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SCHOOL OFFICE
Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center
Room # 244
Phone: (323) 343-4610
Joseph L. Peterson, Director
Website: www.calstatela.edu/academic/hhs/crim_jus/

Programs in the School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics are designed to prepare students for successful positions in law enforcement, corrections, criminal justice planning and/or law, as well as for further study in graduate or professional schools in any of these fields. The curriculum provides intensive study in the areas of criminal justice theory, research methodology and data analysis, criminal law, organizational functioning, program planning and criminalistics. The program strives to promote understanding of key criminal, legal, and scientific issues affecting contemporary urban society and respect for racial, ethnic, cultural and gender diversity.

The School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice, with options in Administration and Forensic Mental Health, and a Master of Science degree in Criminalistics. The Criminalistics degree builds upon undergraduate preparation in the natural sciences. Also offered is an undergraduate minor for students majoring in a natural or physical science at CSULA.

The Faculty

Professors: Denise Herz (Director), Joseph L. Peterson, Katherine Roberts.
Associate Professors: Donald Johnson, Bill Sanders.
Assistant Professors: Lisa Graziano, Katherine Tellis.
Emeriti: Allen P. Bristow, William M. Cole, Harry Diamond, G. Douglas Gourley, Richard C. Grace, Robert H. Morneau, Jr., Nathaniel Trives.

Certificate Program

In addition, the school offers course work acceptable toward fulfillment of requirements for the interdisciplinary credit certificate in Child Maltreatment and Family Violence offered by the College of Health and Human Services.

Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Programs

Two Master of Science degrees are offered by the School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics: Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Criminalistics. The program leading to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice offers two options, one in Administration and one in Forensic Mental Health. The program leading to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Administration Option, addresses issues of crime and criminal justice within a framework that emphasizes theory and research with their implications for criminal justice policy and practice. The Forensic Mental Health Option trains students in the delivery of services to psychiatrically impaired clients of the criminal justice systems. Both curricula are grounded in the social, behavioral and natural sciences. The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is designed to provide the background necessary for administrative, practice, policy and research positions in criminal justice. It also prepares students for doctoral study in criminal justice and related fields. The school recognizes the value of diverse methodological and theoretical approaches and encourages their complementary use and integration. The program leading to the Master of Science degree in Criminalistics offers a specialization in the application of science to the criminal justice process.

Admission to the Program

Students must complete a university application in order to be admitted into a graduate studies program. In addition to university requirements for admission to graduate study, applicants must satisfy specific school requirements before admission to either the criminalistics or criminal justice graduate degree programs. Application forms to the school are available on the school website and in the school office.

All applications must be received by February 1st of the calendar year the applicant seeks to be admitted. New criminalistics and criminal justice graduate students are accepted only in the fall quarter of each academic year.

Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be submitted with the school application in addition to the transcripts required by the Office of University Admission and Outreach. Students must also arrange to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and to have their GRE scores sent directly to the school by the Educational Testing Service. An acceptable GRE score is required for consideration. Additionally, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter units (or last 60 semester units) and 3.0 in the undergraduate major are required for consideration. Applications will not be considered until all of these conditions are met.

Programs for this School:

Undergraduate Major

• Criminal Justice, B.S. 
Undergraduate Minor

• Criminal Justice Minor 
• Forensic Science Minor 
Undergraduate Certificate

• Undergraduate Certificate in Child Maltreatment and Family Violence 
Graduate Major

• Criminal Justice, M.S. 
• Criminalistics, M.S. 
 

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