Program Overview

Introduction to the Criminology Major/Minor Program

The Criminology Major/Minor program is an interdisciplinary field in the social sciences, drawing especially upon the research of sociologists, but with important contributions from the fields of psychology, social work, law, and human rights. This program seeks to promote a critical and comparative understanding of crime and social deviance, how the criminal justice system operates, and the impact on different social groups and communities.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

• provide students with a multidisciplinary framework for understanding crime and its control
• enhance students' critical understanding of crime and social order by exposing them to historical and cross-cultural analyses of the subject
• encourage students to appreciate and care about the causes, solutions, and harms related to the problem of crime and justice locally and globally

Program Structure

The program structure includes:

• Introductory courses
  • Disciplinary: 6 credits (Major), 6 credits (Minor)
  • Pre-requisites: 12 credits (Major), - (Minor)
• Advanced courses
  • Compulsory course: 6 credits (Major), 6 credits (Minor)
  • Core courses: 12 credits (Major), 6 credits (Minor)
  • Disciplinary electives: 30 credits (Major), 18 credits (Minor)
  • Capstone experience: 6 credits (Major), - (Minor)

Courses

The program offers a range of courses, including:

• Disciplinary courses:
  • SOCI1001-1A: Introduction to sociology (1st semester)
  • SOCI1001-2A: Introduction to Sociology (2nd semester)
  • SOCI1004-A: Introduction to sociology: the world’s on fire (and other problems) (A) (2nd semester)
  • SOCI1004-B: Introduction to sociology: the world’s on fire (and other problems) (B) (2nd semester)
• Compulsory courses:
  • SOCI2071: Criminology (2nd semester)
• Core courses:
  • SOCI3046: Sociology of law (1st semester)
  • SOCI3056: Criminal justice: Policy and practice (2nd semester)
  • SOCI3105: Global Criminology (2nd semester)
• Elective courses:
  • SOCI3011: Gender and crime (2nd semester)
  • SOCI3067: Crime and the media (1st semester)
  • SOCI3078: Drug control in comparative perspective (1st semester)
• Capstone:
  • SOCI4096: Capstone project in criminology (1st semester)

Career Options

Earning a Major/Minor in criminology equips students for careers in various sectors, including:

• Police and probation services
• Government and civil service
• Law firms and the criminal justice system
• Security sector
• Victim services and youth justice
• Social and market research
• Charitable, counselling, and voluntary organisations
• Teaching and education

Important Dates

• BSocSc students typically declare their major at the end of their first year of study.
• Students from other faculties should consult their own faculty for information on when to declare a major/minor.