The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) (Criminology Major) is one of the programs offered in the Department of Sociology. First year students who wish to pursue the Criminology Major must take Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1200). This six credit-hour course introduces the student to the discipline, its perspective, its basic concepts and principles, its methods of analysis, and its major sub-fields. This course is a prerequisite for all other Sociology and Criminology courses, and students must complete it with a minimum grade of C.
Criminology majors take 24 credit-hours beyond Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1200).
Required courses: Criminology (SOC 2510) with a minimum grade of C is a prerequisite to all other criminology courses (with the exception of SOC3860). Additionally, Criminal Justice and Corrections (SOC 2610) and Research Methods (SOC 2290) are required courses in this program.
Additional Courses: Another twelve credit-hours are to be selected from among a variety of third year courses (listed below). While these courses have been organized into clusters or themes, students are free to choose the ones that interest them.
Law and Society Cluster
Sociologists interested in exploring the law-society relation focus on questions pertaining to the extent to which law reproduces social inequalities that prevail in the wider society and whether law holds the potential to alleviate those inequalities. Addressing such questions requires attention to the rich history of theoretical work in the discipline, as well as the broad reach of law that extends beyond the criminal justice system.
Students choosing this area of specialization are typically interested in furthering their studies at the graduate level or law school in order to pursue a career in academia or the legal profession. Those going on to complete a Master’s degree also improve their chances of gaining employment in the private and public sectors as researchers and policy analysts.
Recommended courses:
SOC 3310 Theorizing Law, Crime and Social Justice
SOC 3400 Policing and Crime Prevention
SOC 3700 Sociology of Law
SOC 3740 Selected Topics in Criminology (subject matter varies by instructor)
SOC 3790 Women, Crime and Social Justice
SOC 3850 Restorative Justice
SOC 3860 Genocide, Crime & Society
The Criminal Justice System Cluster
What groups in society are most likely to come under the scrutiny of the criminal justice system? How do the police, courts, and prisons manage and process offenders? What alternative strategies would work to reduce the incidence of crime in our society?
Students choosing this area of specialization are typically interested in a career in the criminal justice system (as police, probation, correctional or parole officers) or working with community-based agencies. Many go on to pursue a graduate degree to improve their chances of gaining employment in these sectors.
Recommended courses:
SOC 3400 Policing and Crime Prevention
SOC 3710 Criminal Careers
SOC 3720 Criminal Law & Its Procedure
SOC 3740 Selected Topics in Criminology (subject matter varies by instructor)
SOC 3790 Women, Crime and Social Justice
SOC 3830 Youth, Crime and Society
SOC 3850 Restorative Justice
SOC 3880 Global Criminology and Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Research and Policy Cluster
How successful are the strategies adopted to respond to issues of crime and safety in our communities? What can we learn from the experience of other cultures and societies? How do we go about conducting meaningful research and formulating effective policies?
Students choosing this area of specialization are typically interested in pursuing a career in government or the private sector as a researcher or policy analyst. Many go on to pursue a graduate degree to improve their chances of gaining employment in these sectors.
Recommended courses:
SOC 3100 Practicum in Criminological/Sociological Research (6 cr hrs)
SOC 3400 Policing and Crime Prevention
SOC 3740 Selected Topics in Criminology (subject matter varies by instructor)
SOC 3750 Institutional Responses to Violence
SOC 3830 Youth, Crime and Society
SOC 3880 Global Criminology and Criminal Justice