Criminology, Bachelor of Arts
Criminology examines the making of laws, the nature and extent of crime and criminality, and efforts to control crime. The criminology program provides students with a strong foundation in sociological theory and research to foster a comprehensive and contextual understanding of crime and justice in society and the capacity to think critically and creatively about what does and doesn’t work in current crime control efforts. The organizations and institutions developed to respond to crime, including all the sub-components of the criminal justice system, will be examined along with the related concepts of law and justice. Courses focus on the social construction or definitions of crime, the causes of crime and delinquency, and on the origin, nature, and consequences of societal reactions to criminal offending, including practices in both public and private justice agencies. Restorative justice approaches and other community-based alternatives are also studied. Students pursuing careers in traditional criminal justice fields, such as policing, probation & parole, corrections and reintegration, will develop a strong foundation to work and effect social change in these fields. Criminology majors interested in careers in legal advocacy, victim assistance, youth services, program development & evaluation, community activism and social research will develop the skills and knowledge enabling them to become transformational leaders in their profession.
The criminology curriculum emphasizes the importance of research-based knowledge, theoretically informed practice, critical analysis and ethical decision-making. Students are strongly encouraged to engage in experiential learning through courses, including our field experience class with placements in criminal justice, juvenile justice, victim services, and community-based agencies. Criminology majors earning a BS degree can choose the community engagement concentration to build community connections and skills in advocacy and community organization while completing their degree. Core classes in the concentration include a required internship.
The criminology major prepares students for careers in the adult and juvenile justice systems – including law enforcement and criminal investigation, the courts, probation and parole, corrections, non-profit community-based agencies, and victim services – or for graduate and professional programs in criminology, criminal justice, sociology, law, or legal and justice studies.
A criminology major leads to either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.
For a BS degree, CRIM 335, Advanced Methods, is a required course. BA students can choose to take CRIM 335 as an elective in their major.
For a BA degree, criminology majors must complete all the major degree requirements. In addition, students must complete the world language requirement as specified in the Academic Policies section of the University Catalog. This requirement includes completion of the second level of a world language or completion of WL 100 Intro to Comparative Linguistics (3 c.h.) and ANTH 106 Language, Thought & Culture (3 c.h.)/ENG 106 Language, Thought & Culture (3 c.h.), or completion of the second level of American Sign Language.
Student Learning Outcomes
- A comprehension of and the ability to critically assess and compare the major criminological theoretical perspectives.
- An ability to understand, interpret, and apply various research methodologies in the field of criminology.
- An ability to apply criminological theories and methods to substantive issues and in order to understand social problems and inform crime-related social policy.
- An ability to engage in critical thinking about various aspects of social life and organization, including crime and criminal justice institutions.
Specific Program Requirements
- Note: Criminology majors are required to take SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3) (3 c.h.) as one of their general education social science (SS) requirements.
- Completion of 36 credit hours of criminology coursework is required for the major. All criminology majors will work with a faculty advisor who will assist in the selection of courses to complete academic requirements.
- A minimum grade of C is required in all courses counting toward the criminology major.
Program Overview
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 35 |
| Core Requirements | 9 |
| Major Requirements | 27 |
| Open Electives | 25 |
| Minor | 24 |
| Total Credits | 120 |
Specific Core Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRIM 101 | Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
| CRIM 205 | Research Methods | 3 |
| CRIM 310 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Criminology Electives
A total of 27 credit hours of criminology electives are required for the major, including a minimum of 18 credit hours of upper-division electives. Electives accepted toward the major can include a maximum of 6.0 credit hours of anthropology and/or sociology. These courses must be approved by a criminology faculty advisor.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select from the following: | 27 | |
| The Criminal Justice System | 3 | |
| The Forensics of Bones | 3 | |
| Understanding Lived Experiences | 3 | |
| Introduction to Cannabis Studies & Science | 3 | |
| Special Topics | 1-3 | |
| Deviance | 3 | |
| Race and Crime | 3 | |
| Women & Crime | 3 | |
| Delinquency and Juvenile Justice | 3 | |
| Cross-Cultural Perspective on Crime | 3 | |
| Punishment & Corrections | 3 | |
| Immigration | 3 | |
| Advanced Cannabis Studies | 3 | |
| Crime in Film | 3 | |
| Crime & Society in Science Fiction | 3 | |
| Crime, Law, & Justice Studies | 3 | |
| Law & Society | 3 | |
| Family Violence | 3 | |
| Victimology | 3 | |
| Elite Crime & Deviance | 3 | |
| Police and Society | 3 | |
| Patterns of Homicide | 3 | |
| Forensic Criminology | 3 | |
| Crime, Drugs, & Social Policy | 3 | |
| Terrorism and Mass Murder | 3 | |
| Gangs in Contemporary America | 3 | |
| Collective Violence and Rioting | 3 | |
| Inside Out: Issues in Crime & Justice | 3 | |
| Hate Crimes | 3 | |
| Research (CREDITS VARY) | 1-3 | |
| Field Experience (CREDITS VARY) | 1-12 | |
| Independent Study (CREDITS VARY) | 1-3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Planning Sheet
Disclaimer: The Planning Sheet is designed as a guide for student's planning their course selections. The information on this page provides only a suggested schedule. Actual course selections should be made with the advice and consent of an academic advisor. While accurately portraying the information contained in the college catalog, this form is not considered a legal substitute for that document. Students should become familiar with the catalog in effect at the time in which they entered the institution.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENG 101 | Rhetoric & Writing I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| General Education Recommended: WL 100 or 101, Humanities, & Science w/lab (ANTH 101 or BIOL) | 10 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CRIM 101 | Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Rhetoric & Writing II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| General Education Recommended: ANTH 106 or WL 102, Math, & Science w/Lab (CHEM 160 or other) | 10 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CRIM 205 | Research Methods | 3 |
| CRIM 310 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| General Education Recommended: History & Humanities or Social Science | 6 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Major Electives | 9 | |
| Open Electives 3 credits must be outside the major | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Major Electives Upper division CRIM courses | 6 | |
| Open Electives 3 credits must be outside the major | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Major Electives Upper division CRIM courses | 6 | |
| Open Electives 3 credits must be outside the major | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Major Elective Upper division CRIM course | 3 | |
| Open Electives 9 credits must be upper division, 3 credits must be outside the major | 11 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Major Elective Upper division CRIM course | 3 | |
| Open Electives 7 credits must be upper division, 3 must be outside the major | 11 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |