Program Overview

Develop an in-depth understanding of crime and justice through readings, research and experiential learning. You'll be prepared to analyze crime and fight for justice in your future career.

Why Study Criminology and Justice Studies?

To address and prevent crime, you first need to study it. In criminology and justice studies, you will view crime through a scientific and social justice lens. You'll leverage new technologies and analyze data to create safer, more just societies. You'll learn ethical practices and research methods. You'll study criminal and juvenile justice systems, criminal law, and diversity in crime and justice.

With your in-depth understanding, you will be ready for a career in this field. You can join law enforcement, probation and parole, victim assistance and nonprofit work. You'll also be well-equipped to apply for graduate study in criminal justice, law or other fields.

Why Study Criminology and Justice Studies at CSUN?

Fight for Justice

We prepare our students to work as ethical and critical voices within the criminal justice system. With your knowledge, you'll make our society more just and equitable. Our classes focus on:

• Examining miscarriages of justice
• Alternatives to traditional criminal justice processing
• Restorative justice
• Changes to criminal justice systems policies and fiscal priorities

In addition, our faculty publish research that examines inequality and provides solutions. As a student, you will be able to contribute to this research by working directly with faculty members.

Experiential Learning

Gain valuable experience through our internship or field experience courses. For example, you can work with the Los Angeles Police Department in its offices or community programs. You can also assist in legal proceedings by interning at a courthouse or advocacy group. Other areas include corrections, youth mentoring and applied research. Get hands-on experience that will prepare you for your future career.

Research Focus

At CSUN, you'll gain crucial analytical skills. You'll study research designs, data collection and interpretation. You'll also learn about geographical information science, which analyzes location data to track social activity. With a strong research background, you'll be able to advance in your career.

What You'll Learn

As a Criminology and Justice Studies major, you will learn a combination of theory and research methods. You will learn about crime, victimization and the criminal justice system. You'll also study the fundamentals of law and ethical practice. Through your studies, you will be well-equipped to enter the criminal justice workforce and its related fields.

In your introductory courses you will study:

• Introduction to Criminology and Justice Studies
• Career Planning and Criminal Justice

In your foundation classes, you will study:

• Systems of Justice
• Criminal Law and Ethics
• Criminal Justice Theory and Research Methods

You will also take in-depth courses in specific areas of criminology and justice studies.

• In your cross-culture and cross-national criminology and justice course, you will study subjects like diversity or gender in crime.
• In your victimization course, you will study victimology or domestic violence.
• In your criminology courses, you will choose from classes such as gangs, white-collar crime and drug-related crimes.
• In your criminal justice courses, you can choose between topics like corrections, criminal procedures and constitutional law.

You will also take an applied research or field experience course. You will either perform research with crime data or complete an internship program.