Criminal Justice

College of Health and Human Services

Program Description

Criminal Justice encompasses multidisciplinary examinations of crime, crime control, the justice process, and justice institutions. The discipline addresses definitions, causation, prevention, investigation, legal process, treatment, rehabilitation, and research relating to crime and justice as well as the institutions of the justice system and their administration.

The comprehensive program at Sacramento State covers every aspect of the field. Courses are offered which span the entire system of justice administration in both public and private sectors.

The Division of Criminal Justice:

  • Seeks to identify and increase understanding of major social issues related to crime, offenders, prevention and control, and victims.
  • Features a large and diverse faculty combining scholars from a variety of disciplines who have contributed extensively to the justice field with practitioners who have many years of experience in justice administration.
  • Offers a flexible undergraduate major, including the option of internship, and highly-structured advising.  Advising allows the student to shape an undergraduate program specifically to prepare for employment in multiple areas of criminal justice, advanced study in criminal justice, or law school. 
  • Features a Master of Science program that offers students a generalist degree focused on a variety of areas within the field of Criminal Justice including, but not limited to, criminological theory and research methods, corrections, policing, law and justice, restorative justice, victimology, juvenile justice, white collar crime, terrorism, and comparative criminal justice.  In addition, we offer experimental courses in areas with a growing body of research such as the mentally ill and the criminal justice system and emergency management.

Many graduates find positions with various federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies. Others have pursued advanced study in criminology and law. Employment opportunities for Criminal Justice majors have remained strong for the past decade, both with government agencies and in private security, and future demand appears assured.

The Criminal Justice program at Sacramento State is one of the most highly sought-after programs in Northern California. Due to the large number of applications, the program is now officially impacted. Students wishing to become Criminal Justice majors must complete a series of required lower division courses and then apply for admission to the program. It is highly recommended that interested students speak with the Criminal Justice Student Advising Center as early as possible.

Degree Programs

BS in Criminal Justice

Minor in Forensics Investigations (Chemistry and Biology Majors Only)

Certificate in Law Enforcement

MS in Criminal Justice

Career Possibilities

Investigative positions, most with law enforcement authority, with federal, state, and local agencies such as the FBI, ATF, Secret Service, DEA, Homeland Security Administration, state level Departments of Justice, Alcohol Beverage Control, Department of Motor Vehicles, District Attorney's and Public Defender's Offices · Includes uniformed peace officer positions within local and state governments, such as: police officer, deputy sheriff, highway patrol, and natural resources officer, including crime scene specialists, and crime analysts · Correctional peace officer positions including state and local probation officers and parole agents within adult and juvenile correctional systems · Includes non-sworn correctional counselors and administrators. Private corporate security agents and investigators such as those employed by banks and insurance companies and transportation companies, including loss-prevention specialists · Victim services and officer services positions within a wide variety of social service agencies related to crime, justice, and rehabilitation · In addition, graduates can pursue advanced degrees in law or research disciplines, and may apply to military officer candidate schools.

Contact Information

Ernest Uwazie, Division Chair
Criminal Justice Business Office, Alpine Hall 137
(916) 278-6487
Destiny Effiong, Coordinator of Criminal Justice Advising Center
Alpine Hall 133
(916) 278-6485

Adam Lehrke, ASC-II

Alpine Hall 137 (916)278-6297

Alicia Taylor, ASC-I

Alpine Hall 137

(916) 278-6487


Division of Criminal Justice Website

Faculty