As communities grapple with complex contemporary issues related to crime, safety, and justice, those with graduate-level expertise are better equipped to navigate these challenges. Whether pursuing a career in law enforcement, corrections, re-entry, social justice, or academia, a graduate degree provides a deeper understanding of criminological theories, research methodologies, and ethical considerations, making graduates invaluable contributors to the development of effective and just criminal justice systems. In an era where the need for well-trained professionals is on the rise, a graduate degree in criminology and criminal justice serves as a crucial step towards fulfilling and impactful careers in this field.

The online Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice (MSCCJ) degree is an accelerated program offered by the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management in partnership with the College of Professional and Continuing Education. The MSCCJ program at CSULB was named one of the Best Online Programs in 2024 according to U.S. News & World Report. Ranked in the Top 30 of the magazine’s Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs list, the MSCCJ program’s selection was based on high performance across indicators of excellence including student engagement, student services and technology, admissions selectivity, faculty credentials and training, and peer reputation.

This fully online, accelerated program is designed for busy, working professionals who are interested in supervisory positions that require graduate credentials and those interested in pursuing advanced degrees in criminal justice. This program 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.

The curriculum offers a balance of theory and practical application that will prove to be challenging to students and useful in the field. This program provides the requisite knowledge for individuals to be competitive for administrative positions in law enforcement, courts, corrections, private security, and probation and parole as well as those who are interested in working with social justice, rehabilitation, re-entry, and victims’ services organizations. It is also suitable for those who seek research and data analysis positions in criminal justice agencies or teaching positions at community colleges.

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.

October 17, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific)

November 21, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific)

January 23, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific)

February 20, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific)

March 20, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific)

April 17, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific)

May 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific)

Applying to the master's program in criminology & criminal justice at CSULB requires the application and all supplemental materials be electronically submitted to Cal State Apply. The following documents must be uploaded to Cal State Apply in .pdf. Applications cannot be submitted unless all required documents have been uploaded. Please carefully review these instructions.

1. Program Application
   Fill in and upload the MSCCJ Program Application Form (PDF) found on the program website. If you did not complete any of the following prerequisites, please state “will complete” on the form.  If you are currently enrolled in a prerequisite course and have not yet received a grade state “IP” for in progress on the form.
2. CV/Résumé
   Upload an up-to-date CV/résumé that provides a summary of your academic background, degree(s), GPAs, training, certificates, awards, publications, presentations, extracurricular activities, leadership positions, internships, volunteer and work experiences, skills, and credentials.  Please include all preparation for a graduate program that you would like the admissions committee to consider.  It can be more than one page.
3. Statement of Purpose: In three (3) to five (5) double-spaced pages (i.e., 750 word minimum to 1,250 word maximum), discuss all of the following:
   1. What motivates you to apply for a graduate degree
   2. What are your relevant research and practical experiences that qualify you for admission to our MS in criminology and criminal justice program?
   3. What are your specific areas of interest in criminology or criminal justice practice, policy, and/or research?
   4. With whom on our faculty would you like to work and why?
   5. What are your personal goals and objectives for earning a master's degree in criminology & criminal justice?
4. Additional Evidence of Suitability for Graduate Study: Upload either a Writing Sample or an LSAT/GRE Test Score in a PDF file
   1. Writing Sample: Submit one (15-25 page) or two (each 7-13 pages) writing samples that evidence your research, writing, and critical thinking abilities. Papers written for undergraduate or other coursework are permitted. Include a cover page that indicates the context (course name and number) and date of the writing sample. If you do not have a writing sample from a prior course that meets these criteria, you may prepare one related to current controversy in the criminology and criminal justice fields. If you are using two papers, you must combine them into one PDF file; you can only upload one document.
   2. Test Scores:
      1. GRE: Submit scores to CSULB directly: University Code: 4389; Department Code: 2202; OR
      2. LSAT: Submit scores to CSULB directly: University Code: 4389; Department Code: 2202.
      3. You may also upload the summaries under Test Scores below.  
5. Transcripts
   
