The B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice program offers a broad array of coursework and activities designed to provide students with the requisite preparation to become well qualified criminal justice professionals or to continue their professional education (e.g., law school administration, postgraduate degree); to encourage the pursuit of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service by a regionally and (inter)nationally recognized faculty; and to meet the needs of the University and the criminal justice community.
Through course offerings, inclusive of internships in the community, the program supports the University’s mission and emphasis as a comprehensive, multi-purpose, regional university. The undergraduate program combines a strong theoretical foundation with preparation for a wide variety of professional careers in criminal justice and related fields.
Program Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the Criminology and Criminal Justice program, students will:
- Be able to evaluate policy-relevant questions and issues surrounding the various components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections.
- Understand the methods used by the criminal justice system to process and sanction criminal offenders.
- Have developed an understanding of the purposes and functions of law enforcement in a democratic society.
- Understand the functions of criminal law and the judicial system in American society, inclusive of criminal procedure and the rules of evidence.
- Understand the purposes and functions of the correctional system, inclusive of prisons, jails, and community programs
- Have developed an understanding of the theories of crime and causation, including its measurement.
- Have developed an understanding of research methods in criminal justice.
- Have developed a basic understanding of common statistical techniques used in social science, particularly criminological research.
Faculty
The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice has a highly qualified faculty that is nationally recognized. They received doctorates from the most prestigious programs in the field and they consistently publish in leading journals reporting on cutting-edge research. We also work with a number of criminal justice agencies in the region and nationally including the Riverside Probation Department, San Bernardino Probation Department, San Bernardino Police Department, Ontario Police Department, Fontana Police Department, Colton Police Department, Palm Springs Police Department, and San Bernardino County Police Chiefs and Sheriffs’ Association. Additionally, the department operates two research centers: the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism and the Criminal Justice Research Center.