Frequently Asked Questions

CRIM 108 is a directed policing course that is only open to CRIM majors. This is a supervised field experience in police work. Students who take CRIM 108 do not also have to take CRIM 180: Law Enforcement Internship. A purchase of a uniform is required. Permission of the instructor, Ryan Hushaw, and the sponsoring agency (Fresno County Sheriff's Office) are required.

General Information

The internship gives students an opportunity to be placed at a Criminal Justice related organization/agency. Students will gain hands-on experience in their selected specialization (law enforcement, corrections, and victimology. Three units of academic credit (120 internship hours) are required of all Criminology students except those in the Forensic Behavioral Sciences who may take this course as an elective. Those who can demonstrate that they have the professional criminal justice-related experience, upon approval, may have the internship hours requirement waived. This typically involves more than three years of full time sworn law enforcement or correctional officer experience with a civilian (not military) governmental organization.

COVID-19 LIMITATIONS: Due to existing restrictions, actual placements with area agencies are limited. Those requiring in-person hours are at the student’s own risk. A few agencies have set up online (home office) type internships which are exempt from any restrictions. Students who are not placed are given alternative assignments which provide them with information and engage them in activities that will benefit them when seeking criminal justice related employment.

Mandatory or not

The internship is mandatory for students enrolled in the Law Enforcement, Victimology, and Corrections option. Students enrolled in the Forensic Behavioral Science may take an internship as an elective.  Students who can demonstrate that they have professional criminal justice-related experience, upon approval, may have the internship hours requirement waived and will be given an assignment related to their professional experience.  Such experience must involve more than three years of full-time sworn experience with a civilian (not military) law enforcement organization.

Internship hours

Three units (120 hours) are required of all Criminology students who enroll, except those who can demonstrate acceptable prior professional criminal justice-related experience. Students who elect to take more than 3 units of Internship must complete 120 hours for every three units. (i.e., 3 units = 120 hours, 6 units = 240 hours, 9 units = 360 hours, or 12 units = 480 hours). The university will allow a maximum of 12 internship units as electives toward an undergraduate degree, and the Department of Criminology will allow a maximum of 6 units toward its B.S. degree.

Internship meetings

Be sure to check the Internship class footnotes in the Schedule of Courses prior to registration. Or, contact the faculty member assigned to your internship. During the semester, meeting dates will be posted on the Criminology Department website. During the COVID-19 in-person meeting restrictions, such meetings will be virtual using Zoom. Zoom links are posted in the internship sections for which students are registered.

Mandatory Online Canvas pre-internship orientation

The mandatory pre-internship orientation is a mandatory online test that all students must take to learn about the internship program and requirements at Fresno State. Students must take the mandatory pre-internship orientation/tutorial and test online during the semester before they intend to register for the internship.  For example, a student registering for a spring internship must complete the tutorial and quiz during the preceding fall semester. This is a requirement before students can enroll in CRIM180I. Students who do not complete the internship orientation and test before signing up for CRIM 180I will be unable to enroll in the course.

* A TB test will also be required before the first scheduled internship meeting, and while meetings are online, the TB test results must be uploaded by students desiring a face-to-face internship.

If you already work in a field

Students who currently work within the field of criminal justice for a minimum of one year AND not in an entry-level position, must still register for internship. Depending on the type of experience, such students must document actual work hours, write a journal reflecting on their work and agency, and the criminology classes completed by them, and also submit a PowerPoint describing their career progression and experiences.  They are exempt from most of the other documents required for students not employed in the field.

If you do not intend to use work hours in your current position to fulfill the internship requirement, you can complete internship hours within a different area of your organization or an entirely different organization.  Please see the internship coordinator for your option for prior approval.

Yes. Three units must be taken to fulfill the CRIM requirement. Any additional units may be used to fulfill the general university elective requirement (not GE). Students who elect to take more than 3 units of Internship, must complete 120 hours for every three units. (i.e., 3 units = 120 hours, 6 units = 240 hours, 9 units = 360 hours, or 12 units = 480 hours).  The university elective requirement is not the same as a criminology elective requirement.

 

Victimology students who find their own placement must contact Dr. Chadley James, the Victimology option Coordinator for approval. All other students who find their own placement must consult with the Department's Internship Coordinator, Dr. Schweizer.

