Please direct any further questions to Dr. Jay Vargas (jay.vargas86@calstatela.edu), Advisor, Criminalistics Program.
Here is a link to the university’s application for graduate admission: CAL STATE APPLY
The School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics supports a limited number of Graduate Assistant (GA) positions. Additional information on campus employment is available at the Student Employment Office.
Yes, students enrolled in the criminalistics program are encouraged to apply for an internship. Opportunities are available with several private and public laboratories.
All information on tuition and payment can be found on the Cal State LA Financial Aid website: 2018-2019 Cost of Attendance
Yes, the majority of courses in the criminalistics program are evening courses, which are offered 4:30-8:45 p.m. Some elective courses are only available as day courses.
The GRE is not required for admission to the program.
Applicants must hold a baccalaureate of science (BA or BS) in one of the natural or physical sciences (examples include chemistry, biology, biochemistry, molecular genetics, physics or related disciplines) from an accredited university.
No. A strong science background is required for admission to the criminalistics program (as well as future employment in a forensic science laboratory). An applicant's degree must be in a natural or physical science. Unrelated disciplines include psychology, anthropology, criminal justice or similar.
Admission to our Criminalistics Graduate Program is competitive. A typical cohort consists of 14-18 students.
Applicants must have successfully completed the equivalent of the following Cal State LA STEM courses. Please refer to the Cal State LA ecatalog for more information on course equivalency: University Catalog
- BIOL 1100 - Principles of Biology I, BIOL 1200 - Principles of Biology II
- BIOL 3000 - Biostatistics
- CHEM 1100 - General Chemistry I, CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry II
- CHEM 3500 - Quantitative Analysis*
- CHEM 2200 - Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 3200 - Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 2201 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I, CHEM 2211 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
- PHYS 2100 - General Physics I: Mechanics, PHYS 2200 - General Physics II: Electromagnetism and Circuits
*Quantitative Analysis may be taken concurrently with graduate coursework if not already satisfied.
Students earn a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Criminalistics.
Yes, a research project is the capstone course for graduation.
The School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics is located within the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center. A student parking pass can be purchased (daily or on a semester basis) for use in the adjacent lot (Parking Lot A) after 4 p.m.