Criminology and Justice Studies Degree Requirements

Students may earn a Bachelor's Degree in Criminology and Justice Studies by completing a minimum of 4 semester units of lower division preparation coursework and 40 upper division semester units in the major. These units include 20 units of required upper division core coursework and 20 upper-division elective units in a concentration area. The breakdown of required and elective requirements are presented below:

Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Justice Studies

·        Each course counted toward the major must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

·        A minimum or 18 units of the major must be completed at Cal State San Marcos.

Preparation for Major

                        Lower Division Requirements                                       6-7 units

                        SOC 105         Introduction to Justice Studies (4)

                        SOC 201         Statistics for Social Sciences (3-4)

                        Major Requirements

                        Upper Division Requirements                                        40 units

                        Core Requirements (20)

                               SOC 311   Inequality (4)

                               SOC 325   Criminology (4)

                               SOC 360   Research Methods (4)

                               SOC 442   Analysis of the Justice System and Criminal Law (4)

                               SOC 495   Internship in Community Service (4)

                        Area Requirements (20)

 Complete five courses selected from Areas 1 and 2 below.  At least one course must be completed in each area.  At least two courses must be 400-level courses from a single area.   

 Area 1:  Crime and Justice

                              SOC 306   Women and Crime (4)

SOC 308   Morality and the Law (4)

SOC 321   Sociology of Deviance (4)

SOC 322   Youth Gangs (3)

SOC 323   Juvenile Delinquency (4)

SOC 324   Drugs and Alcohol in Society (4)

SOC 327   Law Enforcement (4)

SOC 328   Sociology of Violence (4)

SOC 329   Victims and Criminals (4)

SOC 396   Topics in Criminology and Criminal Justice (4)

SOC 417   Family Violence (4)

SOC 443   Sociology of Law (4)

SOC 444   Perspectives on Corrections and Penology (4)

SOC 445   White Collar Crime (4)

SOC 449   Comparative Analysis of Criminal Justice Systems (4)

Area 2:  Communities, Inequalities and Justice

SOC 313  Race/Ethnic Relations (4)

SOC 314   Health and Society (4)

SOC 316   Mental Health and Society (4)

SOC 331   Social Welfare Policies and Services (4)

SOC 337   Women and Organizations (4)

SOC 339   Social Inequality and Civil Rights (4)

                              SOC 345   Latino Communities (4)

SOC 347   African American Communities (4)

SOC 411   Social Stratification and Classes (4)

SOC 416   Families in Poverty (4)

SOC 419   Inequalities and Health (4)

SOC 424   Women and Health (4)

SOC 437   Feminism and Justice (4)

SOC 439   Social Justice and the Environment (4)

SOC 463   Seminar in White Privilege (4)

                              SOC 465   Critical Race Theory (4)