How many criminal justice courses do I need to take to complete the major?
Fall 2026 catalog year and later: 6 required courses (18 units), 2 breadth courses (6 units), 5 upper-division elective courses (15 units) with three at the 400 level, 1 upper-division writing course (3 units), and 4 related fields courses (12 units). This totals 54 units.
Fall 2013 through Fall 2025 catalog years: 12 courses (36 units) plus 1 upper-division writing course (3 units), for a total of 13 courses (39 units).
Catalog years before Fall 2013: 14 courses (42 units) plus 1 upper-division writing course (3 units), for a total of 15 courses (45 units).
What are those criminal justice courses? Which ones are required?
You will find information about our courses on the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice page, for both the new major that took effect in Fall 2026 and for previous catalog years.
Is there a minimum final grade necessary for courses taken for the major?
Yes, and the standard depends on your catalog year. For catalog years Fall 2019 and later, criminal justice majors and minors must earn a grade of C- or higher in all criminal justice courses. For catalog years Fall 2013 through Fall 2018, the standard is a grade of C or higher. Students earning a grade below the standard for their catalog year must repeat the course. The upper-division writing course requires a grade of C or better regardless of catalog year.
I took a criminal justice course at a community college. Will it count toward my major?
Students can use a community college criminal justice course to satisfy CRJU 101 (Introduction to Criminal Justice) and CRJU 210 (Concepts of Criminal Law).
What are the upper-division related fields courses?
If your catalog year is Fall 2026 or later, you are required to take 12 units of related fields courses. These courses are designed to broaden your understanding of criminal justice in an interdisciplinary way.
View the list of approved related fields courses on the major requirements page.
How many units do I need to graduate?
You will need 120 total units. Completing your major (criminal justice is 54 units) plus General Education (43 units) will not reach 120 on its own. The 120-unit total is a university requirement. You can complete additional units as electives from any department, or declare a minor.
Which courses should I begin with?
Start with CRJU 101 (Introduction to Criminal Justice) and CRJU 210 (Concepts of Criminal Law), then progress to CRJU 301 (Mythology of Crime and Justice) and CRJU 385 (Race, Inequality and the Criminal Justice System). These courses give you a solid foundation for the remainder of the major.
Generally, you must work through the core curriculum and breadth requirements before advancing to upper-division electives.
Should I complete my General Education requirements before starting major courses?
If you are a CSUF four-year student: complete your lower-division General Education requirements during your first four semesters on campus. Ideally, take CRJU 101 in your first year and CRJU 210 in your second year. You can then concentrate on your major and other upper-division electives, including upper-division General Education, during your remaining semesters.
If you are a transfer student: complete any remaining lower-division General Education requirements as soon as you arrive at CSUF. You can then concentrate on your major and other upper-division electives, including upper-division General Education, during your remaining semesters.
Is there a writing requirement for the major? How do I meet it?
All students are required to complete an upper-division writing requirement. The approved courses for criminal justice are ENGL 301 (Advanced College Writing) or ENGL 365 (Legal Writing).
Are there prerequisites for 300- or 400-level courses?
Yes. The prerequisite and corequisite patterns for our core and breadth requirements are set out below.
300-level electives require that you have completed CRJU 101 (formerly CRJU 300), and that you have taken or are concurrently enrolled in CRJU 301 (formerly CRJU 100) and CRJU 385.
400-level electives require that you have completed CRJU 101 (formerly CRJU 300), CRJU 301 (formerly CRJU 100), and CRJU 385. You must also have completed or be concurrently enrolled in CRJU 330.
Some specialized electives have additional requirements. CRJU 402 requires CRJU 302. CRJU 415 requires CRJU 315. Check with an advisor to confirm you have met the prerequisites.
Do I need a formal concentration within the criminal justice major?
No, though many students build one informally by taking courses in the areas that interest them most.
How do I obtain a criminal justice minor?
The criminal justice minor consists of 18 units: CRJU 301, CRJU 330, and CRJU 385; one of CRJU 302, CRJU 315, or CRJU 345; and two additional CRJU electives.
Can I double-major or minor in public administration or political science alongside criminal justice?
Yes, if you would like that reflected on your diploma. You can also get the content without a double major or minor by taking additional elective courses.
What are the rules for minors and double majors?
Twelve units must be unique to the minor and not used for the major, and 24 units must be unique to the major. General Education courses may be used for the minor and for one of the majors.
After I finish General Education and major requirements, what do I take?
Whatever you like. These are called free electives. They let you take additional courses in your major, work toward a minor, or explore other academic areas, and they count toward the 120 units needed to graduate.
Can I take graduate courses?
Yes, if you are a senior (90 or more units completed), have the academic preparation for the course, have the permission of the instructor, and are permitted by the Division.
Do I need to take an internship? How many internship courses can I take?
An internship is an elective and is not required for the criminal justice major, though most students find it valuable and it often helps in finding a job later. You are limited to a total of 6 units of internship credit.
What is an independent study? Do I need to complete one?
An independent study is an academically oriented project between a student and a supervising full-time faculty member. It is an elective and is not required for the criminal justice major.
A variety of projects can be approved by the Chair of the Division of Politics, Administration & Justice. Traditional independent study courses typically involve significant scholarly research and writing. You are limited to a total of 6 units of independent study.
