Criminal Justice, B.S.

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The Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice is designed to prepare individuals academically in the behavioral, natural and social science perspectives, as well as for further study in graduate or professional schools in any of these fields. The program provides intensive study in areas of criminal justice theory, research methodology and data analysis, criminal law, organizational functioning, and program planning. The program strives to promote understanding of key criminal and legal issues of contemporary urban society and respect for racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity. By incorporating a multidisciplinary social, behavioral and natural science approach to undergraduate study, the program provides two important benefits for the student. First, it encourages the development of an interrelated perspective with regard to the study of criminal justice. This perspective facilitates a more comprehensive focus on the connections among the endeavors of crime prevention, law enforcement, adjudication, and punishment. Secondly, the program is designed to encourage the development of effective analytical and problem-solving skills that will equip professionals with the intellectual capacity necessary for a variety of positions in criminal justice.

The total number of units required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice is 180 units, of which 88 units are in the major. Consult with an advisor for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree including GE and free electives.

Limitations on Transfer Credit

Students intending to transfer to Cal State L.A. from a community college to continue work toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice are advised to complete general education requirements and any lower division core courses equivalent to those in the Cal State L.A. curriculum prior to transferring. Students are advised to contact the school for information on transfer agreements between Cal State L.A. and specific community colleges.

Criteria for Admission to the Major

The School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics has been approved an impacted program. The number of applicants who can be admitted to the major is limited by space availability. Admission of students for available space will be based on a rank ordering of cumulative GPA. Incoming freshman students wishing to major in Criminal Justice will be admitted as “Undeclared with and Interest in Criminal Justice.” Lower division students are eligible to apply to the Criminal Justice major once they meet all of the following criteria:

Have completed at least 45 quarter units of completed coursework;
Have a minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.75; and
Have completed CRIM 101 and CRIM 126 (or the equivalent content courses taken at other educational institutions) with grades of “B‐” or better. Students will have a single opportunity to take and achieve a grade of “B‐” in each of these courses.

Upper division transfer and continuing upper division students will be eligible to apply to the Criminal Justice major provided they meet the following criteria:

Have completed at least 90 quarter (60 semester) units of college (transferable) coursework;
Have a minimum cumulative college (transferable) GPA of 3.00; and
Have completed CRIM 101 and 126 (or the equivalent content courses taken at other educational institutions) with grades of “B-” or better. Students will have a single opportunity to take and achieve a grade of “B” in each of these courses.

Requirements for the Major (88 units)

A total of 180 units is required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, including a minimum of 88 units for the major. All students must complete a required core of 24 quarter units in lower division courses. The total upper division requirement includes 64 units; thirty-two (32) units of upper division criminal justice courses and thirty-two (32) elective units. CRIM 301 is a prerequisite to all upper division courses. All upper division courses are restricted to declared Criminal Justice majors. Students minoring in Criminal Justice and other majors seeking electives may be admitted to upper division courses by permit. See Undergraduate Studies: General Information for details about the General Education and other requirements that constitute the units outside the major.

All students must see a faculty adviser in the school before beginning the program. Further, all students must receive approval from a faculty adviser before making any changes in the major program. Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with a school adviser concerning criminal justice degree requirements. Students must earn a “C” or higher in all other courses used to meet major curriculum requirements. Students who receive a “C-” or lower in the same course twice or in two separate courses within the upper or lower division core will be required to change their major.

Lower Division Required Core Courses (24 units)

Upper Division Required Core Courses (32 units)

Selected electives (12 units)

Students must select 12 units from the following list of electives:

Directed Electives in Criminal Justice or Related Fields (20 units)

With major adviser approval, students select 20 units of upper division directed electives in Criminal Justice or related fields. With adviser approval, a minor in a related field is acceptable as directed electives provided the minor contains at least twenty (20) units of upper division curriculum. If the selected minor contains less than twenty (20) units of upper division curriculum, the student will have to select additional upper division units in Criminal Justice or related fields to meet the twenty-unit curriculum requirement.

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