper Division General Education. Students will be required to meet the CSUN minimum for upper division coursework, which may require additional upper division electives if 9 units of GE are taken within the major.
Total Units in the Major: 48
General Education Units: 36-42
Additional Units: 30-36
Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120
Contact
Department of Criminology and Justice Studies
Chair: Vickie Jensen
Sierra Hall (SH) 165
(818) 677-2117
cjs@csun.edu
Student Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Objective 1: Criminology and Justice Studies students will demonstrate essential qualifications for employment in criminology, criminal justice, and related occupations that include the mastery of core criminology and justice principles and the ability to think critically and to speak and write effectively within the field.
- Student Learning Outcome 1A: Students will critically apply core criminology and criminal justice principles to situations related to crime, criminal justice and related areas of practice.
- Student Learning Outcome 1B: Students will effectively communicate in writing and speaking in the presentation of ideas and their application to issues and situations related to criminology and criminal justice.
Program Learning Objective 2: Criminology and Justice Studies students will demonstrate the ability to apply criminological theory, research methods, and appropriate technology to assess, evaluate, and address issues in the practice of criminology and criminal justice.
- Student Learning Outcome 2A: Using core concepts from criminological theory, students will conduct a research study creating appropriate research questions, methodology, and analysis to draw valid, ethical, empirically based conclusions.
- Student Learning Outcome 2B: Students will apply criminological theory and research findings to hypothetical or real case study situations in the practice of criminology and criminal justice.
Program Learning Objective 3: Criminology and Justice Studies students will demonstrate a critical understanding of diversity and inequality as manifested in the criminal justice system locally, nationally and globally. Students will apply these understandings to both the study and practice of criminology and criminal justice, including an engagement with diverse local and global communities around issues of crime, criminal justice and other problem behaviors.
- Student Learning Outcome 3: Students will develop and apply a personal understanding of diversity and the way it impacts work in criminology and criminal justice.
Program Learning Objective 4: Criminology and Justice Studies students will develop a fundamental commitment to ethical analysis, research and practice, and they will demonstrate the ability to apply these principles to work within criminology, criminal justice and related fields.
- Student Learning Outcome 4: Students will apply key principles in criminal justice ethics to analyze real-life and hypothetical decision-making situations in the practice of criminal justice.