Department of Criminology

 Go to our Masters Degree Web page

If you still need assistance, please contact the Graduate Coordinator, Dr Jordan Pickering.

Please contact the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Jordan Pickering.

A cummulative GPA of 3.0 is preferred for consideration for admission into the graduate program in Criminology. A GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 units of study will also be considered.

Scores in the 30th percentile are preferred.  

 Upon completion of all core courses: 

• CRIM 200
• CRIM 201
• CRIM 202
• CRIM 203
• CRIM 204

students are eligible to select a culminating experience. The student may select from a comprehensive examination, a project (CRIM 298) or a Thesis (CRIM 299). CRIM 295 is taken during the final semesters in preparation for either of the culminating experiences.

Students may not move from one culminating experience to another. Once the choice is made, that choice remains to be completed in order to obtain a Masters of Science in Criminology.

Students wishing to pursue a Masters of Science in Criminology have choices in selecting the culminating experience.

Those students wishing to select the comprehensive examination are not required to take the Graduate Record Examination for acceptance into the program as long as they have earned a 3.0 grade point average upon completion of their undergraduate studies. Students may take the comprehensive examination two times before being removed from the program. The comprehensive examination is offered one time during both the fall and spring semesters.

Students wishing to complete a project must have taken the GRE and have scores indicating sound writing, analytical, and research skills. Faculty may use these scores as part of the decision to work with students in a project. The final decision rests with the faculty to work with a student with their project. Students must be aware that Fresno State now charges tuition for zero credits and projects may not always be completed in two semesters. A graduate degree must be completed in five years and semesters taken to work on the project are charged as zero credits.

Students wishing to complete a thesis must take the GRE and have scores indicative of sound research, analytical, and writing skills. University policies and Graduate Studies regulate the thesis in conjunction with the faculty chair of the thesis committee. The final decision rests with the faculty to supervise a student thesis. Students need to be aware that Fresno State now charges tuition for zero credits and a thesis may not always be completed in two semesters. A graduate degree must be completed in five years and semesters taken to work on the thesis are charged as zero credits.