Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree Programs in California (C-E)

Searches for bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California will turn up over a hundred results for studying the legal institutions that sustain social control.

California’s criminal justice system spans across 58 counties to protect 39.14 million people. The “Golden State” currently has 374,460 law enforcement and 124,150 legal jobs to handle the increase in crime. Forbes ranked two California cities, Oakland and Stockton, among the United States’ 10 most dangerous cities. Oakland particularly ranks #1 for violent robberies and has a crime rate of 1,683 per 100,000 residents. Criminal justice majors are well-prepared for working at agencies like the California Bureau of Investigation, Highway Patrol, National Guard, Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and many others.

Perhaps you’ll find your perfect degree match in part two of the undergraduate criminal justice schools (C-E) in California. (The first article in this series can be found here: Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree Programs in California (A-B))

California Baptist University

College of Arts and Sciences

Employing 100 percent Christian faculty to serve 9,157 students, California Baptist University is standing upon a 30-building campus around the Eugene and Billie Yeager Center in the Magnolia Avenue district of Riverside as a nonprofit, faith-based teaching institution endowed for $41 million. Ranked the West’s 37th best college with the eighth best online bachelor’s education by the U.S. News, CBU has the 243rd “Safest College Campus in America” on Niche. The College of Arts and Sciences unlocks a median starting salary of $41,800 with 29 majors from theatre to aviation.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Selectively admitting 65 percent of applicants, CBU’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is a traditional 42-unit, upper-division major conducted on-state in Riverside to prepare Christ’s followers for rewarding careers in law enforcement or corrections. Face-to-face courses will delve into constitutional law, hate crimes, juvenile delinquency, investigative methods, and police systems before a senior project. Undergrads could also benefit from jumpstarting the M.A. in Forensic Psychology, joining the ROTC, interning at the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner Office, and studying abroad at Oxford.

Online B.S. in Criminal Justice

Presently charging $547 per unit for $26,000 total, the Online B.S. in Criminal Justice is one of the fastest bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California allowing returning adults and transfers to graduate within 16 months. The 48-credit, WASC-accredited major integrates courses like counterterrorism and emergency management to prepare public service officers for securing communities from a Christian worldview. Online courses on the Blackboard 9.1 platform require having at least 24 transferrable college units graded “C” or better.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

James Building, Room 248

8432 Magnolia Avenue

Riverside, CA 92504

(951) 343-4363

pbeard@calbaptist.edu

Program Link

California Lutheran University

College of Arts and Sciences

Endowed for $83.3 million under President Chris Kimball’s leadership, California Lutheran University is a private, nonprofit ECLA liberal arts institution founded in 1959 that’s now educating 2,888 undergrads upon 225 suburban acres in Thousand Oaks just 35 miles from Downtown LA. Given a Forbes financial grade of “B-” for America’s 214th most grateful grads, Cal Lutheran is ranked 19th for value-added education in The Economist. The College of Arts and Sciences houses one of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California currently costing $40,880 yearly before aid.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Boasting an average freshman retention rate of 84 percent, CLU’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice strives to produce competent, ethical leaders with the knowledge of human behavior to limit crime’s devastating impact on communities. Offered with an optional Legal Studies or Psychology minor, the 42-credit major requires completing an upper-division internship with agencies like Los Angeles Police Department or the FBI Cyber Division. Alumni have also excelled at ABA-accredited law schools, including Pepperdine, George Mason, and Northeastern.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

Swenson Hall, Room 218

60 West Olsen Road

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

(805) 493-3550

hlim@callutheran.edu

Program Link

California Southern University

School of Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

Established in December 1978 by Dr. Donald Hecht, California Southern University went 100 percent online in the 90s to educate non-traditional adults from its Orange County headquarters in Costa Mesa as a private, WASC-accredited professional institution where “Knowledge Conquers All.” Noted for co-presenting the Annual Police Leadership Forum, CalSouthern was given the gold-level Military Friendly School Award in 2016. The School of Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement offers a bachelor’s or master’s degree with eight-week online courses and no-interest payment plans.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Accepting up to 90 transfer credits for completion in as little as 10 months, CalSouthern’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice offers locked-in tuition for $375 per credit for online undergrads to learn the fundamental legal procedures used to apprehend delinquents. The 120-credit curriculum is bolstered by the faculty’s specializations in terrorism response, emergency management, business law, addiction, and more. Unlike most bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California, students receive monthly course starts and one-on-one mentoring via Skype.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