Students who are unable to complete the required 120 hours during the semester will be given an Incomplete grade for the course and will have one calendar year from the end of the semester to complete the hours. Students who meet these criteria must complete the necessary paperwork with the professor who is teaching the course. Please note that an Incomplete grade can only be given for unforeseen, but fully justified reasons. The student must have completed two-thirds of the work for the course with a passing grade. Students who do not complete the work by the deadline may receive an NC or an Incomplete (if students complete at least 80 of the hours) for the course. A short-term extension beyond the one-year limit may be granted with justification if approved by your insturctor. Please work with your instructor to gain approval and submit proper paperwork tothe Office of the Univeristy Registrar. 

You may take up to

• 12 units of CRIM 108 (Directed Policing), 180.
• Three units (120 hours) are required of all Criminology students with options in Corrections, Law Enforcement, and Victimology.

Those in Forensic Behavioral Sciences may take an internship as an elective. Those who can demonstrate that they have the professional criminal justice-related experience, upon approval, may have the internship requirement waived. Students who elect to take more than 3 units of Internship, must complete 120 hours for every three units. (i.e., 3 units = 120 hours, 6 units = 240 hours, 9 units = 360 hours, or 12 units = 480 hours). Students may receive credit for up to 9 additional internship units (plus the 3 required per above) for a total of 12 units. However, only 6 internship units will be allowed to apply to the undergraduate Criminology degree. The University will allow up to 12 internship units as electives toward an undergraduate degree. 

I have heard that there is a Criminology Career Day.  What is it, and when is it scheduled?

This event occurs each Spring, typically in March or April. For upcoming dates and more information, contact the Criminology Student Organization, Lambda Alpha Epsilon (Phi Omega Alpha chapter).

Phi Omega Alpha Fresno Chapter (POA)

How do I find out about any Criminal Justice job openings?

Employment opportunities received by the Department of Criminology will be e-mailed by the Department Chair through the Criminology major listserv. Recent employment opportunities are now posted on our Department of Criminology website. Employment opportunities are also posted on the outside board across from the Department of Criminology office.

See the career services website for job openings, career fairs, career counseling, and other related services.

May I take a course at a community college?

You may take lower-division courses at a community college. It is important to note that a lower division course may not count as an upper-division course. For example, if you took Victimology at a community college, this is a lower division course. However, the Victimology course in this department is an upper-division course. If you need the Victimology course to graduate, you will need to retake the course on this campus to complete the degree requirements.

If I take a course at a community college, when will it transfer into the university?

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that Degree Advising (559) 278-4743, option 4, receives an official transcript from the community college indicating the courses that you took. The university will then evaluate the course and enter it into the DPR report. It is important to note that sometimes courses are not fully evaluated until your final semester at the university.

I took a class at a community college and it has not transferred it yet, why?

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that Degree Advising (559) 278-4743, option 4, receives an official transcript from the community college indicating the courses that you took. The university will then evaluate the course and enter it into the DPR report. It is important to note that sometimes courses are not fully evaluated until your final semester at the university.

Can I choose to do a double option?

No. The Criminology Department does not offer double options. However, students wishing to expand their studies beyond the chosen option are encouraged to pursue an academic certificate in an area of interest (please refer to the  Academic Certificates page for further information). Students may also, depending on their option, choose to focus their Criminology electives in the area that they would have chosen for a second option. When applying for jobs or graduate school, students can always highlight the classes that they have taken outside of their specified options.

What does an option in Corrections prepare me for?

Graduates from the Corrections option frequently pursue careers in probation, parole, correctional institutions, and other affiliated agencies. Some students seek careers as correctional counselors working with offender populations and at-risk youth. The option also prepares students for graduate-level study in criminology, as well as in other related fields such as social work and public policy. Graduates from the option also go on to pursue careers in law.

Forensic Behavioral Sciences Major

What kinds of jobs can I get with a Forensic Behavioral Sciences degree?

Students who complete the coursework for FBS are not likely to find a job specifically doing FBS work without a graduate degree (e.g., a master's degree or a doctorate in, for example, Forensic, Experimental, Clinical, Counseling, Cognitive, or Social Psychology). This is because an advanced degree is necessary to acquire the level of knowledge and supervised practical experience that is required by standards of professional practice. 

Some FBS-related career opportunities are available without advanced training (i.e., a bachelor’s degree) in FBS. For example, students may be able to work as research analysts, paralegals, or behavioral technicians/specialists. Additionally, FBS students will be qualified to apply for the same kinds of jobs to which students in the Criminology major can apply. For example, they can apply to become police officers or correctional officers or victim advocates—each requires further specialized training beyond the bachelor's degree to do work in the field (e.g., in a training academy).

