The program in Criminology has a five-fold objective:
- The education of students for employment and leadership in the expanding field of criminology and criminal justice
- The education of presently employed criminal justice personal who recognize a need for furthering their education
- The instruction of students who wish to acquire an understanding of the process of criminal justice as a cultural part of their higher education
- The instruction of students who wish to prepare for graduate study and/or research in criminology
- A curriculum that provides an excellent foundation for students preparing for a career in law
Nearly every level of government offers opportunities for professional careers in criminology. Employment opportunities normally exist in more than fifty federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret service; U.S. Postal Inspectors; Drug Enforcement Agency; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; National Security Agency; U.S. marshals; the Internal Revenue Service; and military investigative branches.
Graduates will find employment in local and state law enforcement, probation, parole, and the custody and treatment of adult and youthful offenders. There are also a wide variety of opportunities in the expanding fields of private, commercial, and industrial security. In addition, many governmental agencies have specialized units dealing with juveniles, community relations, training, education, and research.
Career opportunities are available also in research and teaching at the college and university levels and in research divisions of various agencies.
Students who wish to change their major to Criminology or Pre-law Criminology must have an overall QPA f 2.0 to declare the major or minor and to be formally accepted by the department.
Liberal Studies
Liberal Studies, 51–53 credits — As outlined in the Liberal Studies section with the following specifications:
Mathematics: MATH 217
Natural Sciences: CHEM 111-112 or BIOL 103–104 recommended
Social Science: CRIM 101
Liberal Studies Elective: No course with CRIM prefix; six credits required
Major
39 credits
Required courses
CRIM 102 Survey of Criminology, 3 credits
CRIM 306 Research Methods, 3 credits
CRIM 400 /W/ Theoretical Criminology, 3 credits
CRIM 401 Contemporary Issues in Criminology, 3 credits
CRIM 403 Dilemmas in Criminology and Criminal Justice, 3 credits
Controlled electives
These electives cover the following areas: (A) the Criminal Justice System, (B) Critical Issues in Criminology, and (C) Diversity Issues in Criminology. A minimum of two courses must be chosen from each group.
Group A: The Criminal Justice System, 6 credits
CRIM 205 Law Enforcement and the Community, 3 credits
CRIM 215 Survey of Courts and the Criminal Justice System, 3 credits
CRIM 225 Survey of Corrections, 3 credits
CRIM 235 Survey of Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Law, 3 credits
CRIM 255 Law, Social Control, and Society, 3 credits
Group B: Critical Issues in Criminology, 6 credits
CRIM 354 White Collar Crime, 3 credits
CRIM 374 Environmental Crime and Justice, 3 credits
CRIM 384 Violence and Victimology, 3 credits
CRIM 394 Crime and Delinquency Prevention, 3 credits
Group C: Diversity Issues in Criminology, 6 credits
CRIM 410 Race, Ethnicity, Social Structure, and Crime, 3 credits
CRIM 450 Women and Crime, 3 credits
CRIM 470 Comparative Study of Justice, 3 credits
Other CRIM electives beyond CRIM 101, 6 credits
No more than six credits of CRIM 493 may be applied to 39 credit minimum in major.
Other Requirements, 15–21 credits:
Minor/Concentration
Free Electives, 1–15 credits
Total Degree Requirements: 120 credits
