Concentration Requirements and Curriculum

As a Criminal Justice student, you receive a strong foundation in the basics of criminal law and procedure. You will build on the foundation by selecting electives in a variety of substantive areas. The Concentration focuses on both research and application. Each Criminal Justice student writes a research paper that contributes to legal scholarship. In addition, each student interns for practical experience.

The Criminal Justice Concentration requires successful completion of both Requirement A and Requirement B:

  Requirement A:
(1) three Basic Criminal Justice courses (8 to 9 units);
(2) two Advanced Criminal Justice courses;
(3) one additional Advanced Criminal Justice course OR one Related course. If a student takes a Related Course, the student must write a paper approved by the professor on a criminal justice topic;
(4) the student must write a paper on a criminal justice topic. (The paper may be written to fulfill the requirements of an Advanced Criminal Justice course requiring a paper. Alternatively, the paper may be written to fulfill the requirements for a Related Course. Some Advanced Criminal Justice courses require a paper; others do not. Additionally, an Advanced Criminal Justice course that requires a paper one year may not require a paper the next time the course is offered. To ensure that you meet the requirement for a paper, check with the professor teaching the course.): and
(5) one Clinical course. The clinical course must be taken for credit. Work study clinics and paid employment cannot substitute for the Clinical Course.
  Requirement B: In addition to Requirement A, select Option 1 or 2:
  Option 1: One additional Advanced Criminal Justice course.
Option 2: One Advocacy/Evidence course.

A total of 14 units are required in addition to the courses required of all J.D. students.