Mason's criminology, law and society degree is designed for students interested in law enforcement, law, homeland security, and related career fields. As a student in the program, you will be taught by outstanding professors who have years of experience as both researchers and practitioners and you have the option of choosing from three fields of concentration: criminal justice, homeland security, and law and society.

Students interested in Mason are encouraged to focus on completing courses that meet general education requirements. BA degree programs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences have additional requirements in: philosophy or religion, social and behavioral science, foreign language through the intermediate level, and non-western culture. Students are encouraged to use the "Contact an Institution" section of the portal and connect with our staff for questions related to specific course equivalencies and requirements.

For the BA in Criminology , introductory courses for the major (such as CRIM 100) may be completed prior to transfer to Mason. A maximum of 18 credits of ADJ-prefix coursework can be applied towards the major. In general, students don’t need to choose the between the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) while at the community college, and can change their minds during the orientation process after speaking with a CLS advisor. The major coursework is almost identical, with the key difference being whether students want to complete additional general education, namely the foreign language for the BA, or complete the CLS internship program or an approved minor for the BS.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
• Connect with an advisor at your community college and George Mason University within your first year

The undergraduate program prepares students for careers in law enforcement, social service, law, and related career fields. CLS students will have the opportunity to conduct independent research, participate in many forms of public service, and prepare for their future careers through internships and career-focused minors and other college-to-career activities.

• Accelerated master’s programs available. Within the department, students can pursue the accelerated MS in Criminal Justice. Outside programs that may be of interest include the MA in International Security or the MA in Global Affairs.
• The CLS internship program is open to all CLS undergraduate students. In the internship preparation course, students receive support to enhance their internship application materials, interviewing skills, and guidance for working in a professional setting. They also receive supervision while completing the internship.
• Numerous study abroad opportunities (fall, spring, and summer/spring break/winter break) award CRIM credits in Australia, Central/South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• Opportunity to participate in research activities with one of our department research labs, through the Honors Seminar, or with an individual faculty member.
• Many GMU students complement their studies by participating in Career Services’ Clearance Ready Program, which provides clarity on the process and timeline of applying to positions that require security clearances. Students have the ability to network with employers, and some have received internship offers as a result of completing this program.
• CLS students have the option to declare a concentration in the major in one of the following areas: Criminal Justice; Law and Society; Homeland Security and Justice

Over 72% of CLS graduates are employed or studying in a graduate program after graduation. Top industries of interest for CLS majors are legal/law enforcement, Government, Defense, and Higher Education. Recent CLS graduates have continued their education in various graduate programs across the nation including University of Arizona, Tulane University, Radford University, Northeastern University, and Wilmington University.

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: George Mason University

• Our students enroll from all over the Commonwealth, all 50 states, and more than 130 countries.
• Transfer students are encouraged, but not required to join our residential campus community of 6,300 students.
• Mason transfers thrive in any number of the 400+ academic, cultural, or social student organizations.