Our Programs
Advancing Justice Through Critical Inquiry and Career Pathways
San Francisco State University’s Criminal Justice Studies (CJS) programs help students critically examine law, crime, and justice systems through an interdisciplinary lens grounded in social justice. The major offers an in-depth exploration of how crime and justice intersect with issues such as race, class, gender, and community dynamics, preparing graduates to analyze, challenge, and influence systems and policies. Students gain skills in critical thinking, ethical reasoning, research methods, and applied practice across areas like administration of justice, legal studies, crime and delinquency, and working with diverse populations.
The minor complements other fields of study by building foundational knowledge in justice administration, conflict resolution, legal systems, and community engagement, enhancing career and graduate school readiness.
For those who have already completed significant college coursework, a fully online CJS bachelor’s degree completion program offers flexible, asynchronous study to finish the bachelor’s degree while learning to analyze justice systems, public policy, and social inequality.
Additionally, SF State’s Scholars 4+1 program provides an accelerated pathway for high-achieving undergraduates to begin graduate coursework early and complete both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a streamlined sequence, deepening skills and enhancing career prospects in as little as five years.
Undergraduate Programs
Criminal Justice Studies
The multidisciplinary program in Criminal Justice Studies explores the conception and implementation of the law, crime and justice systems and ideas. The program emphasizes critical thinking about law, crime and justice systems and their entanglement with larger political economic processes. In particular, the program explores how ideas and systems of crime, law and justice shape broader issues of social justice, especially those related to the experience of race, class, gender, sexuality and age inequity in the U.S. The program teaches students the skills of critical analysis and ethical reasoning such that students can challenge structures and assumptions and innovatively contribute to the assessment of alternative solutions to problems associated with the identification, control and prevention of crime and delinquency.
Criminal Justice Studies Online Bachelor's Degree Completion
In addition to the major and minor programs offered at SFSU, Criminal Justice Studies also offers an additional fully online degree completion program offered through the College of Professional & Global Education (CPaGE). The CJS online degree program leverages quality instruction and a dedicated support system to help create an education that works for you. Working professionals enjoy the flexibility of an accelerated schedule with brief 8-week semesters to accomplish their personal and professional goals.
SFSU Accelerated Bachelor's + Master's
The SFSU Accelerated Bachelor's + Master's program blends the B.A. in Criminal Justice and M.A. in International Relations to partner a strong undergraduate program’s robust enrollment with an internationally recognized graduate program. Each in its own way exemplifies San Francisco State’s history, character and values.
Minor in Criminal Justice Studies
Complement your major studies with a minor in Criminal Justice Studies, which will equip you with critical thinking and conflict resolution skills to better understand the administration of justice, crime and delinquency, legal systems, and working with diverse communities. In addition, a Criminal Justice Studies minor can help you achieve specialization in an area to help you stand out in a future job, internship, or graduate school application, while also having your courses count towards general education requirements.
Minor in Juvenile Justice
The Minor in Juvenile Justice promotes awareness and understanding of youth behavior and juvenile justice systems with a special emphasis on reform.
Minor in Prison Reentry Studies
The minor in Prison Reentry Studies is a multidisciplinary program of study focused on the transition of individuals from incarceration to general society.