Forensic Studies Minor

This minor provides students with an understanding of the nature of criminal evidence and an appreciation of how forensic investigative methods are used in the quest for justice. It is particularly useful for students majoring in engineering, the natural sciences, the social sciences, art, and various human services disciplines. The minor may be combined with any major at CSULB, although criminal justice majors may not “double count” CRJU 230 , CRJU 412 , CRJU 430 , CRJU 440 , CRJU 441 , CRJU 442 , CRJU 443 , CRJU 444 , CRJU 490 , or CRJU 492 for credit towards their major elective courses and the minor in forensic studies.

Requirements

The minor in forensic studies requires completion of a minimum of twenty-seven (27) units as follows:

Completion of six (6) units of the following required prerequisite courses with grades of “C” or higher:

CRJU 101 - The Criminal Justice System in Society (3 units)
CRJU 110 - Introduction to Justice Research, Writing, and Reasoning (3 units)

Completion of fifteen (15) units of the following required core classes:

CRJU 230 - Survey of the Forensic Sciences (3 units)
CRJU 301 - Criminal Courts and Judicial Processes (3 units)
CRJU 350 - Constitutional Criminal Procedure (3 units)
CRJU 412 - Criminal Investigation (3 units)
CRJU 440 - Criminalistics: Forensic Science in the Crime Laboratory (3 units)

Completion of six (6) units of forensic electives from the following options:

CRJU 430 - Criminal Evidence and Trials (3 units)
CRJU 441 - Investigating High-Tech Crimes (3 units)
CRJU 442 - Forensic Psychology and the Criminal Justice System (3 units)
CRJU 443 - Forensic Pathology and the Medical-Legal Investigation of Death (3 units)
CRJU 444 - Forensic Photography (3 units)
CRJU 490 - Selected Topics in Criminal Justice (3 units)
CRJU 492 - Internship (6 units)
or any approved applied forensics courses offered in a related discipline.

Note(s):

Each course in the minor must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. In addition, a course in which a grade lower than “C” is received must be retaken and successfully completed prior to enrolling in a course for which it is a prerequisite.

Students who would like to declare the minor in forensic studies must have an overall G.P.A. of 2.5 and be enrolled in or have completed CRJU 101 or an equivalent course at another college or university. Alternative admission requirements may apply during times when the school is impacted.