The Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice – Online (BSCCJ) degree program is designed to provide a competitive degree for fully qualified transfer students who have already completed at least 60 lower-division units. This two-year undergraduate degree will provide students with a collaborative opportunity to investigate, understand, and solve social problems related to crime through the interdisciplinary and comparative study of crime and criminal behavior, as well as policies and systems designed to control criminality.

Unlike some majors that prepare graduates for a single specific job, the BSCCJ degree qualifies graduates for a wide variety of occupations. The program prepares graduates for jobs in fields including policing, courts, corrections, law, victim services, and other professions in criminology and criminal justice as well as adjacent fields. Specific job titles of graduates with a BS in Criminology & Criminal Justice include police officer, crime scene investigator, forensic technician, crime analyst, corrections officer, probation officer, parole agent, attorney, reentry specialist, victim/witness advocate, and many more. Graduates are also prepared to pursue advanced degrees in criminology/criminal justice, law, public affairs, and related fields.

This program is offered in partnership with CPaCE and the College of Health & Human Services’ School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management.

Students will complete 12 to 16 units during the 16 academic weeks of the traditional Fall and Spring semesters. Additionally, students will complete an additional 3-6 units during a 12-week summer session after the first year. 

Sixty-one (61) units of criminology and criminal justice courses are included as follows. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all core courses.  

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are lower division courses that should be taken prior to admission. 

Take 25 units of the following core courses:

• *CRJU 101 – Criminal Justice System in Society (3 units)
• CRJU 300 - Research, Writing, and Reasoning for Criminology and Criminal Justice (3 units)
• CRJU 301 - Criminal Courts and Judicial Processes (3 units)
• CRJU 302 - Policing (3 units)
• CRJU 303 - Corrections: Theory, Policy, and Practice (3 units)
• CRJU 304 - Criminological Theory (3 units)
• CRJU 320 - Criminal Justice Research Methods (3 units)
• CRJU 325 - Statistics for Criminal Justice (4 units)
• CRJU 330 - Criminal Justice Ethics, Values, and Diversity (3 units)

Take 3 units of one of the following:

• CRJU 340 - Substantive Criminal Law (3 units)
• CRJU 350 - Constitutional Criminal Procedure (3 units)

Take 15 units of any criminology and criminal justice-approved upper-division elective (i.e., a course not included in core)

Take 3 units of a Senior Integrative Experience (in one of the following two ways):

• CRJU 493 - Internship (3 units)
• CRJU 497 - Directed Research or Independent Study (3 units)

Take two of the following three cognate courses* (with a grade of “C” or better):

• *POSC 100 - Introduction to American Government (3 units)
• *PSY 100 - General Psychology (3 units)
• *SOC 100 - Principles of Sociology (3 units)

Cognate Electives:

Take 2 courses in related disciplines (with a grade of “C” or better):

• CLSC 410: Law & Literature in the Classical World (3)
• SOC 335: Social Psychology (3)
• SOC 342: Critical Criminology (3) 

Please note: lower-division GE courses include GE A1, A2, A3; pre-requisite courses include: CRJU 101 – Criminal Justice System in Society (3 units) and two of the following three cognate courses: POSC 100 - Introduction to American Government (3 units); PSY 100 - General Psychology (3 units); SOC 100 - Principles of Sociology (3 units)

Potential students interested in learning more about this program are encouraged to attend a free information session. The information sessions include short presentations by a program representative, designed to provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the program's benefits.

Upcoming online Information Sessions are listed below when they are available. Choose a date and click the link to register for that Zoom meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details about joining the meeting.

If no sessions are listed below, then none are currently available. Please check this page at a later date to view updated sessions.

To be considered for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice – Online degree program, applicants must satisfy the minimum CSU Upper Division transfer requirements and demonstrate the following:

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.0
• Completion of all lower division General Education courses (including GE A1, A2, A3 & B4)
• Completion of the following lower-division courses (with a C or higher):
  • CRJU 101 – Criminal Justice System in Society 
  • Two of the following courses:
    • SOC 100 – Principles of Sociology
    • PSY 100 – General Psychology
    • POSC 100 – Introduction to American Government

Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice – Online degree program requires approval by the University and the program's Undergraduate Applicant Review Committee. Please follow all directions closely.

Admission Criteria, Documentation, and Information

You must apply for admission online using the California State University admissions portal called Cal State Apply. You can start, stop, and save your application information throughout the process. Note the following steps to begin the application process:

• Select a term to apply for (must specify Fall).
• Sign in or create an account.
• Select CSU Long Beach as your campus and Select Extended Education as the Source.
• Select "Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice – Online" from the list of available programs; and once chosen, the program title will be highlighted in green with a check mark to indicate that you have chosen the correct program.
• Use the dashboard to continue with your application for admission to the program.

You will be asked to provide the following: 

• Personal Information
• Academic History
• Supporting Information
• Program Materials

Note the following admissions criteria and information:

• You must have already earned 60 transferrable lower-division units from a regionally accredited university or have completed equivalent academic preparation at a foreign university, as determined by the appropriate campus authority.
• You must be in good academic standing at the last college or university attended.

Note the following documentation requirements and information:

• Official transcripts from all previously attended academic institutions after high school must be sent directly to CSULB Enrollment Services. Do not send transcripts to faculty, staff, or the Department, because they will be returned unopened. Some academic institutions will send your transcripts electronically to CSULB. Other institutions will need to send your transcripts by U.S. Postal Service to the following address:
  
          Office of Admissions and Records
          California State University, Long Beach
          1250 Bellflower Blvd.
          Long Beach, CA 90840-0106
• The Cal State Apply website requests transcript entry. Applicants only need to enter courses that are in-progress or planned. Select “I am Not Adding Any College Transcripts” if you do not have in-progress or planned coursework. Do NOT enter individual course information from each individual institution attended, unless you want the system to calculate your grade point average. Entering all of this information is not necessary for admission to our program.
• Review and submit your application with the fee by the published deadline.
• Wait for an admissions decision to come by email directly from CSULB Enrollment Services. If you are admitted to the program, you will receive course scheduling and enrollment instructions from the advisor at least two weeks before the semester begins.
• If you have special admissions needs or questions, please contact the appropriate CSULB office directly:

• • Veterans Services
  • Financial Aid