Welcome to CCJS!
Welcome to the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies! We invite you to join us in the study of crime, criminology, criminal justice, and society. We offer a liberal arts curriculum concerned with the changing nature and content of law; the shifting public expectations of criminal justice agencies; the implications of diversity along the lines of race, gender, and class; and the reactions of those agencies to social perceptions and political pressures.
We serve a broad service area within the North Bay region, but also draw students from counties throughout the state. As one of the nine academic departments housed within the School of Social Sciences, our mission and values align closely with the school’s goals of preparing its graduates “to live richly rewarding personal, professional, and social lives while understanding and appreciating human complexity in a global society.” Our core values also align with Sonoma State University’s themes of diversity, social justice, sustainability, and community engagement. These core values form an integral part of our curriculum and are reflected in our faculty's research projects and service commitments.
Academic Programs
We offer a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies and a Minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies. We currently do not have a graduate program.
Why Study CCJS?
The criminal justice system has grown rapidly and crime and criminal justice have become increasingly politicized. In light of these, there is a great need for a critical understanding of the changing field of criminology and criminal justice.
The criminology and criminal justice studies curriculum examines the changing nature and content of law, the shifting public expectations of criminal and civil justice agencies, the implications of diversity along the lines of race, gender and class, and the reactions of agencies to social perceptions and political pressures. It trains students to use an interdisciplinary and multi-methodological academic approach in understanding the mechanisms of social control, resolutions of criminal justice problems, and accepted procedures and alternatives. This general but all-important background serves as a base for the areas of emphasis that are of interest to the individual student.
Criminology and criminal justice studies graduates typically pursue careers in the field of criminal justice and social services, including adult and juvenile probation, corrections, judicial administration, prevention and diversion, parole services, and public advocacy. They are also well-positioned to pursue advanced degrees in criminology, criminal justice, law, and other social science disciplines.