Forms & FAQs

CCJS electives are CCJS courses that are not taken to meet the major core requirements.  If you see a CCJS course that is not listed as a major core requirement course, that course is considered a CCJS elective course. For example, CCJS 399 (Lecture Series) is a CCJS course but it is not listed as a major core requirement course.  CCJS 399 is therefore considered a CCJS elective course.  CCJS majors must complete 8 units of CCJS electives.

Criminal justice and/or social science electives refer to either CCJS courses that are not taken to meet the major core requirements or upper division GE in social sciences (i.e. ANTH, GEP, GLBL, HIST, POLS, PSY, SOCI, and WGS). For example, either CCJS 399 (Lecture Series) or SOCI 326 (Social Psychology) may be taken to meet this requirement.  Note that courses taken to meet this requirement must be selected in consultation with assigned CCJS faculty advisor.  Criminal Justice (CJ) or Administration of Justice (AJ) units from other institutions may also be applied to this requirement, except Life Experience and Criminal Investigation courses.   CCJS majors must complete 12 units of criminal justice and/or social science electives. 

Yes.  The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies currently requires a 3.00 minimum cumulative GPA to declare a CCJS major or minor, whether as a first time freshman or as a transfer student.

CCJS is an impacted major, which means that it has been officially determined to not have enough resources to meet student demand and must therefore restrict the number of students who can major in it.  This is a fact of life for many majors in the California State University system. In CCJS, this means that the department relies on a minimum cumulative GPA requirement for admitting students into the major or minor.

SSU students who want to declare a CCJS major (or minor) need to meet with their assigned CCJS faculty advisor who will fill out a Change of Major Form (for Impacted Majors). The CCJS faculty advisor will review your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) to see if you meet the required 3.00 minimum cumulative GPA to declare a CCJS major (or minor).  The CCJS faculty advisor may also ask your reasons for wanting to declare a CCJS major (or minor) to see whether the CCJS curriculum can help you meet your personal goals.  If everything is in order, the CCJS faculty advisor will fill out and sign your Change of Major Form (for Impacted Majors).  Once the Registrar’s Office has reviewed and approved your Change of Major Form (for Impacted Majors), your new academic program will appear on your ARR and you will be officially considered a CCJS major (or minor).

CCJS majors who want to add a major (or minor) need to either fill out a Change of Major Form (for Non-Impacted Majors) or meet with a faculty advisor from the appropriate department (e.g. Department of Sociology) to fill out a Change of Major Form (for Impacted Majors).  The faculty advisor from an impacted program will review your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) to see if you meet the requirements for declaring the major (or minor).  If everything is in order, the faculty advisor will fill out the form for you and sign it.  Once the Registrar’s Office has reviewed and approved your appropriate Change of Major form, your new academic program will appear on your ARR.

The Academic Requirements Report (ARR) is an online report that provides a real-time overview of a student’s academic record and their degree requirements, using symbols to indicate which of those requirements are completed, in-progress, and outstanding. The ARR is reflective of applicable coursework completed at Sonoma State University, relevant units from a student’s Transfer Credit Report, and, in some instances, approved petitions the student has filed with Admissions & Records. Before a student can graduate, all requirements listed on the ARR must be checked as completed.

To access your ARR:

1. Log on to MySSU.
2. Click on Student Center on the left side of the screen.
3. Under Academics, use the drop down menu to select Academic Requirements.

It is important that you review your ARR regularly to make sure that you are progressing in your academic program on schedule. 

You should focus on completing your general education requirements within your first two years at Sonoma State University.  Review your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) to find out your applicable GE pattern.  Take the minimum number of units required for every GE area/subarea.  If possible, avoid taking more units than required -- it might take you longer to complete your degree program if you do so.

You may take CCJS 201 (Criminal Justice and Public Policy) -- a major core requirement for CCJS majors -- either in your first year or second year.  This course presents a systematic analysis of the effectiveness and influence of criminal justice policy and practice throughout the criminal justice system, and serves as a good introduction to the criminology and criminal justice studies program. It is also a lower division GE course that satisfies GE Area D (Subarea D1) requirement.

Remember not to take upper division GE courses (300-499) until the semester you reach junior status (60 units).  Also, try to make one of your natural science classes satisfy the laboratory requirement and try to make one of your GE classes satisfy the Critical Race/Ethnic Studies requirement.

The Sample Four-Year Program provides suggestions that can help you in choosing your classes, but it is best to consult with your assigned CCJS faculty advisor to make sure that you course plan meets your personal goals.  Our B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies program has been designed to allow each student, in consultation with a CCJS faculty advisor, to develop an individualized program of study. 

At this point, you should have completed most of your general education requirements.  Focus on completing your remaining general education requirements, including your 9 units of upper division GE courses (300-499), before taking CCJS major core requirements courses.  Review your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) to find out your remaining degree requirements.  Take the minimum number of units needed for every requirement.

