Criminal Justice Studies
College of Health and Social Sciences
Interim Dean: Dr. Andreana Clay
Criminal Justice Studies Program
Chair: Dr. Elizabeth Brown
HSS 261
Phone: (415) 405-4129
Website: cj.sfsu.edu
Program Scope
Drawing upon a rich urban environment, the multidisciplinary program in Criminal Justice Studies explores the connections between law, crime, and justice. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking about the administration of justice, crime and delinquency, legal studies, and working with diverse communities. As part of the major, students participate in a culminating field experience at the end of their program. The program is intended for a diverse group of students whose interests range from the local to the global, from street crime to terrorism, from municipal policing to international courts.
Students seeking a major or minor begin with a foundation course that provides a cross-disciplinary perspective of criminal justice. Both majors and minors will pursue coursework within and across four areas of emphasis within the field of criminal justice studies.
- Administration of Justice. Students explore the central features of criminal justice systems. Courses include the treatment of distinguishing features of the U.S. criminal justice system and comparative perspectives of systems around the globe. Attention is given to recurring problems, including abuse of authority, community conflict, and discrimination in case processing. Students have opportunities to learn methods and applications for studying criminal justice systems and processes.
- Crime and Delinquency. Courses in this area expose students to major explanations of what brings about different forms of juvenile delinquency and adult criminality. Students have opportunities to explore biological, feminist, economic, international, psychological, racial, and sociological perspectives of crime and delinquency. In addition to addressing street crime, courses are available for learning about hate crime, organized crime, terrorism, and white-collar crime.
- Legal Studies. Attention is given to legal doctrine relevant to criminal justice, the practice of law by criminal justice agents, and the experience of law by defendants, family members, and victims. Courses include distinctive disciplinary perspectives of law as well as issues faced by particular populations. Students have the opportunity to learn and apply legal analysis, including case law and the development of legal briefs.
- Working with Diverse Communities. Working in the criminal justice system in any capacity requires interacting with individuals from diverse family, cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. Courses in this area expose students to a deeper understanding and appreciation of individuals and groups from backgrounds other than their own. These courses help students develop communication skills to bridge cultural differences while working toward common goals related to the pursuit of social as well as criminal justice.
Students pursuing the major will complete their coursework with a culminating field experience.
A network of criminal justice agencies and personnel in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area serves as a powerful asset for students. An active Criminal Justice Student Association plans and implements community service activities, has a guest lecture program featuring criminal justice professionals, and creates a sense of community on campus.
Career Outlook
The major and minor provide training for students who anticipate they will be engaged in their communities regarding issues of law, crime, and justice as well as those seeking related careers in government, law, and higher education. Career opportunities include those in law enforcement, diversion, crime analysis, probation, parole, corrections, juvenile justice, victim advocacy, corporate security, community development, and justice research. Students who intend to pursue graduate education in criminal justice, justice studies, criminology, and related fields, as well as those planning to apply to law school, are encouraged to consider the major and minor in Criminal Justice.
Professor
Elizabeth Brown (2006), Professor in Criminal Justice Studies. Ph.D. University of Washington.
Jeffrey B. Snipes (2002), Professor in Criminal Justice Studies. Ph.D. State University of New York, Albany.
Associate Professor
George Barganier (2014), Associate Professor in Criminal Justice Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Carina Gallo (2018), Associate Professor in Criminal Justice Studies. Ph.D. Stockholm University.
César “Ché” Rodríguez (2016), Associate Professor in Criminal Justice Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara.
Dilara Yarbrough (2016), Associate Professor in Criminal Justice Studies. Ph.D. University of California, San Diego.
Assistant Professor
Angelica Camacho (2018), Assistant Professor in Criminal Justice Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Riverside.
Lecturer
Ishman Anderson (2017), Lecturer in Criminal Justice Studies.
C. Jason Bell (2013), Lecturer in Criminal Justice Studies.
C J 200 Construction of Crime and Justice (Units: 3)
Critical analysis of the images, realities, and mythological construction of crime, as well as the criminal justice system in the U.S. [Formerly C J 520]
C J 230 Crime, Data, and Analysis (Units: 3)
Introduction to practices of knowledge production related to crime and criminal justice. Analysis of the practices of "crime speak": what we say, why we say it, and what consequences talking about crime and criminological data have in society today. Exploration of how crime is defined, measured, and analyzed; how the definition of crime shapes the practices of data collection and dissemination; and the impact of knowledge production on people.