Please note that a degree in FBS does not prepare students to become crime scene analysts (that’s forensic science) or criminal profilers (that’s Hollywood).

I am required to take a course, but it is not offered that semester. How can I fulfill that requirement? Can I substitute courses in the FBS Major?

This is a very important question for students contemplating an FBS degree. A course substitution allows a student to take one course in place of another, if that class is full, unavailable, or no longer offered. Course substitutions require the written approval of the FBS coordinator. In the FBS major, although required courses are offered at least once a year, not all courses are offered every semester. This is also true for some of the required Psychology courses. While it may be possible to identify an acceptable substitute for FBS 155 or the Psychology courses some semesters, no suitable substitute exists for FBS 154. This makes it especially important for students to plan their courses carefully. In other words, it is critical that students plan ahead to ensure they are able to take the required courses when they are offered. It is very important for FBS students to regularly meet with FBS faculty to ensure they know what courses they will need to take and when to take them.

Law Enforcement Option

Do I have to be in the law enforcement option to qualify for a career in law enforcement?

No, but the notation of the option in your academic records may reflect that you have an interest in law enforcement and completed courses that, ideally, make you a better candidate for a law enforcement position.

Is the degree with the law enforcement option all I need to get a job as a police officer?

No.  Agencies evaluate your personal, employment, medical and psychological history, and may additionally require a multitude of tests to determine if you are the right candidate.

Can I apply to be an FBI agent with a B.S. degree in criminology?

Yes, but you need additional educational or professional qualifications.  You should review the FBI's own website for further details.

I want to be a law enforcement officer.  Can I obtain career advice from Law Enforcement Option faculty?

Option faculty have a wide variety of professional experience and often give advice to students interested in a career in law enforcement.

If I have a degree in criminology do I have to attend a full police academy to become a law enforcement officer?

Yes.

Can I become a police officer if I have used illegal drugs?

Maybe. That depends on the drug and the recency of drug use.  Review the hiring requirements for specific agencies for more information.

Can I become a law enforcement officer with a felony conviction?

Maybe.  That depends on the state the agency is located in.  Some agencies are flexible, like the Washington D.C. police department, or some agencies in the Northeast may waive the felony conviction when hiring.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to be a law enforcement officer?

All federal agencies require citizenship
Agencies at the state/local level differ across the U.S.  Honolulu, for example, will hire applicants with a "green card" as police officers.

Victimology Option

What types of jobs can I get with a degree in Victimology?

Students who major in Victimology find careers in the non-profit sector working with victims of crime through organizations like - the Marjaree Mason Center, Rape Crisis Centers, group homes, and the like. These jobs tend to focus on direct victim services, community outreach/education, counseling, legal services, and the like. There are also system-based jobs that are with local police departments, District Attorney's offices, Child Protective Services, and at the state level in the Attorney General's Office, Dept. of Aging, etc., and at the federal level with the FBI, U.S. Attorney's Office, etc. These jobs tend to be focused on investigating allegations of abuse, helping the victim through the criminal justice system, and to some extent prevention and research. The final area in which students get jobs is through coalitions like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, and other similar organizations. These tend to be focused on prevention/education, lobbying activities, and research.

I took Victimology at a community college, why do I have to take the course again?

A Victimology course offered at a community college is a lower division course. The Victimology course at Fresno State is an upper-division course. Lower-division courses cannot be substituted for upper-division courses.

Students must complete the Change of Major form which can be downloaded from the Admissions and Records website. 

Students wishing to come into the Criminology Department will need to meet with the College of Social Science Advising Center to meet with an Advisor and review the Change of Major/Minor form. Once the student has met with the COSS Advising Center and obtained their signature, the student will need to bring the form to the Criminology Department for the Chair's signature.

Completed forms will need to be delivered by the student to Joyal, North Lobby Windows.

An incomplete grade can only be given for unforeseen, but fully justified reasons. The student must have completed two-thirds of the work for the course with a passing grade. Students who meet these criteria must complete the necessary paperwork with the professor who is teaching the course. Students have one calendar year from the end of the semester to complete the remaining work for the course. Students who do not complete the work by the deadline will automatically receive an F for the course. A short-term extension beyond the one year limit may be granted with justification by contacting the Office of Registrar PRIOR to the deadline.

No. Students cannot use courses in their major to satisfy upper-division GE requirements. The goal is to use GE courses to broaden your studies.