Division of Politics,
Administration and Justice
DegreeS
Bachelor's Degrees
- Criminal Justice, B.A.
- Political Science, B.A.
- Public Administration, B.A.
Master's Degrees
- M.A. Political Science, M.A.
- Public administration-human resources, M.P.A.
- Public administration-local government management, M.P.A.
- Public administration-public finance management, M.P.A.
- Public administration-public policy, M.P.A.
Non-Degrees
- Criminal Justice, Minor
- International Politics, Minor
- Law, Politics and Society, Minor
- Political Science, Minor
- Public Administration, Minor
- Public Policy, Minor
- Security Studies, Certificate
WHY CHOOSE CSUF Politics,
Administration and Justice
CSUF’s Division of Politics, Administration and Justice offers three stimulating and fulfilling degree programs designed to prepare students with the wisdom, knowledge and know-how necessary to tackle a wide variety of real-world career challenges.
Political science is the study of people’s behavior as it relates to power and public organizations. The discipline includes political philosophy, American politics, public administration, public law, comparative government and international politics.
Public administration teaches people management skills for government and nonprofit organizations. It is concerned with the role that public employees play in policy making, planning, personnel management, taxation, finance, and in responding to the needs and problems of communities and the nation.
Criminal justice studies the causes, consequences and control of crime. Criminal justice draws from a number of disciplines. Both academic and professional, it is an interdisciplinary program that relates intellectual issues and practitioner perspectives to the challenge of crime in a free society.
Moot Court
Moot Court is a simulation of an appellate court proceeding, also known as mock Supreme Court and Supreme Court simulation. Students argue a hypothetical legal case known as the competition case. To do so, students must research the cases and laws cited in the competition case. CSUF’s Moot Court team has won awards for their performances at national competitions.
City Management Fellowship Program
The City Management Fellowship Program is an innovative and collaborative partnership between the Master of Public Administration program and the Orange County City Managers Association. The program provides professional, academic and financial support to several exceptional M.P.A. students each year who demonstrate a commitment to public service and desire a career in city management.
Center for Public Policy
The center’s mission is to provide informed and unbiased expertise in exploring problems and solutions for public policy issues in Orange County and the surrounding areas, facilitating collaboration between community leaders, practitioners, agencies and researchers.
Cal State DC Scholars program
Since 2006, the Cal State DC Scholars program has provided students with opportunities to study and intern in our nation’s capital and earn academic credit. Many of our program alumni turn their experience into thriving careers in our nation’s capital or pursue career opportunities in government, business, entertainment and other industries worldwide.
CAREER PATH
Political Science
If you're interested in government at a national or local level, political science might be a rewarding field for you. This field could allow you to help shape public policy, strategize for campaigns and develop programs to meet constituents' needs.
Possible career paths:
- Attorney
- Business owner
- Campaign manager
- Canvasser
- Caseworker
- Chief executive officer
- Chief of staff
- City manager
- Community relations professional
- Contract administrator
- Diplomat
- Director of finance
- Economist
- Executive director
- General counsel
- Government controller
- Human resource analyst
- Information security analyst
- Journalist
- Law clerk
- Legislative assistant
- Management analyst
- Media strategist
- Operations manager
- Policy analyst / manager
- Political consultant
- Project manager
- Security specialist
- Social media manager
- Teacher
- Treasurer
- Urban planner
- Volunteer manager
Public Administration
Public administration professionals analyze information, oversee expenditures, draft and implement governmental and public policy, manage resources, conduct safety inspections, investigate suspected criminal activity, serve as consultants, and in general act as stewards of the public interest.
Possible career paths:
- Alcohol, tobacco and firearms inspector
- Auditor
- City manager
- Consumer safety inspector
- County manager
- Criminal investigator
- Customs inspector
- Industrial relations specialist
- Internal security inspector
- Labor management relations specialist
- Mediator
- Private investigator
Criminal Justice
A criminal justice degree offers graduates many career options. Those who work in criminal justice have keen decision-making and problem-solving skills — traits that are sought by employers in many other fields.
Possible career paths:
- Border patrol agent
- Correctional treatment specialist
- Customs officer
- DEA special agent
- Deputy U.S. marshal
- Detective
- Forensic accountant / specialist
- Fraud investigator
- Juvenile correctional officer
- Intelligence analyst
- Investigator
- Law enforcement officer
- Loss prevention manager
- Private detective
- Probation officer
- Recovery agent
- Special agent
For more information about career paths: Contact Us