Criminology

Criminology is one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. economy. It employs people to investigate, arrest, prosecute, defend, counsel, monitor and otherwise control persons suspected, accused or convicted of criminal behavior. Criminology is the way society manages deviance, maintains order and keeps society safe. It also insures domestic tranquility and protects individual rights.
 

Criminology Major summary
The top lights of a police car

Criminology Major

The Criminology Major has broad scope and appeal to attract students with diverse interests in criminal justice and other human service professions. It balances theoretical knowledge, including current research, with applied aspects of criminal law, law enforcement, corrections, community-based systems, administration and policy. The program attracts students from sociology, psychology, social work, conservation, natural and wildlife resources, political science, history and education.
 

What Do Criminology Majors and Minors Do?

Criminology professionals are found at all levels of society: international, federal, state, county and local. They are attorneys, judges, police officers, park rangers, corrections officers, security/program/administrative personnel, jailers, probation and parole officers, crime prevention specialists, advocates and treatment providers. They work on the streets, in offices and court rooms, on hospital wards and in treatment centers, in prisons, jails, and juvenile detention facilities, at work camps and recreational programs, in schools, in retail settings. Virtually anywhere that there are people there are also criminology professionals involved in prevention and protection.

Criminology Major - 45 Total Credits

Students must maintain a minimum of a 2.25 G.P.A. to remain eligible for the program

Content Core (15 cr. hrs.)

Research Core (15 cr. hrs.)

  • SOCI 150 / CRIM 150 Foundations for Success in Sociology and Criminology
  • SOCI 200 Sociological Inquiry 3 cr.
  • SOCI 250 Social Statistics 3 cr.
  • SOCI 300 Research Methods 3 cr.
  • SOCI 480 Research Capstone 3 cr.

Systems Core (6 cr. hrs.)

  • CRIM 345 Trends and Issues in Law Enforcement 3 cr.
  • CRIM 431 Criminal Law or CRIM 231 Court Process and Criminal Prosecution 3 cr.
  • CRIM 441 Trends/Issues in Incarc. or CRIM 442 Alternatives to Incarc. 3 cr.

Electives (9 cr. hrs.)
Select from the following. Only 6 credits from CRIM 379

  • SOCI 218 Deviant Behavior 3 cr.
  • CRIM 221 Crime, Justice, and Media 3 cr.
  • CRIM 251 Criminal Justice Management and Ethics 3 cr.
  • CRIM 312 Criminal Groups  3 cr.
  • CRIM 313 White Collar Crime 3 cr.
  • CRIM 314 Violent Behavior 3 cr.
  • CRIM 321 Race and Crime 3 cr.
  • CRIM 341 Restorative Justice  3 cr.
  • CRIM 351 Women, Crime, and Justice 3 cr.
  • POLS 359 CJ Politics and Policy 3 cr.
  • CRIM 361 Social Policy and Drugs 3 cr.
  • CRIM 379 Internship in Crime and Justice 6–12 cr. (must be at least a junior and 18 credits of major complete)
  • CRIM 389 Special Topics 3 cr.
  • CRIM 399 Law Enforcement Certification 6–12 cr. (must take at a technical school and transfer in these credits)
  • CRIM 440 Practitioner Interview Techniques 3 cr.
  • CRIM 490 Readings in Criminology 1–2 cr. (only available Summer or J-Term with faculty consent)
  • CRIM 499 Independent Study in Criminology 1-2 cr. (only available Summer or J-Term with faculty consent)

 

Criminology Minor 24 Total Credits

Required Core Courses (15 cr. hrs.)

Directed Electives (9 cr. hrs.)

  • SOCI 218 Deviant Behavior 3 cr.
  • CRIM 221 Crime Justice and Media 3 cr. 
  • CRIM 231 Court Process and Criminal Prosecution 3 cr.
  • CRIM 251 Criminal Justice Management and Ethics 3 cr. 
  • CRIM 312 Criminal Groups 3 cr.
  • CRIM 313 White Collar Crime 3 cr.
  • CRIM 314 Violent Behavior 3 cr.
  • CRIM 321 Race and Crime 3 cr.
  • CRIM 341 Introduction to Restorative Justice 3 cr.
  • CRIM 345 Trends and Issues in Law Enforcement
  • CRIM 351 Women, Crime, and Justice 3 cr.
  • CRIM 359 Criminal Justice Politics and Policy 3 cr.
  • CRIM 361 Social Policy and Drugs
  • CRIM 379 Internship in Crime and Justice 6-12 cr.
  • CRIM 389 Special Topics in Crime and Justice 3 cr.
  • CRIM 399 Law Enforcement Certification 6–12 cr.
  • CRIM 431 Criminal Law 3 cr.
  • CRIM 440 Practitioner Interview Techniques 3 cr.
  • CRIM 441 Trends and Issues in Incarceration 3 cr.
  • CRIM 442 Alternatives to Incarceration 3 cr.

Crime Analysis Certificate (18 credits)

This certificate offers individuals interested in criminology, criminal justice, data science, and data mapping an opportunity to study important coursework that will lead provide essential knowledge for a career in the field of crime analysis.

Core Courses (12 credits) 

CRIM 130 Crime, Law & Society

CIDS 161 Introduction to Computing or CIDS 215 Data Science for Everyone

CRIM 200 Criminal Behavior or CRIM 201 Theories of Crime

GIS 250 Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences

Statistics (3 credits)

SOCI 250, PSYC 201, MATH 216, 225, 226, 231, or ECON 226

Electives (3 credits)

Select from the following:

GIS 360 Geographic Information Systems: Theory and Methods

SOCI 300 Research Methods

PSYC 216 Research Methods

POLS 300 Research Methods

CIDS 120 Technology and Cyberspace Ethics and Issues

CIDS 239 Introduction to Applied Data Analysis

CIDS 333 Databased Management Systems

CRIM 345 Trends and Issues in Law Enforcement

CRIM 251 Criminal Justice Management and Ethics

Related Links:

Sociology, Criminology and Anthropology

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