Overview

The Criminology and Justice Studies major offered by the California State University San Marcos provides students with a theoretical and practical foundation for building a lifelong understanding of crime and social justice and the myriad social processes surrounding both. Students majoring in Criminology and Justice Studies will be able to evaluate critically issues of crime and justice and to pursue solutions for positive social change. The degree also provides students with the requisite skills for graduate study and/or entry-level practice in the areas of social justice, administration of justice, and criminal justice systems.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Our primary aim is to help students acquire the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to make sense of issues of criminology and social justice in an increasingly complex world. We want our graduates to be able to use the key insights and analytic methods of criminology, justice studies, and sociology to improve the social conditions in which they and others coexist. We expect holders of a California State University San Marcos bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Justice Studies to be able to address large- and small-scale social problems through constructive empirical inquiry, critical analysis, and strategic action. The Criminology and Justice Studies major curriculum cultivates the theoretical, methodological, and advocacy skills integral to meeting these goals.

Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Justice Studies will be able to:

Analyze and interpret the diversity of social experience associated with criminology and social justice issues, especially as they relate to race, class, gender, age, sexual preference, religion and nationality.

Assess competing theoretical approaches to criminology and social justice issues of publics with differing and multiple interests; specify structural or institutional sources of these criminology and social justice issues; and propose and assess policies, interventions and/or modes of advocacy that will enact positive change.

Locate, analyze, assess, and communicate criminology and social justice scholarship.

Articulate the applicability of and demonstrate ability to employ a range of research strategies to particular research questions, theoretical orientations, and social contexts.

Articulate the ethical and social justice implications of criminology and justice studies.

Career Opportunities

The degree prepares students to pursue careers in criminal justice and social service agencies, as well as graduate study in such fields as criminology, law, criminal justice, and justice studies. Students with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Justice Studies can pursue a wide variety of job opportunities which include government as well as community service agencies geared toward youth and families, law enforcement and correctional agencies, and non-profit organizations that examine social and legal justice practices both at home and abroad. Students interested in these careers should consult with advisors in appropriate areas as they plan their studies.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Morality and the Law

Sociology of Deviance

Critical Perspectives on Youth Gangs

Juvenile Delinquency

Drugs and Alcohol in Society

Law Enforcement

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-31 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-06-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-12-31 00:00:00 , National

Language

English

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IELTS

5.5

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Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

San Marcos, United States

Disciplines

Criminal Law Criminology View 127 other Bachelors in Criminal Law in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

5.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

National

Completion of preparatory A–G Courses

Test Scores (SAT and ACT)

Your official GPA for admission to any California State University, including CSUSM, may be different than the GPA on your high school transcript. This is because we calculate your high school GPA using your 10th–12th grade A-G courses.

International

University Application

All official academic records

Official English translations of all academic records

Affidavit of Financial Support

Copy of your Passport

Are or will be a high school/secondary school graduate or equivalent

Equivalent of a "B" (3.0) grade point average

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

16530 USD / year

≈ 16530 USD / year
Out-of-State

16530 USD / year

≈ 16530 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

6450 USD / year

≈ 6450 USD / year

Living costs

San Marcos

United States

1100 - 1600 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Criminology and Justice Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

San Marcos

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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