If you till have not done so, take CCJS 201 (Criminal Justice and Public Policy) -- a major core requirement for CCJS majors.  This course presents a systematic analysis of the effectiveness and influence of criminal justice policy and practice throughout the criminal justice system, and serves as a good introduction to the criminology and criminal justice studies program. It is also a lower division GE course that satisfies GE Area D (Subarea D1) requirement.  We also encourage you to take CCJS 420 (Seminar in Criminology) and CCJS 370 (Seminar in Research Methods) as soon as you can.

The Sample Four-Year Program provides suggestions that can help you in choosing your classes, but it is best to consult with your assigned CCJS faculty advisor to make sure that you course plan meets your personal goals.  Our B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies program has been designed to allow each student, in consultation with a CCJS faculty advisor, to develop an individualized program of study.

Use Additional Search Criteria in your class search to find any GE classes that you need.

If there is any error in your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) related to your major or minor requirements, you need to meet with your assigned CCJS faculty advisor who will fill out an Academic Requirements Report Update Form. (If the error in your ARR is related to your general education requirements, you need to fill out a GE Substitution Form instead.).

Your assigned CCJS faculty advisor will review your ARR and other relevant records to verify that your ARR needs to be updated.  If your assigned CCJS faculty advisor agrees that your ARR needs to be updated, she will fill out and sign the form.  Once the Registrar’s Office has reviewed and approved the form, the updated information will appear on your ARR.

Students who plan to graduate in the next academic year must meet with their CCJS faculty advisor to go over their academic program and determine whether they are ready to apply for graduation.  Your CCJS faculty advisor will review your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) to see if you will be able to complete all your degree requirements in next academic year.

If everything is in order and it is determined by your CCJS faculty advisor that you will be able to complete all your degree requirements in the next academic year, you may now apply for graduation using the new Online Graduation Application Process.  You can choose from three graduation terms: spring, summer, or fall.  Note that students who apply for graduation online must have completed at least 90 units, with at least 15 units completed in residence (i.e., taken at Sonoma State University).

There are two options here:

1. Students can petition for waiver of university regulations (e.g. in this situation, the completion of 12 units in GE Area C). They will need to (1) fill out a General Petition for Waiver of University Regulations, which requires justification and supporting documentation for your request for waiver of the specific degree requirement, and (2) meet with their assigned CCJS faculty advisor, who will sign form and decide whether to recommend approval or denial of the petition.  The CCJS faculty advisor will forward the signed form to the department staff for processing. Once the Registrar’s Office has reviewed and approved the petition, the Academic Requirements Report (ARR) will be updated to show that the remaining degree requirement has been satisfied.  Note that approval of the petition is discretionary. Students have the burden of providing sufficient justification for waiver of university regulations.
   Students can also petition to take additional units in the same semester.

Our Internship & Employment Opportunities for Students page regularly posts job opportunities, so you might find something there that interests you.  If you want to work in other fields, the Career Center can help you learn about other job opportunities.  

Our Careers page provides suggestion on how to choose a career.  Your CCJS faculty advisor can also help you identify a career path that fits your personal goals. 

Reach out to the CCJS professors who know you well and find out if they would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation.  They are in the best position to evaluate your capabilities and potentials. While any professor may write you a letter of recommendation, you need someone who will write you a strong letter of recommendation.  Our Letters of Recommendation page provides suggestions on requesting letters of recommendation. 

If you are thinking of pursuing graduate studies but are not sure where to start, the Career Center’s Graduate School: A Comprehensive Guide will help you get the process started.  Our Graduate Studies page provides information on available graduate programs in criminology, criminal justice, and related fields. Your CCJS faculty advisor can also help you find a graduate program that fits your personal goals.  

No particular lower division general education courses from a community college are required to get into the CCJS major.  All the major core requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies must be taken at Sonoma State University.  However, up to 12 units of Criminal Justice (CJ) or Administration of Justice (AJ) courses taken from a community college (except Life Experiene and Criminal Investigation courses) may be applied to the Criminal Justice and/or Social Science Elective requirement.

The University Scholarship Program awards about 400 scholarships grants to students who have demonstrated academic excellence.  Scholarships range from $500 to $5,000 per year.  To get information on the requirements and application process, go to the Scholarship Office webpage.

Students who need financial assistance may also apply for financial aid. To get information on the requirements and application process, go to the Financial Aid Office webpage.

Your form or petition must be signed by your assigned CCJS faculty advisor.  Your assigned CCJS faculty advisor is most familiar with your progress in the program and is, therefore, in the best position to approve or disapprove your form or petition.  We encourage you to meet with your assigned CCJS faculty advisor at least a week before the deadline for submitting the form or petition.

On occasions when your assigned CCJS faculty advisor is not available, the department chair can sign the form or petition. However, a department staff cannot sign in place of your assigned CCJS faculty advisor.    

Students who want to register for more than the maxium units set for the term need to (1) fill out a Petition to Take Additional Units, and (2) meet with their assigned CCJS faculty advisor.  Your assigned CCJS faculty advisor will review your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) and ask your reasons for wanting to take additional units.  If your assigned CCJS faculty advisor believes that you satisfy the university criteria for taking additional units, she will sign the petition and forward it to the department staff for processing. Once the Registrar’s Office has reviewed and approved the petition, you will be allowed to register for additional units.