Course Attributes:
- D1: Social Sciences
C J 300 Criminal Justice: A Cross-Disciplinary Perspective (Units: 4)
Prerequisites:GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Social Justice
C J 306 Crisis in Central America: U.S. Policy and the Root Causes of Chaos (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
(This course is offered as I R 306 and C J 306. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
C J 320 Literature in Criminal Justice - Crime Control, Due Process, and Class Justice (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; C J 300 and a GWAR course (may be taken concurrently).
C J 323 Ethics in Criminal Justice (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Area A2; C J 300 (may be taken concurrently).
C J 330GW Research Methods in Criminal Justice - GWAR (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Criminal Justice majors; GE Area A2; C J 300 (may be taken concurrently).
Course Attributes:
- Graduation Writing Assessment
C J 335 Legal Writing and Research (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300 (may be taken concurrently); a GWAR course; or permission of the instructor.
C J 340 Comparative Criminal Justice (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as C J 340 and I R 341. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
C J 360 Intelligence and Intelligence Agencies (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
(This course is offered as I R 360 and C J 360. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
C J 362 The Making of US Foreign Policy (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; GE Area A2; C J 200 or I R 310 or PLSI 200; or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as I R 362, PLSI 362, and C J 362. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
C J 400 Police and Public Policy (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; or permission of the instructor.
C J 401 Criminal Profiling (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; or permission of the instructor.
C J 405 Organized Crime (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; or permission of the instructor.
C J 410 Crime Scene Investigation (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to Criminal Justice Studies majors and minors.
C J 420 Introduction to Forensic Science (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; C J 300* (may be taken concurrently).
Course Attributes:
- UD-B: Physical Life Science
C J 435 Race, Crime, and Justice (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as LTNS 430 and C J 435. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Social Justice
C J 450 Jails and Prisons (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
C J 451 The Architecture of Incarceration (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; or permission of the instructor.
C J 452 Criminological Theory (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; GE Areas A1, A2, A3, and B4.
(This course is offered as SOC 451 and C J 452. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
C J 460 Community Corrections and Sentencing (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
C J 461 Terrorism and Covert Political Warfare (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as C J 461 and I R 361. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
C J 470 Juvenile Justice (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; GE Areas A1, A2, A3, and B4.
(This course is offered as SOC 452 and C J 470. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
C J 471 Contemporary Issues in Juvenile Justice (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
C J 475 Intervention Policies in Juvenile Justice (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
C J 480 California Corrections System (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; or permission of the instructor.
C J 485 Latina/o Youth, Crime, and Justice (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as LTNS 485 and C J 485. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Social Justice
C J 490 Immigration, Criminalization, and Justice (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
C J 501 Criminal Law (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; a GWAR course; or permission of the instructor.
C J 502 Criminal Procedure (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; a GWAR course; or permission of the instructor.
C J 510 Analysis of the Felon in Society (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1, A2, A3, and B4, or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as SOC 510 and C J 510. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
C J 511 Critical Analysis of Re-entry and Housing (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Sociology, Criminal Justice, or Urban Studies majors; GE Areas A1, A2, A3, and B4; or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as SOC 511, C J 511, and USP 511. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
C J 515 Extremism as Crime (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; a GWAR course; or permission of the instructor.
C J 525 Global Restorative Justice and Corrections (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; C J 323GW or C J 330GW.
C J 530 Geographies of Social Control and Urban Diversity (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; or permission of the instructor.
C J 535 Alternatives to Criminalization (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300.
C J 550 School Violence and Discipline (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; C J 330GW or C J 323GW; or permission of the instructor.
C J 570 Urban Violence (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
C J 600 Youth Gangs in Community Context (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; C J 300; C J 330GW or C J 323GW; or permission of the instructor.
C J 605 Criminalization of Gender and Sexuality (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
C J 680 Field Course in Criminal Justice (Units: 4)
Prerequisites: Restricted to senior standing; C J 300*; a GWAR* course; or permission of the instructor.
C J 685 Projects In Teaching Criminal Justice (Units: 1-4)
Prerequisite: C J 300.
C J 690 Criminal Justice Studies Internship (Units: 1-4)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division Criminal Justice Studies majors and minors.