M.S. in Criminology
The Masters Degree in Criminology is a flexible program that provides a solid core in the field of criminology, while permitting students to pursue specialized areas of interest. The Masters Program is designed to prepare students for service and responsible administrative and professional positions in agencies within the criminal justice system.
The Masters Program also prepares students for a wide variety of occupations including in-service education, administrative education and management, community college teaching, counseling, doctoral studies, and research. Since offering our first graduate criminology course in 1957, the Masters Program has become the most comprehensive masters degree program in the discipline between Sacramento and Los Angeles. It is an advanced program that now draws students from all over the United States.
Call or write to request application materials for both the University and the Department of Criminology:
California State University, Fresno
Department of Criminology
2576 E San Ramon MS/ST104
Fresno CA 93740-8029
Telephone: (559) 278-2305
FAX: (559) 278-7265
You may also email your request for application materials. Please provide complete name and mailing address.
Completing a Master of Science Degree in Criminology at California State University, Fresno requires the following:
- Completing the University online application found at www.csumentor.edu.
- Admission to the Department of Criminology Graduate Program. Application to the Department is made through CSU Mentor.
- Completion of the 30 units of course requirements.
- Completion of the "culminating experience" (thesis, project or a comprehensive examination).
Admission to the University
- Admission to graduate standing is prerequisite to admission to the Department of Criminology Graduate Program. Note: A University Graduate Admission Application must also be completed and submitted. This is in addition to the application that is required for admission into the Criminology Graduate Program.
- Attention students interested in applying for Fall 2010 admission:
The application process for Fall 2010 begins October 1, 2009, and will extend until early spring. We are in the process of making some changes to our application procedures which involve the nature of the "personal statement" and the letters of recommendation. Stay tuned for these details. Check back with this site after October 15, 2009, for this revised information. All application received throughout the entire period will receive equal consideration so applicants will have sufficient time to prepare their applications. Please contact Dr. Barbara Owen at barbarao@csufresno.edu for further information.
Admission to the Department
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a grade point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 (on a 4-point scale).
- A baccalaureate degree within the last five years, and prerequisite course
work with a minimum grade of "B."
Completion of the general aptitude portion of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE). We require that the general aptitude portion of the GRE be taken prior to a student being admitted into graduate criminology course work, or graduate status. - A completed Application for Graduate Study for the Criminology Program at CSUF.
- Three completed recommendation forms for Graduate Study in Criminology.
- A personal essay.
- An interview may be required by the Criminology Graduate Committee.
Additional Information
Completion of all of the above will allow a student to be admitted with classified standing (full admission).
Conditional classified standing may be granted to students who are deficient due to the lack of prerequisite baccalaureate course work. These prerequisite classes do not count towards the 30-unit masters degree requirement and must be taken prior to taking graduate classes.
The following courses are considered undergraduate prerequisites for entry into the Criminology Graduate Program, and may not be used toward the master's degree:
- CRIM 100: Criminology
- CRIM 102: Criminal Justice Organization and Management
- CRIM 117: Criminal Legal Process
- CRIM 170: Research Methods
If you have questions, you may email the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Barbara Owen.