With bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California, you’ll learn the skills that you need to work for a government agency or department like the Department of Homeland Security of the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Criminal justice majors often work in different areas of law enforcement too. Your degree can help you land a spot working for the sheriff’s department or get into the training academy for the police department in a major city. When you decide to study in California, you’ll find a number of programs that offer classes in criminal behavior and other aspects of criminal justice.
Fresno Pacific University
Founded in 1944, Fresno Pacific University is one of several Christian colleges operating in the state. The Mennonite Brethren Churches, which originally founded in the school, named it the Pacific Bible Institute because most of its early programs focused on religious subjects and teachings. After opening its doors to students from other denominations and adding more programs to its curriculum, it adopted its current name. Fresno Pacific University has one large campus, which is its flagship campus, in Fresno, but is also operates four regional campuses that offer many of the same courses and allow students to work on their degrees.
Criminal Justice, B.A.
Fresno Pacific University offers one of the more unique bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California because this program focuses more on restorative justice and what CJ professionals can do to stop criminals from engaging in illicit behaviors. Though many of its graduates go to law school, others go to graduate school or start working in the field right away. You will take a minimum of 42 units of CJ classes that include statistics for sociology and criminology, diversity and crime, criminal procedure and conflict management and resolution. The university offers CJ majors the chance to do an internship also.
Accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
1717 S Chestnut Ave.
Fresno, CA 93702
(559) 453-2000
Holy Names University
The Sisters of the Holy Names moved to California from Canada and established a teaching school for young women in 1868 called the Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. This small school then became the College of the Holy Names and gained accreditation in the 1940s. It briefly served as Holy Names College before gaining university status. The university changed its admissions policy to allow male students to attend it classes but still has a slightly higher population of female students. Enrollment at Holy Names University now tops more than 1,300 students including nearly 900 undergrads.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminology
As Holy Names University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, you can look forward to taking classes that focus more on thoughts and behaviors rather than science and research. As one of the top bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California, this program requires that you take classes on statistics and psychology during your freshmen year that will prepare you for upper level CJ classes. It is available as a more general program or one that focuses on forensic psychology. As a forensic psychology CJ major, you must take classes on counseling theories and procedures as well as psychopathology.
Accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
3500 Mountain Blvd.
Oakland, CA 954619
(510) 436-1000
Hope International University
Hope International University is a private college in California that has a Christian affiliation. Originally founded as the Pacific Bible Seminary, it opened in 1928. When the school moved to Long Beach in the 1960s, it changed its name to Pacific Christian College. The name Hope International University comes from its commitment to educating students from all around the world and for the way it instills in its students hope for the future. Hope International later divided itself into an undergrad university and a graduate school and announced plans in 2016 to merge with a small religious college in Nebraska.
Contract Program in Criminal Justice
The criminal justice program that Hope International University offers is actually a joint program with California State University, Fullerton. Designed for those who want to work in law enforcement, it includes courses on criminal procedures. Though you take 122 units of courses, 59 of those units are required general education courses. You’ll also have the chance to choose some electives to take. There is also a liberal arts capstone course that all students take during their final years, which is one of the more unique features of bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California.
Accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
2500 E. Nutwood Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92831
(714) 879-3901
Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University gets its name from the county where its campus sits, and many refer to this university as either Humboldt or Humboldt State. Founded in 1913 as a teaching college called Humboldt State Normal School, it offered teaching classes and programs that awarded graduates with simple certificates. It then eliminated those programs in favor of standard degree programs for teachers and then added new programs to its curriculum to allow students to study other subjects. Forbes ranked Humboldt State as one of the nation’s top colleges, and U.S. News & World Report ranked it within the top western schools.
BA in Criminology & Justice Studies
Humboldt State offers one of the top bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California for those who want to gain practical experience. You can join clubs relating to sociology and criminal justice and do one or more internships also. This program requires that you take classes on statistics and research methods in your first year and that you take other courses later on, including punishment and justice, international law, constitutional law, grant writing and social change. Though you must do some type of capstone, you have the choice between doing a thesis, final project or an advanced internship.
Accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
1 Harpst Street
Arcata, CA 95521
(707) 826-3011
Humphreys University
Established in 1896, Humphreys University is a small private college in California that named itself after its founder. John R. Humphreys took over the operations of a small business school in Stockton and both expanded its curriculum and helped its enrollment grow. His son later took over the operations of the school. It went through several name changes and served as Humphreys College for a number of years. Humphreys University announced in the early 2010s that it would cut back on some of its programs and make budget cuts to keep the school open in the face of some financial problems.
