Program Overview

Introduction to the Criminology Major

The Criminology major at Virginia Tech is a branch of sociology that provides a broad academic education and research skills to prepare students for graduate school, law school, and analytical careers. Criminologists are qualified to enter the same fields as criminal justice majors, and many do pursue jobs in law enforcement. However, they also graduate with the skills necessary for a broader range of careers, such as researchers, analysts, legal assistants, victims-rights advocates, mediation experts, conflict management specialists, rehabilitation workers, and governmental researchers.

Why Study Criminology at Virginia Tech?

The Criminology major at Virginia Tech prepares students for a career as a federal law enforcement agent or analyst, a police officer, a corrections officer, a probation and parole official, a victim services counselor, or a social justice activist. The major also provides a strong foundation for graduate study in criminology, criminal justice, and law. With classes such as Social Problems, Juvenile Delinquency, Sociological Theory, Cybercriminology, Women and Crime, and a plethora of others, students are able to learn about the experiences people have and how that affects their decision-making, as well as reasons for deviant behavior.

Careers and Further Study

What can you do with a major in Criminology? Some potential careers include:

• Police officer
• U.S. Marshal
• Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agent
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent
• Probation/parole officer
• Juvenile probation officer
• Victim services specialist
• Mediation specialist
• Attorney
• Corrections counselor
• Private security/background investigation
• FBI analyst

Criminology vs. Criminal Justice

Criminology is a branch of sociology that provides a broad academic education and research skills to prepare students for graduate school, law school, and analytical careers. Criminal justice, on the other hand, is a professional degree that specifically focuses on methods for detecting crime, detaining criminals, and criminal prosecution and punishment. It's designed to prepare students for entering a career in the criminal justice system, such as law enforcement, the courts, and corrections.

Beyond the Classroom

Experiential learning opportunities are available through internships, research, and student organizations. Internships are a popular way to gain experience in the field, and students often intern at a residential facility for juvenile delinquents or with the Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, or Christiansburg police departments. Other local agencies that host students in internships include law offices, free clinics, the Raft Crisis Hotline, the Head Start program, and the YMCA.

Curriculum

The Criminology major requires the following courses:

• Introductory Sociology
• Social Inequality
• Sociological Theory
• Social Research Methods
• Senior Seminar
• Statistics for the Social Sciences The program also gives students the opportunity to build knowledge in another area by pursuing a minor, double major, or cognate.

Campus Life

Virginia Tech offers a range of campus life opportunities, including a virtual tour, campus life events, and student organizations. Students can explore the university through either a guided or self-guided virtual tour and discover all that Virginia Tech has to offer inside and outside of the classroom.

Related Programs

Related programs include:

• Sociology major
• Africana Studies minor
• American Indian Studies minor
• Women's and Gender Studies minor

Alumni Profiles

Some notable alumni of the Criminology program include:

• Chaya Iyengar, '14, who works as a marketing program manager for the U.S. Department of Defense
• Danielle Hardy, '12, who works for Goodwill Industries International in southwest Pennsylvania as a community donations specialist
• Alexis Massie, '16, who completed internships with Juvenile Probation, VT Police, Victim and Witness Assistance, and the US Marshal Service and now works with the federal government
• Maddison Berlinghoff, '20, who participated in several research projects and completed internships with local police departments and is now pursuing a master’s degree in Political Science
• Hannah Mullen-Fox, '21, who completed an internship at a law firm and is now enrolled at Elon Law
• Amber Mundy, ’21, who participated in many projects, including serving as a Juneteenth Research Scholar, and is now pursuing a master’s degree in Forensic Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University
• Erin Cummings, '25, who was a member of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and is now a paralegal at McGuireWoods LLP in Richmond, Virginia
• Addison Midkiff, ‘25, who joined undergraduate research and was heavily involved in her Greek organization and the Virginia Tech Police Department and is now pursuing a Master of Science in Social Science at Clemson University

Department of Sociology

The Department of Sociology at Virginia Tech is committed to providing students with a broad academic education and research skills to prepare them for graduate school, law school, and analytical careers. The department offers a range of courses and programs, including the Criminology major, and is dedicated to helping students achieve their academic and professional goals.