3330 Harbor Blvd.

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(800) 477-2254

admissions@calsouthern.edu

Program Link

California State University, Bakersfield

School of Social Sciences & Education

Directed by President Horace Mitchell,  dBakersfield was the 19th public, co-educational CSU constituent joined in 1970 that’s now educating 9,341 every quarter from 375 suburban acres in Bakersfield and Lancaster within the Antelope Valley. Graded B- as America’s 411th “Top Public University” on Niche, CSUB was ranked 10th nationally for return on value by the Department of Education’s College Scorecard. The School of Social Sciences & Education charges an average net price of $5,690 for nine undergrad majors from anthropology to political science.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminal Justice

Requiring a minimum 2.5 GPA, CSU Bakersfield’s Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminal Justice is another of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California that nurtures the analytical skills for studying crimes from robberies to assaults and homicides. During the junior year, the 45-unit major includes a 100-hour internship at placements like Kern County Probation, Bakersfield Police Department, and the U.S. Marshall Service. Undergrads may also join Alpha Phi Sigma, engage in Project PURPOSE, and add the Helen Louise Hawk Honors Program.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

9001 Stockdale Highway

Mail Stop# 24 DDH

Bakersfield, CA 93311

(661) 654-2433

jlords@csub.edu

Program Link

California State University, Chico

College of Behavioral & Social Sciences

Occupying an 119-acre campus and 800-acre farm along Big Chico Creek in Butte County, California State University Chico enrolls 17,557 Wildcats as the state’s second-oldest public, co-educational teaching institution. Declared America’s 212nd “Most Liberal College” on Niche, CSU-Chico was the system’s highest-ranked college at #95 in Money magazine’s best value rankings. Split into 11 academic departments to study the human condition, the College of Behavioral & Social Sciences grants one of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California with a 71 percent admission rate.

B.A. in Criminal Justice

Offering two disciplinary tracks for Institutions and Law or Justice Studies, CSU-Chico’s B.A. in Criminal Justice follows a 54-unit Major Academic Plan to get undergrads involved in asking deep questions about major controversies surrounding law enforcement. Traditional courses have a 24:1 student-faculty ratio for topics like political inquiry, crime prevention, corrections, jurisprudence, and prejudice. Learners could also study abroad in Venezuela, secure the Panetta Congressional Internship, join the Pre-Law Society, earn the Advocacy Award, and compete with Model United Nations.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

Butte Hall, Room 741

400 West First Street

Chico, CA 95929

(530) 898-5301

MDAllen@csuchico.edu

Program Link

California State University, Dominguez Hills

College of Business Administration and Public Policy

Conferring 46 majors to 12,632 undergrad Toros, California State University Dominguez Hills is a public, co-educational ethnically diverse institution organized by President Willie J. Hagan under a $9 million endowment from 436 acres within the South Bay city of Carson. Placed as America’s 379th “Safest College Campus” on Niche, CSUDH was ranked 18th nationally on the Student Mobility Index created by the Equity of Opportunity Project. The College of Business Administration and Public Policy has 80 percent freshman retention for a criminal justice major that grew by 300 percent from 2007 to 2013.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration

Leading to a median starting salary of $42,800, CSUDH’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration stands out among bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California for preparing graduates for law enforcement leadership with a built-in public policy emphasis. The 51-unit major spans courses from deviant behavior and criminology to restorative justice and administrative law with 300+ practicum hours. Undergrads may also declare the Information Systems Minor, take the Leadership Development Program, join Alpha Phi Sigma, and study in Bulgaria.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

SBS Building, Room D-321

1000 E. Victoria Street

Carson, CA 90747

(310) 243-3444

ekulikov@csudh.edu

Program Link

California State University, East Bay

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences

Given the WCCC Exceptional Project Award in 2005, California State University East Bay has a 200-acre suburban campus near the Hayward fault on the San Francisco Peninsula to educate 15,855 Pioneers and employ 737 staff as a public, co-educational master’s institution. Ranked America’s 240th best value university by Forbes magazine, CSEUB was deemed the 61st top producers of graduates of color in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. The College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences bestows another of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California with the Freshman Learning Communities model.