Criminal Justice
Not only does Humphreys University offer one of the best bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California, but it also offers an associate’s program that lets you earn your associate’s degree and then immediately transition into the bachelor’s program. To get your BS in criminal justice, you must take 72 units of CJ classes like introduction to criminal justice, criminal procedures, police and patrol procedures and juvenile corrections. The university also asks that you take 20 units of classes in a concentration like corrections, probation and parole, law enforcement or human resources, leadership and management.
Accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
6650 Inglewood Avenue
Stockton, CA 95207
(209) 478-0800
stocktonadmissions@humphreys.edu
John F. Kennedy University
Named for the former president, John F. Kennedy University also goes by the name of JFK University. Founded in 1964 as a school for nontraditional students, it offered a number of distance learning programs that allowed students to work on their degrees from home. Though the school still offers programs for nontraditional students, many of these programs now include online classes as well as evening and weekend classes. The university consists of four distinct schools that offer classes in subjects like entrepreneurship, law, psychology and business. JFK University has an enrollment of around 1,400 students, including those studying advanced subjects.
Criminal Justice Leadership
If you want to take on leadership positions and roles in management, you need to look at bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California like the one offered at John F. Kennedy University. This program specifically trains you on the skills needed to work as a border patrol agent, a fish and game warden or in another government position. Those who already have law enforcement experience can contact the university and get up to 30 credits of work for their experiences. You can also gain course credit for internships that you do as well as any other experiences that you gain in a professional capacity while in school.
Accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
100 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
(925) 969-3300
La Sierra University
La Sierra University is one of just a few colleges in the United States that has an affiliation with the Seventh-Day Adventists religion. Founded as La Sierra Academy in the 1920s, it then added normal school to its name after introducing education programs for teachers and later became a junior college. The academy portion separated from the school, which allowed the college to add even more programs that catered to older students. La Sierra University is a fairly traditional religious school that requires students take several religion classes and attend services on its campus every week.
Criminal Justice Program
As all the professors working in the criminal justice program at La Sierra University have years of experience, it ranks among the top bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California. You’ll learn practical skills that will help you in the real world, including how to take fingerprints, how to do ballistic testing and how to process a crime scene. Courses also give you tips on writing your resume and searching for a job in the field. The La Sierra program includes electives, general education courses and 72 units of criminal justice classes.
Accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
4500 Riverwalk Parkway
Riverside, CA 92505
(800) 874-5587
info@lasierra.edu
Marymount California University
Marymount California University is a private university that has a religious affiliation with the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, which has an affiliation itself with the Roman Catholic Church. Originally founded as part of another university, it split off from that school and became a junior college that offered two-year degree programs. it operated as Marymount College for many years before bringing in four-year degree programs. The addition of those programs helped the college gain university status, which led to the college adopting the name Marymount California University to set itself apart from other similarly named schools.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Marymount California University offers one of the few bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California with a rolling admissions policy. This lets you start classes in the fall like most students do or in the spring or summer semester. The program features both lower division and upper division courses that let you learn the fundamentals before focusing on specific topics. Some of the courses you can take include crime and inequality, criminal justice administration, constitutional criminal procedures and terrorism. You’ll also do either a thesis or a final capstone project in your senior year to show what you learned.
Accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
30800 Palos Verdes Dr. East
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
(310) 377-5501
Mount Saint Mary’s University
Mount Saint Mary’s University spent a number of years as Mount St. Mary’s College. Located in and around Los Angeles, the university has two separate campuses that it operates today. Originally opened as a college for women, it retains its commitment to the education of women today but does accept men to a few of its programs. Despite being in the LA area, the university manages to maintain a quiet and almost isolated feel on both campuses. Its campuses are home to a number of historic buildings and appeared both on television and in some films like “The Princess Diaries.”
Criminology Program
Whether you want to go to grad school or law school, work for a government department or work for a local law enforcement agency, the criminology program that Mount Saint Mary’s University can help prepare you for the future. The university offers nearly 20 different classes in criminology and sociology that you can take that relate to your career goals. Courses like sociology of violence and community policing teach you how to work with others, while courses on human rights will show you the specific problems and issues that some groups face. Mount Saint Mary’s University requires that CJ students do an internship also.
Online Criminology Program
If you want to go to school but do not have a way to get to campus or have an already busy schedule, you should look at online bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California. Mount Saint Mary’s University offers one of the best online programs that gives you access to all the same classes you would take in its traditional program. You will need to take 124 total units of classes and get a grade of at least “C” in all those classes. The university gives you the option of earning an associate’s degree online before you finish your bachelor’s degree.
Accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
12001 Chalon Road
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 954-4000
Criminal justice and criminology programs are great for those who have an interest in criminal behavior and want to know more about the CJ system in America. When you enroll in any of the bachelor’s in criminal justice degree programs in California, you’ll learn how to tackle many of the top subjects in this field.
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