   1. Official Transcripts: One set of official transcripts from the university where you earned or will earn your BA/BS degree must be sent from the university electronically to ES-IDPTrans@csulb.edu OR postal mail to:
      • Enrollment Services/Admissions, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840-0106
      • Once you submit your Cal State Apply application, please follow-up with ES-IDPTrans@csulb.edu to ensure transcripts have been received and linked to your Cal State Apply application. Note: DO NOT send transcripts to the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program. Official transcripts must be sent to CSULB’s Enrollment Services.
   2. Unofficial Transcripts
      • Upload the unofficial transcript from the institution where you earned (or will earn) your bachelor’s degree and the unofficial transcripts from the institutions where you completed the prerequisite courses (see the MSCCJ program application form).
      • If you have 5 or more unofficial transcripts to upload, please combine the remainder into one document, as only 4 documents may be uploaded.
6. Two Letters of Recommendation
   1. In Cal Sate Apply, you must provide the names and email addresses for two referees (those writing you a recommendation letter) with your application. These should be academics, professors, and/or professionals who can evaluate your potential to succeed in graduate school. 
   2. Please advise your referees that they will receive an email from “Calstateapply@liaisoncas.com” with a link to submit a confidential letter of reference. Please inform your recommenders to “be on the lookout” for this email in their inbox and in their spam or junk folders. Recommenders must submit their recommendations in Cal State Apply.
   3. Frequently check your portal to ensure letters have been submitted and contact those recommenders who have yet to complete the recommendation. If your recommenders do not submit letters by the application deadline, your application will be incomplete and will not be reviewed. 

Prerequisites

1. 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.
2. 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 MS 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
• CRJU 304: Criminological Theory
• CRJU 320: Research Methods (or a similar social-scientific research methods course in psychology, sociology, political science, or related field)
• CRJU 325: Statistics (or a similar applied statistics course)

Students who have not taken courses in criminological theory, research methods, and statistics during their undergraduate studies may still qualify for conditional admission to the MS program in criminology and criminal justice, but they 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. For more information, please contact Nicholas Perez at nicholas.perez@csulb.edu.

1. To begin registering for classes, log on to your MyCSULB account. 
   • Click on My Page
   • Click on Student Center
   • Click on Academics
   • Click on Enroll
2. You can view your current classes for the term, add a class, and place yourself on a waitlist.
3. You will be prompted to select a term. Click on the radio button for the corresponding term and click the "Continue" button.
4. Your Class Schedule for the selected term will display.  Icons will indicate your enrollment status (Enrolled, Dropped or Wait Listed).

Search for Classes When Enrolling

You can search for classes by clicking on the "Search" button below the "Class Search" option on the left side of your shopping cart. The basic search function allows you to search using general class information. If you receive a "no matching values found" message, make your search less specific.

For additional assistance, see the Schedule of Classes section.

Note: When searching for classes during your enrollment period, you can click on the "Select Class" button on the Class Search Results page to add the class to your Enrollment Shopping Cart. If you are already enrolled in a class, the “Select Class” button will not appear for the section you are enrolled in.

Class Enrollment Options

1. Multiple Component Courses: For classes that require a related component (e.g. lab, activity, etc.), you must specify the related class section.
2. Units: For classes with variable units, you may specify the number of units being taken.
3. Continue selecting classes until you have entered all the classes in which you would like to register, and then click on the "Proceed to Step 2 of 3" button.*
4. Confirm the classes you wish to add and click the "Finish Enrolling" button.
5. Icons will indicate the enrollment status (Open, Closed, or Wait Listed).**

*Note: You will be prevented from enrolling and will receive an error message if attempting to add a course under the following conditions:

• currently have an incomplete grade
• received a grade of C, B, A or CR
• already repeated a course once at CSULB
• reached the repeat limit

In these cases, you will need to remove the course from your enrollment request in order to add other courses and complete your registration.

**Note: The Waitlist icon will only display during the waitlist period. Once the Last Day to Waitlist has passed for the term, the class will display a status of Closed.

Undergraduate students are subject to limits of course repetitions allowed during their entire CSULB undergraduate career. If a student attempts to enroll in a class that goes beyond these limits, an error message will appear pertaining to the following situations:

• Undergraduate students may repeat courses only if they earned grades lower than a C. An error message will appear if you are attempting to enroll in a class in which you have received a grade of C or higher.
• Undergraduate students may take a course no more than two times. After the student has enrolled in the course for the second time, an error message will indicate that the class cannot be repeated because the total number of completed attempts allowed has been exceeded.
• Post-baccalaureate and undergraduate students may not re-enroll in a course for which they have received a grade of “I” (Incomplete) until that “I” has been converted to a grade other than “I” (e.g., A-F, CR/NC). An error message will appear if you are attempting to enroll in a class in which you have received an “Incomplete” and it has not yet been resolved.

