Criminology and Criminal Justice, M.S.

Graduate study in criminal justice provides the requisite knowledge and opportunity for individuals to (1) be competitive for administrative positions in the courts, corrections, law enforcement, security, probation and parole; (2) fill research positions in criminal justice agencies; (3) pursue advanced degrees (J.D. or Ph.D.); and (4) fill community college teaching positions in criminal justice.

The Master of Science degree in criminology and criminal justice will expand and increase individual competency, develop and mature thought processes, aid in gaining insights into professional leadership and knowledge, permit an exchange between students and faculty, and further the spirit of research and scholarship to enhance professional and personal development.

Admission

Students seeking admission to the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Emergency Management Graduate Program should have an undergraduate degree and a desire for graduate study. Applicants must apply for admission to the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Emergency Management in addition to being admitted by Enrollment Services. Students must be accepted for admission by the School before their program for a master’s degree can be formulated. Students are not allowed to take graduate course work in criminal justice before being accepted to the program. The following items must be submitted:

Submit a graduate application via CalStateApply.
Applicants must select ONE of the following three options to demonstrate their aptitude for graduate study:
Option A: The GRE – Official test scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test. While no specific cut-off scores are required, a score of 4.0 or higher on the writing portion is strongly preferred.
Option B: The LSAT – Official test scores on the Law School Admissions Test. No specific cut-off scores are required.
Option C: Evidence of Research Potential – Applicants who prefer not to take any standardized tests may submit one or two writing samples that evidence their research, writing, and critical thinking abilities.
Official transcripts of all undergraduate course work, including work done at all community colleges attended. Each applicant must request that official transcripts be sent to both the Graduate Advisor in the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Emergency Management and Enrollment Services.
Two letters of recommendation from persons able to testify to the student’s academic ability, preferably from former professors. These letters must be sent to the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Emergency Management Graduate Advisor.
A résumé sent directly to the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Emergency Management Graduate Advisor that describes the applicant’s academic achievements (including honors and awards), extracurricular activities, as well as relevant work, internship, and volunteer experiences.
A typewritten letter of intent (between 750 and 1,250 words) sent directly to the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Emergency Management Graduate Advisor. This essay should address: (a) what motivates the applicant to apply for a graduate degree; (b) what relevant research and practical experiences qualify the applicant for admission; (c) what the applicant’s specific areas of interests in criminal justice practice, policy, and/or research are; (d) with whom on the faculty the applicant would like to work and why; and (e) what the applicant’s personal goals and objectives are for earning a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice at CSULB.
International students are subject to the same admission criteria as non-international students plus a TOEFL score of 100 for the internet-based exam or 600 for the paper-based exam.

Prerequisites

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited university. Although a major or minor in criminology, criminal justice, or a related social-scientific discipline is preferred, the School’s Graduate Committee may admit students with undergraduate preparation in other fields.
A student must have an overall undergraduate average (GPA) and average in their major of 3.00 or better. A student whose overall grade point average is between 2.750 and 2.999, but who presents acceptable evidence of professional potential either through recent academic performance and/or experiential background, may be conditionally admitted by special action of the School’s Graduate Committee.

Competencies

Students entering the M.S. program in criminology and criminal justice are expected to have completed the following six undergraduate courses or their equivalents:

CRJU 101 - The Criminal Justice System in Society (3 units)
CRJU 304 - Criminological Theory (4 units)
CRJU 320 - Criminal Justice Research Methods (4 units) (or a similar social-scientific research methods course in psychology, sociology, political science, or related field);
CRJU 325 - Statistics for Criminal Justice (4 units) (or a similar applied statistics course);
CRJU 340 - Substantive Criminal Law (3 units) and
CRJU 350 - Constitutional Criminal Procedure (3 units)

Note(s):

Students who have not taken courses in criminological theory, research methods, and statistics during their undergraduate studies still qualify for conditional admission to the M.S. program in criminology and criminal justice, but will be required to take deficiency courses in these areas before being permitted to enroll in the graduate-level courses for which undergraduate competency in one or more of these areas is required. Because deficiency courses do not count for graduate credit, the necessity of acquiring undergraduate competency in one or more of these areas may extend the time to degree completion by a semester. Students who have not taken courses in criminal law or criminal procedure will be required to use one or two of their elective courses to gain competency in the areas. Taking such courses will not delay graduation.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students must satisfy the general University requirements for advancement to candidacy, as specified in this catalogue.
Before advancing to candidacy, students must successfully complete 12 graduate units within the core (CRJU 501 , CRJU 504 , CRJU 520 , and CRJU 525 ) with a minimum grade of “B” in each of the courses.
Before advancing to candidacy, students must have fulfilled the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) and have successfully passed the School’s qualifying examination.
Each student’s graduate program must be approved by the School Graduate Advisor, the Director of the School, and the Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

Requirements

Take 18 units of the following core courses:

CRJU 501 - Proseminar and Professional Writing in Criminology and Criminal Justice (3 units)
CRJU 504 - Criminological Theory (3 units)
CRJU 520 - Advanced Criminal Justice Research Methods (3 units)
CRJU 525 - Advanced Statistics for Criminal Justice (3 units)
CRJU 535 - Criminal Justice Policy (3 units)
CRJU 555 - Law, Justice, and Social Control (3 units)

Criminal Justice Ethics, Values & Diversity

Take CRJU 530 Criminal Justice Ethics, Values, and Diversity (3), unless waived because the student completed an undergraduate course in applied criminal justice ethics with a grade of “B” or higher. If so waived, the student must take 3 units of any graduate-level elective in lieu of CRJU 530 .

School’s Qualifying Examination

Successful passage of the School’s qualifying examination testing graduate-level competency in statistics, research methods, and criminological theory.

Take 15 additional graduate units in one of two ways:

Thesis Option:

Take 9 units of advisor-approved electives and the following courses:

CRJU 694 - Thesis I (3 units)
CRJU 698 - Thesis II (3 units)

Comprehensive Examination Option:

Take 15 units of advisor-approved electives and successful completion of the comprehensive master’s essay examination in either policing, corrections, law and social control, crime and mental illness, crime and inequality, or other authorized subject area.

Note(s):

Masters students must complete catalog requirements specified in the catalog in effect at the time of admission to the graduate program. All graduate students have the option of taking comprehensive examinations even if such exams were not listed as an option in the catalog at the time the student matriculated.

In Addition to the Core Classes

In addition to the core classes, take 12 units of electives selected in consultation with graduate advisor. A maximum of 6 units may be taken from 300 or 400-level courses in Criminal Justice. Up to 6 units of graduate work may be transferred from another accredited university or another program at CSULB. Transfer credit must be a “B” or better. All students must earn a grade of “A” or “B” for each required course. Students may not have more than 6 units of “C” grades apply toward the master’s degree. Advancement to candidacy is necessary before Thesis I, Thesis II, or comprehensive exams can be taken.

Thesis

The thesis is a supervised experience in the application of theory and analytical tools to an issue in criminology or criminal justice. The thesis should prepare students for further graduate work or research in the field. The project should provide an experience that is directly applicable to an occupation in the criminal justice field.

The thesis is a written product of the systematic study of a significant problem. It clearly identifies the problem, states the major assumptions, explains the significance of the undertaking, sets forth the sources for and methods of gathering information, analyzes the data, and offers a conclusion or recommendations. The finished product evidences originality, critical and independent thinking, appropriate organization and format, and thorough documentation. The coursework is supervised by a committee of three, including the Thesis Chair, who mustbe a full-time tenure-track or tenured faculty member in the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Emergency Management and two other faculty members.