College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Dear Class of 2021,

You did it! All your hard work and determination got you here. We wish you nothing but continued success! Congratulations!

The Criminal Justice department will now offer a Criminal Justice Spanish Certificate program for students majoring in criminal justice professions beginning fall 2021. Thanks to a U.S. Department of Education’s Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language program grant. The project intends to help students gain specialized Spanish proficiency at an intermediate level or higher. For more information about the Criminal Justice Spanish certificate, contact Carmen Jany at email cjany@csusb.edu or Nerea Marteache Solans at nmarte@csusb.edu.

Congratulations to Dr. Christina Villegas, Associate Professor of Political Science, who has been asked to join the National Executive Council of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Honor Society. The twelve-member National Executive Council is the governing body for over 800 chapters of Pi Sigma Alpha, with approximately 300,000 members. We are honored that CSUSB will have such a significant presence in a national organization. 

Our faculty and students see challenges to be met head-on, using the past to make sense of the present, so that we can build a better future through our relationships.

Pi Sigma Alpha names the CSUSB Theta Iota chapter as the best national chapter for the 8th consecutive year. The award is the highest given by Pi Sigma Alpha to campus chapters. It's intended to recognize local chapters that are particularly active in their departments and universities and exhibit high energy and creativity levels to further the honor society's goals. Learn more here.

US News and World Report has ranked our online Criminal Justice MA program #30 for 2019.

CSUSB is now offering a fully online bachelor’s degree in its Social Sciences Degree Completion Program for students interested in advancing their studies and career. The program is flexible in design and broad in application and is also for those pursuing a career in teaching social sciences. For more information on eligibility and program requirements, visit the CSUSB Social Sciences Degree Completion Program Admission Requirements page. 

CSUSB among top 25 colleges with master’s in security studies

Cal State San Bernardino has been listed among the top 25 colleges in the nation with master’s degree programs in security studies, according to Security Degree Hub.

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SBS is honored to announce three of its students won the CSUSB Student Research competition. Congratulations to Xavier Resendez, Holly Timblin, and Edward Zakher! They will showcase their work and represent the university at the 35th annual California State University Student Research Competition on April 30-May 1, to be held virtually by Cal Poly Pomona. Read more here.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Rahmani and Ginny Park for this year’s award as the Outstanding Student Research and Creative Activities Awardees. The award is designed to acknowledge one graduate and undergraduate student who has demonstrated exemplary scholastic work in both their academics and research.

Congratulations to Dr. Maria Santos on receiving the NIMH K23. The NIMH K23 Award is extraordinarily competitive and typically awarded to faculty at an R1 or R2 doctoral institution.Dr. Santos' research focuses on reducing mental health disparities with a specific interest in underserved populations such as Latinos experiencing depression or a first episode of psychosis.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Rahmani and Holly Timblin for winning the CSU-SSRIC Nesvold Award for "Best Graduate Student Paper." Ms. Rahmani and Ms. Timblin presented the winning paper at the 45th Annual Social Science Student Symposium (S4) and received the $500 best paper award. Under the direction of Dr. Jacob Jones, Ms. Rahmani and Ms. Timblin were able to execute their paper on "Cognition, Mood, and Physical Activity: How Keeping an Active Body Keeps an Active Mind in Parkinson's Disease."

NBC Palms Springs recently interviewed Dean Rafik Mohamed, Assistant Professor Marc Robinson (History), and Assistant Professor Zachary Powell (Criminal Justice) to discuss history, race, and policing. They provided context and background about our current national moment of protests and concerns about police misconduct. Watch the recap here. 

North of El Norte provides an important counterpoint by examining a lesser-known migration route: that of contemporary Mexican Migrants to Canada. Paloma Villegas examines the changing landscape of Canadian immigration policy and practice, and the implications for Mexican migrants who lack permanent resident status or citizenship. Learn more here.