School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics

Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center
Room # 244
Phone: (323) 343-4610
Website: www.calstatela.edu/academic/hhs/crim_jus/

Director

Katherine Tellis
ktellis@calstatela.edu
323-343-4623

Overview

Cal State LA’s School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics is a leading program in the study of criminal justice and criminalistics in California. Our faculty are dedicated to bridging research, policy, and practice in the classroom and through their research.

Our faculty’s interests and backgrounds include a variety of disciplines, which inspires a diverse and comprehensive examination of the issues related to crime, forensic science, the criminal justice system, and social justice. 

The School is located in the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center, a state-of-the-art facility shared with operating crime labs for the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The building offers classrooms equipped with the latest technology as well as modern laboratories which provide students the opportunity to fully engage in their educational experience.

We offer several degree programs, including:

• A Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice;
• A Minor in Criminal Justice;
• A Master of Science Degree in Criminalistics.

Students in our criminal justice programs learn and discuss the causes and correlates of crime, how the criminal justice system operates, critical issues related to criminal justice, and how to improve our responses to crime.  Students in our criminalistics programs learn and discuss forensic science perspectives and apply scientific concepts uniquely related to the forensic sciences-such as crime-scene reconstruction, the legal integrity of scientific evidence, courtroom testimony, and individualization of physical evidence. 

Both the undergraduate and graduate programs are highly competitive programs that require students to apply directly to the School as well as to the University.  The number of undergraduate and graduate students accepted each year is limited and is based on applicants’ previous and current academic performance. 

The Faculty

Professors: Denise Herz, Donald Johnson, Katherine Roberts, Bill Sanders.
Associate Professors: Lisa Graziano, Katharine Tellis (Interim Director).
Assistant Professors: Akhila Ananth, Carly Dierkhising, Jane Gauthier, Jay Vargas.
Emeriti: Allen P. Bristow, William M. Cole, Harry Diamond, G. Douglas Gourley, Richard C. Grace, Robert H. Morneau, Jr., Nathaniel Trives, Beatrice Yorker.

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. One Master of Science degree is offered by the School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics: Master of Science in Criminalistics. The program leading to the Master of Science degree in Criminalistics offers a specialization in the application of science to the criminal justice process. 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.

Please refer to the departmental website for current application dates. New criminalistics and criminal justice graduate students are accepted only in the fall semester 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. Students must also submit two letters of recommendation and a personal statement. Applicants may be admitted to the M.S. degree program in Classified or Conditionally Classified Standing. Classified Standing is granted to accepted applicants who have 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. Conditionally Classified Students must achieve a 3.0 grade point average after completing four qualifying courses (that have been approved by the Graduate Advisor) by the end of their second semester of graduate study in order to be granted Classified Standing. See School website for a detailed description of requirements.

Applicants must satisfy both university and school requirements before admission to the criminalistics graduate degree program. Acceptance to the University does not guarantee acceptance to the School. The application must be completed and submitted online through Cal State Apply.

Applications must be received by March 15, 2021, for Fall Semester 2020 admission. Please note that new criminalistics graduate students are accepted only in the fall semester of each academic year.

Grade Point Average:

For admission to the Criminalistics Graduate Program, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 semester units (or last 90 quarter units) and 3.0 in the undergraduate major are required for consideration.

Transcripts:

Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be submitted with the application.

The School’s Graduate Admissions Committee will not consider applications to the Criminalistics Graduate Program until all of the above conditions are met.

Programs

• Criminal Justice, B.S.

• Minor in Criminal Justice
• Minor in Forensic Science

• Criminalistics, M.S.