BS in Criminology, Law and Society

In criminology, law and society, you’ll learn the reality of the justice system--beyond what’s portrayed in popular culture. You’ll learn about different ideas of justice and come to understand the impact the justice system has on lives of individuals and communities through law enforcement, courts, and corrections by studying strategies in intelligence and security. As a student in the program, you will be taught by professors who have years of experience as both researchers and practitioners.

Our students have to the opportunity to study timely issues in criminal justice such as constitutional rights, police use of force, hate crimes, human trafficking, and the use of technology in law enforcement.

Mason’s location makes it an ideal place to study these important subjects. Washington DC provides abundant options for internships in the justice and security fields, including law enforcement, courts and corrections, intelligence, and non-profits. Our internship program gives you real world experience and helps you form connections to professionals and organizations in the criminal justice world, all while earning academic credit.

The program will help you develop essential skills and experience to be competitive in the job market. Our students find jobs in law enforcement, the justice system, law, national security, intelligence and related career fields.

The BA in criminology, law and society is well suited for students who wish to study the field while branching out into related areas of study. The BS provides students a more focused approach, requiring more courses within the field of criminology. Both degrees prepare students for a range of positions in criminal justice and beyond.

Major Map

	First Year	Middle Years	Last Year
Academics	Compare the BA and BS degrees to identify the best fit for your academic and career goals. Take CRIM 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice. Consider taking another 200-level CRIM elective to explore an area of interest. Take UNIV 100 Introduction to Mason or CHSS 101 CHSS First Year Experience to familiarize yourself with all George Mason has to offer. Meet with your CLS advisor every semester; confirm how any incoming credits (AP/IB/dual enrollment, etc.) apply to the degree. Familiarize yourself with registration resources (Mason Degree Audit, Patriot Web tutorials). Research other programs (i.e. minors) to expand and diversify your skill set. Take steps to maintain academic standards and familiarize yourself with the referral process.	Take CRIM 479 Criminology: College to Career or courses towards your intended area of specialization. Consider declaring a concentration to focus your major coursework. Create a graduation plan with your CLS advisor. Not sure what to do after graduation? Consider taking CRIM 479 Criminology: College to Career, UNIV 420 College to Career, or UNIV 421 College to Graduate School to learn about next steps for your intended path. Is the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s (BAM) pathway right for you? Attend an info session. Want to gain research experience? Apply to the CLS Honors Program or work in a CLS research lab. Attend the CHSS research symposium to learn about research opportunities.	Schedule a graduation check with your CLS advisor. Apply to graduate on Patriot Web before your final semester (ex. Spring graduates should apply in Nov/Dec). Take CRIM 495 Capstone in Criminology, Law and Society to demonstrate the skills acquired through your major.
Career and Professional Prep	Join the George Mason Police Cadet Program or participate in Fairfax County Police Leaders of Tomorrow summer program. Want to work in the intelligence community? Attend Clearance Ready events, starting with Intro to Security Clearances. Interested in law school? Join the pre-law listserv. Apply for internships/jobs and attend employer events using Handshake. Build your professional network and stay connected w/employers through LinkedIn.	Build/sustain faculty relationships. Meet with them during office hours so they can get to know you and your career plans. Attend the CLS internship expo to chat with employers and hear from current interns. Plan your next steps for gaining relevant experience. Connect with employers at the Career Fair. Research graduate and/or law schools. Meet with program advisors to learn more and plan your application steps. Join the George Mason Police Cadet Program or participate in Fairfax County Police Leaders of Tomorrow summer program.	Clarify your post-graduation path by reviewing relevant timelines and next steps for jobs, graduate school, or law school. Strengthen your application materials by working with Career Services, faculty mentors, or the pre-law advisor. Have your personal statement for graduate/law school reviewed by the Writing Center. Enhance your professional presence by staying connected with faculty, peers, and employers on LinkedIn. Visit Career Services to polish your resume, cover letter, and interviewing skills.
Experiences	Join a campus organization. Consider the Intelligence Community Network, Freedom Connection Rotaract, or Patriot Pre-Law Group. Attend the Study Abroad Fair to explore international opportunities. Take advantage of George Mason's proximity to DC! Visit the Spy Museum, National Law Enforcement Museum, FBI Experience, Holocaust Memorial Museum, Smithsonian Museum of American History, and explore Northern Virginia sites: Lorton Prison Museum, DEA Museum, NRA National Firearms Museum, or the Freedom House Museum.	Spend a semester or part of your break studying abroad. Become a Learning Assistant for an introductory CRIM course. Take on a leadership position in a campus organization. Consider joining Lambda Alpha Epsilon, the American Criminal Justice Association. Serve on an Office of Student Conduct Student Board or join the Academic Standards Committee. Apply for George Mason scholarships or external scholarships, such as the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute Scholarship Program to fund your education.	Take on a leadership position in a campus organization. Consider joining Lambda Alpha Epsilon, the American Criminal Justice Association. Serve on an Office of Student Conduct Student Board or join the Academic Standards Committee.

