Program Overview

Overview

The major in Criminology provides a comprehensive understanding of crime and the criminal justice system. The major prepares students to assume roles of leadership in this critical area of modern society. Courses are designed to review theory, research, and applications of knowledge regarding delinquency and crime, as well as to understand the manner in which offenders are processed. Students learn about the nature and extent of crime, different types of crime and theories to explain crime. In addition, detailed analyses are made of the functions of the law, police, courts, and correctional systems and the ways in which these are linked to broader aspects of society.

Curriculum Requirements

• Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours
  • Required Courses
    • SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3
    • Select one of the following: | 3
      • SOC 210 | Introduction to Social Research
      • EPS 452 | Community Program Development and Evaluation (for students who are also enrolled in the School of Education)
      • GEG 306 | Geographic Research Methods
    • Select one of the following options: | 3-4
      • SOC 211 & SOC 212 | Quantitative Methods for Sociologists and Quantitative Methods Lab (Or equivalent 3-credit statistics course with Dept approval)
      • EPS 351 | Intro to Statistics for the Social, Behavioral, and Educational Sciences (for students who have a major or minor in the School of Education)
      • PSY 291 | Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics (for Psychology majors or minors who also are majoring in Criminology)
      • PSY 292 | Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics Section B (for Psychology majors or minors who also are majoring in Criminology)
    • SOC 271 | Criminal Justice | 3
    • or SOC 370 | Juvenile Delinquency
    • SOC 371 | Criminology | 3
    • SOC 470 | Theories of Deviant Behavior | 3
  • Departmental Electives | 12
  • General Education Requirements
    • Written Communication Skills:
      • WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3
      • WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3
      • or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture
    • Quantitative Skills:
      • MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3
    • Areas of Knowledge:
      • Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9
      • People & Society Cognate (fulfilled through the major)
      • STEM Cognate | 9
  • Additional Required Courses
    • Additional Major/Minor | 15-30
    • Science Course | 3
    • Foreign Language | 3
    • Electives | 26-42
  • Total Credit Hours | 120

Suggested Plan of Study

• Plan of Study Grid Freshman Year
  • Fall
    • MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3
    • Language (first course) | 3
    • Arts and Humanities Cognate (first course) | 3
    • SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3
    • WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3
  • Spring
    • Language (second course) | 3
    • STEM Cognate (first course) | 3
    • SOC 210 | Introduction to Social Research | 3
    • WRS 106 or ENG 106 | First-Year Writing II or Writing About Literature and Culture | 3
    • Elective | 3
• Sophomore Year
  • Fall
    • SOC 211 & SOC 212 | Quantitative Methods for Sociologists and Quantitative Methods Lab | 4
    • Arts and Humanities Cognate (second course) | 3
    • Minor (first course) | 3
    • Elective | 3
    • Elective | 3
  • Spring
    • SOC 271 or SOC 370 | Criminal Justice or Juvenile Delinquency | 3
    • Minor (second course) | 3
    • STEM Cognate (second course) | 3
    • Elective | 3
    • Elective | 3
• Junior Year
  • Fall
    • SOC 371 | Criminology | 3
    • Minor (third course) | 3
    • STEM Cognate (third course) | 3
    • Elective | 3
    • Elective | 3
  • Spring
    • Minor (fourth course) | 3
    • Natural Science Course | 3
    • Elective | 3
    • Elective | 3
    • Elective | 3
• Senior Year
  • Fall
    • SOC 470 | Theories of Deviant Behavior | 3
    • Minor (fifth course)
    • Arts and Humanities Cognate (third course) | 3
    • Elective | 3
    • Elective | 3
    • Elective | 3
  • Spring
    • Elective | 3
    • Elective | 3
    • Elective | 3
    • Elective | 3
    • Elective | 3
• Total Credit Hours | 121

Goals

The undergraduate program in Criminology has as its main objectives to provide students with:

• A strong component of a social science education, training in analytical and statistical skills that are highly valued by potential employers.
• A valuable undergraduate preparation for pursuing careers in such fields as law in society, in the local and state criminal justice systems (e.g., juvenile probation officer, pretrial services officer, crime analyst for criminal justice agencies), or in federal agencies (e.g., DEA).
• An excellent and comprehensive training program for students wishing to pursue graduate study in criminology, law school, criminal justice, sociology, or other social and behavioral sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of Criminology, and the basic criminological theoretical concepts and knowledge base.
• Students will develop and demonstrate critical thinking skills through the comprehension, analysis, and critique of criminological theories.
• Students will demonstrate an ability to understand and critique criminological research methodology. Students will have the ability to design and critique valid research studies and to identify reliable findings from such studies.