Criminal Justice Administration, B.S.

Conducted by PhD-level faculty trained at Kean, UC Berkeley, George Mason, Claremont, Cambridge, and more, CSUEB’s Criminal Justice Administration B.S. is a four-year sequence for undergrads to better understand the legal procedures for social control under law. The 180-unit curriculum offers two concentrations for Community Alternatives and Corrections or Justice and Enforcement to take courses from victim advocacy to police organization. Majors could also double major in Forensic Science, intern with the Secret Service, participate in the University Role Models Program, and join the Social Justice League.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

SF Building, Room 402

25800 Carlos Bee Blvd.

Hayward, CA 94542

(510) 885-3590

dawna.komorosky@csueastbay.edu

Program Link

California State University, Fresno

College of Social Sciences

Classified as a public, Hispanic-serving and AANAPISI institution with 52 percent acceptance, California State University Fresno is endowed for $146.3 million to educate 24,405 Bulldogs within the Mountain West Conference from massive 1,399-acre urban campus below the Sierra Nevada. Noted for America’s 75th “Best College Athletics” on Niche, Fresno State is ranked the 220th best national university and 220th top high school counselor pick by the U.S. News. The College of Social Sciences has an average yearly net price of $5,599 for one of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Criminology

Available in Downtown Fresno, West Hills College, or College of the Sequoias, CSU-Fresno’s Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Criminology capitalizes on the 22:1 student-faculty ratio to deliver engaging, interdisciplinary instruction about the legal parameters set for protection. The 55-unit major offers courses priced at $675 apiece for completing one of four concentrations: Law Enforcement, Victimology, Forensic Behavioral Sciences, or Corrections. Undergrads could also receive the Honors Distinction, intern at the Fresno County Jail, study abroad in Thailand, and add the Homeland Security Certificate online.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

Science II Building, Room 138

5340 N. Campus Drive

Fresno, CA 93740

(559) 278-8880

haralds@csufresno.edu

Program Link

California State University, Fullerton

Division of Politics, Administration, and Justice

Generating over $3 billion in alumni earnings, California State University Fullerton is a public, ethnically diverse RU/H research institution opened in 1957 that’s now educating 40,235 Titans and employing 1,932 faculty from a 236-acre urban campus on Fullerton’s Orange Freeway overlooking the Coyote Hills. Crowned America’s 186th “Best College Location” on Niche, CSUF is ranked fifth nationally for awarding bachelor’s degrees to underrepresented groups by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. The Division of Politics, Administration, and Justice also houses the country’s 130th best public affairs programs according to the USNWR.

Major in Criminal Justice

Offering a B.A. or B.S., the Major in Criminal Justice at CSU-Fullerton is another of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California where undergrads develop theoretical and practical knowledge about law enforcement systems’ roles in free societies. The 120-unit curriculum retains 89 percent of freshmen with exciting courses like criminal profiling, juvenile justice, organized crime, and intelligence analysis. Seniors spend 10-20 hours weekly completing internships at agencies, such as Fullerton Police Department or Anaheim City Jail.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

University Hall, Room 510

800 N. State College Blvd.

Fullerton, CA 92831

(657) 278-2132

smallicoat@fullerton.edu

Program Link

California State University, Long Beach

College of Health & Human Services

Boasting 286,000 alumni, including Steven Spielberg, Karen Carpenter, Misty May-Treanor, and Terrell Davis, California State University Long Beach is a public, space-grant research institution endowed for $56.4 million with 323 urban acres along the Pacific Coast. Honored as the only non-polytechnic CSU campus included in Kiplinger’s 100 best value public colleges, CSULB is ranked America’s 151st “Hardest College to Get Into” on Niche. Awarding another of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California, the College of Health & Human Services has a selective admission rate of 34 percent across 11 departments.

