Program Description

Criminology studies the presence and consequences of crime in society. The criminology program offers both the major and the minor for undergraduate students interested in this important and exciting field. It is interdisciplinary and strongly based in  the liberal arts. It offers a broad array of courses from the social sciences, physical sciences, and humanities in disciplines such as sociology, psychology, philosophy, political science, forensics and linguistics. The program is designed to provide students with sound methodological and analytic skills, leading to a critical understanding of crime, the operation of the criminal justice system, and the interrelationships among  social, political, economic, legal, behavioral, and ethical factors bearing on the sources of and societal responses to criminal activity. 

Major Requirements

The major in criminology requires the completion of a minimum of 32 s.h. of course work including:

1) Required Courses - Semester Hours: 14

• CRM 001 - (IS) Introduction to Criminology Semester Hours: 3

• or

• SOC 007 - (BH) Crime and Delinquency Semester Hours: 3
• CRM 002 - (IS) Theoretical Perspectives on Crime and Justice Semester Hours: 3
• SOC 180 - Statistics in Sociology Semester Hours: 4

• or

• PSY 040 - Statistics Semester Hours: 4
• SOC 181 - Research Methods in Sociology Semester Hours: 4

2) Three s.h. in each of the following categories - Total semester hours: 6

3) Electives, chosen under advisement - Total Semester Hours: 12

Courses taken from among those listed under categories I and II above that are beyond the required minimum of 3 s.h. may count as electives. The following courses can also be taken as criminology electives:

• FOR 100 - Survey in Forensic Science Semester Hours: 3
• FOR 101 - Crime Scene Investigation Methods Semester Hours: 3
• FOR 190 - Legal Issues Pertaining to Scientific Evidence Semester Hours: 3
• PSC 126 - (BH) Politics of Public Administration Semester Hours: 3
• SOC 009 - (BH) Youth, Crisis, and American Culture Semester Hours: 3
• SOC 117 - (BH) Sociology of Terrorism Semester Hours: 3
• SOC 153 - (BH) Sociology of Human Rights Semester Hours: 3

Note:

No more than 8 s.h. can be utilized to satisfy both the major requirements in criminology and those for any other major or minor.

See Also: Complete B.A. Requirements

B.A. Requirements  in HCLAS.