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Why
should I major in Criminal Justice at Cal State Fullerton?
Crime,
like death and taxes, is ever with us. However,
Criminal Justice as a discipline is founded on
the observation that -- unlike death and taxes
-- something can be done about crime.
Criminal Justice majors come to understand crime,
its origin, its nature, its extent. It is, thus,
very much in the tradition of liberal arts. At
the same
time, Criminal Justice majors prepare for occupations that grapple with the
problem of crime, seeking to prevent crime, to ameliorate the effects of crime,
to isolate and "fix" criminal wrongdoers. All in all, then, Criminal
Justice is a liberal arts program with a defined professional outcome.
What
can I expect as a Criminal Justice Major?
At
Cal State Fullerton, Criminal Justice majors experience:
A growing faculty - As a large and fast growing major, the faculty
in Criminal Justice has been growing and is expected to continue to expand.
Diversity in course offerings - with the perspective of many professionals
representing law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
Faculty with current professional credentials - as professionals
with police departments, probation departments, etc., our faculty offer
classes such as The Enforcement Function and Treatment & Rehabilitation.
Explicit connections to other fields of study - expressed in our "Correlated
Curriculum" portion of the major, where students choose from a list
of recommended courses in Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology,
Public Administration, and other fields. From this, students gain an
expanded perspective, come to understand Criminal Justice in a broader
context and often pick up a minor to go along with their major in Criminal
Justice.
Vibrant Student Groups- providing speakers, field trips and activities
to supplement learning from the classroom.
What kind of career opportunities
are there in Criminal Justice?
Broadly,
Criminal Justice students prepare for occupations
that deal with the challenge of crime in a free
society. Students typically enter rewarding careers
in law enforcement or corrections, relying on their
bachelors degree for placement at entrance and/or
as a gateway to career development. Others extend
their education beyond the bachelors degree. Criminal
Justice graduates often seek law degrees or masters
degrees in public administration, criminal justice,
or other fields. Graduates of our Criminal Justice
program succeed as attorneys, researchers, and
as senior leaders within public organizations.
Still others find their way to diverse and unexpected
occupations with local, state, or federal agencies,
be they public or private.
Requirements for the Bachelor
of Arts Degree
Every
student must complete the core courses (21 units)
and a minimum of 12 units from the elective curriculum.
In addition, each student is required to complete
9 units in a correlated curriculum. Effective
Fall 2004, new Criminal Justice majors must achieve
a grade of C or better in all 15 courses in the
curriculum to earn their Bachelor's Degree. Returning
students are governed by the policies in effect
at the time of their entrance to the program.
For current information regarding the criminal justice program and its courses,
check with the Division office in University Hall 511.
Core Curriculum (21 units)
Crim Just 300 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
Crim Just 310A Criminal Law: Substantive (3)
Crim Just 315 The Enforcement Function (3)
Crim Just 320 Introduction to Public Management and Policy (3)
Crim Just 330 Crime and Delinquency (3)
Crim Just 340 Criminal Justice Research Methodology (3)
Crim Just 345 Corrections (3)
Elective Curriculum (12 units)
Crim Just 310B Criminal Law: Procedural (3)
Crim Just 350 Principles and Concepts of Investigation and Reporting (3)
Crim Just 360 Comparative Criminal Justice (3)
Crim Just 422 Human Resources Management (3)
Crim Just 425 Juvenile Justice Administration (3)
Crim Just 430 Women and Crime (3)
Crim Just 440 Minorities and the Criminal Justice System (3)
Crim Just 450 Organized Crime and Intelligence Analysis (3)
Crim Just 455 Gangs and the Criminal Justice System (3)
Crim Just 462 Crime Analysis (3)
Crim Just 465 Law, Punishment, and Justice (3)
Crim Just 472 The Judicial Process (3)
Crim Just 475T Topics in Administration of Justice: A Seminar (3)
Crim Just 480 Courtroom Evidence (3)
Crim Just 485 Search, Seizure and Interrogation I (3)
Crim Just 486 Search, Seizure and Interrogation II (3)
Crim Just 495 Internships (3)
Crim Just 499 Independent Study (1-3)
Correlated Curriculum (9 units)
Courses in the related fields shall be selected by the student in consultation
with an adviser. The purpose of this requirement is to allow for an awareness
of the disciplines contributing to the creation of "criminal justice" as
a separate subject. Upper division courses in such fields as philosophy, political
science, psychology and sociology may be considered in this regard. For a list
of courses that can count in this regard, check with the Division office.
Writing Requirement (3 units)
One of the following courses:
Crim Just 350 Principles and Concepts of Investigation and Reporting (3)
English 301 Advanced College Writing (3)
English 365 Legal Writing (3)
For further information on these alternatives, please see the Criminal Justice
adviser.
Advisement Forms
 Criminal Justice Correlated Curriculum (revised 8/1/07)
Criminal Justice Major Map (revised 06/07)
How can I
find out more information?
Many
questions may be answered by browsing these webpages
-- But the best way to get the information you
need is to visit our Division Office, University
Hall 511, and talk to our faculty and staff members
and other students. Check out our bulletin boards
and spend a little time getting to know us. We're
here to help!
Students interested in law school should consult with Professor Max Dery, the
Pre-Law Advisor. Professor Dery can offer Criminal Justice majors advice about
their correlated curriculum choices, and about membership in the university's
Pre-Law Society.
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