B.S. in Criminal Justice

CSU-Long Beach’s B.S. in Criminal Justice offers optional certificates for Applied Forensics, Crime Science Investigations, or High-Tech Crime to specialize the major’s broad examination of legal policies structured to control delinquent behavior. Attracting students from 44 states at an average class size of 30, the 48-unit major includes courses like justice research, court processes, corrections, and substantive criminal law. Students can gain experience with “Jails on Wheels,” take a 130-hour internship with the LAPD, join Alpha Phi Sigma, and earn the Montoya Memorial Scholarship.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

ET Building, Room 232

1250 Bellflower Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90840

(562) 985-8965

Brenda.Vogel@csulb.edu

Program Link

California State University, Los Angeles

School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics

Facing the San Gabriel Mountains on a 175-acre campus used to shoot the HBO show Silicon Valley, California State University, Los Angeles is endowed for $29.2 million as a public, land-grant Hispanic-serving college with 27,827 Eagles. Declared America’s 121st “Best Big College” on Niche, Cal State LA was ranked 24th nationally in TIME Magazine based on White House opportunity criteria established by President Obama. The School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics presently bills $6,345 in-state or $17,505 out-of-state annually for analyzing unlawful behavior in a metropolitan packed with 9.86 million people.

Criminal Justice, B.S.

Offering access to the cutting-edge Child Abuse and Family Violence Institute, CSULA’s Criminal Justice B.S. is one of the leading bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California that focuses on studying legal issues in modern, racially diverse urban societies. The 120-unit degree features a 66-unit major for courses like forensic mental health, judicial organization, and policing ethics. Undergrads could conduct service learning with the Youth Justice Coalition, intern at the Los Angeles FBI Field Office, travel to Colombia, and study forensics with the Pasadena Bioscience Collaborative.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

Forensic Science Center, Room 255

5151 State University Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90032

(323) 343-3424

jane.gauthier2@calstatela.edu

Program Link

California State University, Sacramento

College of Health and Human Services

Since its 1947 founding, California State University Sacramento has awarded over 200,000 degrees, including to notable alumni like Tom Hanks, Lester Holt, and Rene Syler, as a public, space-grant research institution endowed for $39.6 million on 300 urban acres off Route 50 near Old Sacramento. Picked as America’s 221st “Best College Location” on Niche, Sac State was ranked 14th for general education under the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. The College of Health and Human Services has attracted nearly 7,000 majors across six divisions with an average freshman retention rate of 82 percent.

Criminal Justice Major

Mandating 45+ units with a minimum 2.6 GPA before entry, Sacramento State’s Criminal Justice Major is another of the upper-division bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California where undergrads study the institutional systems for mitigating illegal acts. Offered with an optional Associate’s of Science Transfer (AS-T) track, the program practices investigative techniques in a state-of-the-art Crime Scene Lab coordinated with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office. Undergrads could also declare the Pre-Law Minor, join the Law Enforcement Candidate Scholars’ (LECS) Program, and pledge Lambda Alpha Epsilon.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

Alpine Hall, Room 137

6000 J Street, MS 6085

Sacramento, CA 95819

(916) 278-6487

uwazieee@csus.edu

Program Link

California State University, San Bernardino

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

On the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, California State University San Bernardino enrolls 20,767 Coyotes upon a 441-acre campus in the Inland Empire’s suburbs with Palm Desert and online extensions as a public, space-grant WASC-accredited institution. Picked 18th worldwide for innovation in European CEO Magazine, CSUSB is ranked the 61st best regional university and 14th top public college by the U.S. News. The College of Social & Behavioral Sciences is among the best criminal justice schools in CA with three bachelor’s options for 88 percent retention.

B.A. in Criminal Justice

Featuring a 29:1 student-faculty ratio, the B.A. in Criminal Justice at San Bernardino is a popular, 180-unit degree giving broad introductions to the social, economic, and governmental institutions that enforce laws for public good. Undergrads receive 36 units of electives for specializing in law enforcement, corrections, homeland security, and more before the four-unit internship. Juniors and seniors with a minimum 2.5 GPA have secured placements like the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, California Attorney General, and Supreme Court of California.