Enrollment Results

The system will display the status of each enrollment request. Be sure to review the errors and/or messages.

Possible Messages

• The class is currently full. You may place yourself on the waitlist (see below for more information about waitlisting).
• There is a time conflict between this class and one you are already enrolled in for this term.
• A Requirement Designation (GE Indicator) was assigned; these are used to help the degree audit process and require no action on your part.
• You have not met the prerequisites or co-requisites for this class. Refer to the message details to see what the requirements are for the course. For further information, refer to the University Catalog or contact the Department.

Enrolling into a Waitlist

Waitlisted classes will count towards your maximum number of units allowed for registration, but you will only be charged for fees based on your number of units "enrolled." Additional charges, if any, will be assessed if you are successfully enrolled from the waitlist.

Note: To see classes that are currently full, uncheck the "Open Classes Only" checkbox. Then you will see all classes offered for a course and can choose to waitlist in ones that are currently full.

• To place yourself on the waitlist of a class, check the "Waitlist if class is full" checkbox and then click the "Next" button. If there is no space available in the class, you will be placed on the waitlist unless the waitlist is already full.
• If you were placed on a waitlist, a message will be returned indicating your position on the list.

Note: Be sure to update your email address in the Personal Information section. Communications regarding changes to your registration will be emailed to your "Preferred" email address.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals are not permitted during the final week of instruction. Only extenuating circumstances will be considered. Approval from Instructor, Department Chair, Dean and University Provost will be required. Forms must be turned in to Enrollment Services.

Fees are due at the time of registration. If you have any questions regarding payments please email CPaCE Student Services Center at cpace-info@csulb.edu.

CHECK OR MONEY ORDER
Personal Check, Cashiers Check or Money Order

• Payable to: California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)
• Mail to: CPaCE Student Services Center, 6300 E. State University Dr. Suite 100, Long Beach CA 90815 (Please allow 3-5 business days to process).
• The University is not responsible for delayed or lost mail via U.S. Postal Service.
• Payable in $USD and must be written in blue or black ink.
• Be sure to write your student ID number on the check.

E-CHECK (ELECTRONIC CHECK)

• Payments can be made via MyCSULB.
• Have Campus ID ready
• Have banking information ready (Account & routing numbers)

CREDIT CARD
SmartPay for Credit Cards (MC, Disc, AMEX, & VISA)

• Payments can be made via MyCSULB.
• Have Campus ID ready
• SmartPay charges a 2.65% service charge.
• The university has contracted with TRANSACT SmartPay to accept credit card payments. SmartPay charges a 2.65% service charge on all payment transactions. 
• There is no convenience fee to pay by E-Check at MyCSULB or in person with an ATM/Debit, check, money order, or cash.

THIRD PARTY FEE PAYMENT
If a company or organization wishes to pay your fees, a sponsorship agreement and authorization of services must be received, prior to registration, by email at cpace-info@csulb.edu. If your sponsor does not pay some or all of your fees, it is your responsibility to pay or your classes may be canceled, a financial hold placed on your record and services withheld until fees are paid.

Veterans
If you are a veteran or a dependent of a veteran, you may be eligible for financial assistance for your higher education. For more information, go to Veterans' Affairs Services or the Veterans Affairs Office, Foundation Building, Room 265, or call 562.985.5115.

Financial Aid
If you have applied for and accepted a financial aid award for the current academic
year, you may register without paying. Your aid will be disbursed according to your program schedule set by the Financial Aid office.  

Refunds
For refund information, please refer to the Credit Courses section of our Refunds page.

Dishonored Payments
A $20 dishonored check fee will be charged to your account if a check is returned for any reason. If a credit card charge is disputed, a $20 dishonored credit card fee will be charged to your account. Contact Student Account Services, 562.985.8280, before disputing a credit card charge through your bank. Personal checks will not be accepted for repayment of dishonored checks or disputed credit cards.