First Year

Middle Years

Last Year

Academics

Compare the BA and BS degrees to identify the best fit for your academic and career goals.

Take CRIM 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice. Consider taking another 200-level CRIM elective to explore an area of interest.

Take UNIV 100 Introduction to Mason or CHSS 101 CHSS First Year Experience to familiarize yourself with all George Mason has to offer.

Meet with your CLS advisor every semester; confirm how any incoming credits (AP/IB/dual enrollment, etc.) apply to the degree.

Familiarize yourself with registration resources (Mason Degree Audit, Patriot Web tutorials).

Research other programs (i.e. minors) to expand and diversify your skill set.

Take steps to maintain academic standards and familiarize yourself with the referral process.

Take CRIM 479 Criminology: College to Career or courses towards your intended area of specialization.

Consider declaring a concentration to focus your major coursework.

Create a graduation plan with your CLS advisor.

Not sure what to do after graduation? Consider taking CRIM 479 Criminology: College to Career, UNIV 420 College to Career, or UNIV 421 College to Graduate School to learn about next steps for your intended path.

Is the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s (BAM) pathway right for you? Attend an info session.

Want to gain research experience? Apply to the CLS Honors Program or work in a CLS research lab. Attend the CHSS research symposium to learn about research opportunities.

Schedule a graduation check with your CLS advisor.

Apply to graduate on Patriot Web before your final semester (ex. Spring graduates should apply in Nov/Dec).

Take CRIM 495 Capstone in Criminology, Law and Society to demonstrate the skills acquired through your major.

Career and Professional Prep

Join the George Mason Police Cadet Program or participate in Fairfax County Police Leaders of Tomorrow summer program.

Want to work in the intelligence community? Attend Clearance Ready events, starting with Intro to Security Clearances.

Interested in law school? Join the pre-law listserv.

Apply for internships/jobs and attend employer events using Handshake.

Build your professional network and stay connected w/employers through LinkedIn.

Build/sustain faculty relationships. Meet with them during office hours so they can get to know you and your career plans.

Attend the CLS internship expo to chat with employers and hear from current interns. Plan your next steps for gaining relevant experience.

Connect with employers at the Career Fair.

Research graduate and/or law schools. Meet with program advisors to learn more and plan your application steps.

Join the George Mason Police Cadet Program or participate in Fairfax County Police Leaders of Tomorrow summer program.

Clarify your post-graduation path by reviewing relevant timelines and next steps for jobs, graduate school, or law school.

Strengthen your application materials by working with Career Services, faculty mentors, or the pre-law advisor.

Have your personal statement for graduate/law school reviewed by the Writing Center.

Enhance your professional presence by staying connected with faculty, peers, and employers on LinkedIn.

Visit Career Services to polish your resume, cover letter, and interviewing skills.

Experiences

Join a campus organization. Consider the Intelligence Community Network, Freedom Connection Rotaract, or Patriot Pre-Law Group.

Attend the Study Abroad Fair to explore international opportunities.

Take advantage of George Mason's proximity to DC! Visit the Spy Museum, National Law Enforcement Museum, FBI Experience, Holocaust Memorial Museum, Smithsonian Museum of American History, and explore Northern Virginia sites: Lorton Prison Museum, DEA Museum, NRA National Firearms Museum, or the Freedom House Museum.

Spend a semester or part of your break studying abroad.

Become a Learning Assistant for an introductory CRIM course.

Take on a leadership position in a campus organization.

Consider joining Lambda Alpha Epsilon, the American Criminal Justice Association.

Serve on an Office of Student Conduct Student Board or join the Academic Standards Committee.

Apply for George Mason scholarships or external scholarships, such as the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute Scholarship Program to fund your education.

Take on a leadership position in a campus organization.

Consider joining Lambda Alpha Epsilon, the American Criminal Justice Association.

Serve on an Office of Student Conduct Student Board or join the Academic Standards Committee.

Concentrations

Major Map

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