B.A. in Crime Analysis

Costing approximately $6,900 in-state and $18,000 out-of-state annually, CSUSB’s B.A. in Crime Analysis is another of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California that emphasizes the investigative skills to identify and examine patterns in crime. Adhering to IACA standards, the 180-unit curriculum offers courses like statistics, intelligence analysis, forensic profiling, crime prevention, and geographic information systems. Majors could research in the Center for Study of Hate & Extremism, attend the Career Exploration Fair, and earn Departmental Honors.

Online B.A. in Criminal Justice Degree Completion

The Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) Office also confers the Online B.A. in Criminal Justice Degree Completion for just $260 per unit for returning adults to successfully finish their bachelor’s with a solid background in legal procedures. Entering the 21-course curriculum requires already finishing 60 semester hours at an accredited college with a 2.7 GPA or higher. Online courses like victimology, domestic violence, forensic profiling, and community corrections are taught by tenured CSUSB faculty through the Zoom videoconferencing platform for flexibility.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

SB Building, Room 209P

5500 University Parkway

San Bernardino CA 92407

(909) 537-5508

lgaines@csusb.edu

Program Link

California State University, San Marcos

College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral & Social Sciences

Established by Governor George Deukmejian in 1989 under Senate Bill 365, California State University San Marcos is a young public, co-educational CSU constituent that’s occupying 340 acres in the North County suburbs of San Diego with 13,144 Cougars and 615 staff. Ranked the West’s 88th best regional school and 32nd top public university by the U.S. News, CSUSM was placed 13th nationally for job outcomes on the Educate to Career Index. The College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral & Social Sciences reports a median beginning salary of $45,400 for its bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California.

B.A. in Criminology and Justice Studies

Belonging to one of the United States’ newest sociology departments, CSU-San Marcos’ B.A. in Criminology and Justice Studies develops the fundamental skills for lifelong study of crime and social justice to influence positive community change. The 120-unit curricular roadmap spans eight semesters full-time for courses from constitutional law to homeland security with a foreign language proficiency requirement. Majors may also double major in Sociology, contribute to the Student Research Symposium, join Alpha Kappa Delta, intern at San Marcos Police Department, and study internationally in Greece.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

SBSB Building, Room 4102

333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road

San Marcos, CA 92096

(760) 750-4117

selise@csusm.edu

Program Link

California State University, Stanislaus

College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Located on 228 suburban acres in Turlock off Route 99 between Modesto and Merced, California State University Stanislaus belongs to the public, 23-school system with a $11.6 million endowment to educate 9,762 Warriors under President Ellen Junn. Declared America’s 207th “Most Liberal College” on Niche, Stanislaus State is ranked the 61st best Western school and 14th top public university by the U.S. News. The College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences upholds a 20:1 student-faculty ratio and average net price of $6,340 for 21 majors.

Criminal Justice Major (B.S.)

Stanislaus State’s Criminal Justice Major (B.S.) stands out among bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California for the only juvenile justice concentration conferred after in-depth exploration on the intriguing facets of the legal system. The 40-unit, upper-division major also offers four other concentrations for law enforcement, corrections, forensic science, and criminal law. Undergrads benefit from the Mentoring Program with PhD-level faculty, practice in the Crime Lab, internship opportunities with the DEA or CIA, and access to Lexis-Nexis.

Accreditation

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact

Bizzini Hall, Room C125

One University Circle

Turlock, CA 95382

(209) 667-3409

pgerstenfeld@csustan.edu

Program Link

According to the 2016 NACE survey, social science grads, including criminal justice majors, report an average starting salary of $46,585. Criminal justice graduates can bank on higher-paying jobs being available though. Private investigators, FBI agents, intelligence analysts, security managers, customs officers, detectives, and game wardens all make more than this average. Protective services jobs are poised for 4 percent job growth through 2024, so make your resume stand out with training from these bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California.

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