The requirements for earning a Major in Criminology are as follows:

• Lower-Division CRIM requirements: CRIM 2, 20......................................................................6 units
• Upper-Division CRIM requirement: CRIM 100..........................................................................3 units
• Select from Upper-Division CRIM or FBS Courses................................................................12 units

 

                    Total units for CRIM Minor: 21 units

 

Please note: 

1. The Criminology Major requires a 2.0 GPA and 6 upper-division units in residence.
2. CRIM 101, 120, and FBS 153 may still be used to meet requirements for both General Education and the minor, for catalogs prior to the 1999-2000 General Catalog.

 

Major in Forensic Behavioral Sciences

The requirements for earning a Minor in Forensic Behavioral Sciences are as follows:

• Lower-Division CRIM requirements: CRIM 2 and 20................................................................6 units
• Upper-Division FBS requirement: FBS 153..............................................................................3 units
• Complete 12 units (four courses) of the following Upper-Division FBS Courses:

–    FBS 114, 154, 155, 156, 157, and/or 159T....................................................................12 units

Total units for FBS Minor: 21 units

Please note: 

1. The Forensic Behavioral Sciences Minor also requires a 2.5 GPA and 6 upper-division units in residence.
2. FBS 153 may still be used to meet requirements for both General Education and the minor.
3. This interdisciplinary minor is open to students in any academic discipline (with the exception of students majoring in Criminology or Forensic Behavioral Sciences) or chosen profession.

 

Adding a Minor

Students can add a minor only if they can complete both their major and the minor within 144 earned units. Students may declare a minor by completing the “Change of Major/Minor” form, receiving advising and approval by the Department offering the minor. 

 

Minor Advising

Please visit the College of Social Sciences Advising Center for information on adding Criminology or Forensic Behavioral Sciences as a Minor. Please visit their webpage for hours and contact information.

 

NOTE: Part-time faculty do not function as faculty advisors.

General Catalog

Alcohol and Drug Studies Certificate

The Alcohol and Drug Studies Certificate is offered through the Department of Public Health.

• Email the Department of Public Health administrative office at rcasillas@csufresno.edu.
• Indicate you have completed the required courses to obtain the Alcohol and Drug Studies Certificate.

Homeland Security Certificate of Advanced Study (Online)

This program has been postponed to a later date.

 This certificate is currently on hold.

Certificate of Legal Studies

The Certificate of Legal Studies is co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science and the Department of Criminology.

Certificate of Legal Studies: Course Requirements

Students must complete twelve (12) units of upper division classes from the Department of Political Science and the Department of Criminology.

Certificate of Legal Studies: Application Process

Before you apply for the Certificate of Legal Studies, you will need to complete the twelve (12) required units. Once all 12 units are completed and grades have been posted, complete the Certificate of Legal Studies Application,
We will be processing applications via person and email. Please download and email the completed application to Harminder Mann at hmann@csufresno.edu or drop off your completed application at the Criminology Department located in the Science 2 Building room 159.

For additional information, please contact:

Yishaiya Abosch, Ph.D.
Professor/Advisor
California State University, Fresno
Department of Political Science
Office: McKee Fisk 213B
Phone:559.278.8396
Email: yabosch@csufresno.edu

or

Jason Kissner, Ph.D.
Associate Professor/Legal Studies Option Coordinator
California State University, Fresno
Department of Criminology
Office: S2 143
Phone: 559.278.2369
Email: mkissner@csufresno.edu

Victim Services Certificate

The Victim Services Certificate is cooperatively sponsored by the Department of Criminology, and the Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Studies Program at Fresno State. The primary goal of the 12-unit (180 hour) program is to provide the knowledge, foundation and skills needed for work with crime victims.

The program has been preapproved by the National Advocate Credentialing Program® (NACP) as a basic educational program. Successfully completing the program will result in eligibility, at a minimum, for the NACP Provisional credential (successful completion of a NACP Preapproved Training course, no experience in the field required).

Victim Services Certificate: Course Requirements

A minimum of twelve (12) units is required with three (3) units selected from each of the four emphasis areas (1) Theory; (2) Victim Issues; (3) Victim Services; and (4) Victim Advocacy.  Those who complete all four required courses earn the Victim Services Certificate.

Victim Services Certificate: Application Process

Before you apply for the Victim Services Certificate, you will need to complete the twelve (12) required units within the four emphasis areas.  Once all 12 units are completed and grades have been posted, complete the Victim Services Certificate Application.
We will be processing applications via person or email. Please download and email the completed application to Harminder Mann at hmann@csufresno.edu or drop off your completed application at the Criminology Department located in the Science 2 Building room 159.

For additional information, please contact:

Chadley James, Ph.D. (Spring 2023 semester) 
Associate Professor/Victimology Option Coordinator
California State University, Fresno
Department of Criminology
Office: 559.278.5416  Fax: 559.278.7265
Email: chadleyj@csufresno.edu

Be one of a select cohort of students who will graduate with a B.S. in Criminology or Forensic Behavioral Sciences (FBS) with an Honors distinction.

 Admission Considerations:

• A minimum 3.5 GPA (major and overall) is required prior to admission to the Honors Program.
• Applicants usually apply for admission to the Honors Program as a Fresno State second semester sophomore student or as a transfer student (in the Spring semester prior to transfer). However, students can apply earlier or later. The most important thing with regards to timing is that students have at least two full years left at Fresno State.
• Preferential consideration will be given to students who display exceptional academic, extracurricular, and community service performance prior to their junior year.
• Students should not have already taken CRIM 100 and/or CRIM 170 (or PSYCH 144).

 

Application Period:

Applications are emailed to eligible Fresno State Criminology and FBS students early in the Spring semester (usually mid to late February). If you have questions, and/or believe that you should have been emailed an application, please contact Dr. Jenna Kieckhaefer at jkieckhaefer@csufresno.edu.

Transfer students are encouraged to contact Dr. Kieckhaefer at the beginning of the Spring semester prior to the transfer, even if you aren’t yet admitted to the University.

 

Requirements for Successful Completion of the Honors Program:

• Maintain an overall cumulative GPA, and an overall major GPA, of 3.5 or higher each semester while enrolled in the program. Students must have both GPAs at or above 3.5 to graduate with Honors.
• Complete one required Honors course each semester for four continuous semesters (four classes = two academic years). Typically students will complete Honors versions of CRIM 100 and CRIM 170 each Fall and two courses of CRIM 160H each Spring.
• Maintain a full-time course load of 12 credits or more.

For the past 30 years, the Department of Criminology at California State University, Fresno, has conducted short-term faculty led international trips for our students and criminal justice professionals to visit criminal justice agencies in a foreign country. Typically, our group of approximately 20-30 students and practitioners visit a host country for one-week either over the winter or summer breaks. While traveling, the group has an opportunity to study the history and culture of the country through half-day city tour and then full or half-day tours of any combination of criminal justice agencies including law enforcement, courts, correctional institutions, rehabilitation facilities, and victim services. Our groups have traveled to observe and visit criminal justice systems in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Brazil, England, Greece, Spain, Portugal, France, Rome, Florence, Belgium, Peru, Prague, Beijing, Istanbul, Guatemala, and Thailand. Most recently, we visited Amsterdam, Israel, Costa Rica, and Dublin.  Student scholarships may be available and each program is open to the public. For more information, please contact Dr. Muscat at bmuscat@csufresno.edu.

Study Abroad in the College of Social Sciences!
Please click here for more information. 

 

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