B.A.,
Criminology
College of Health and Human Services
What You'll Do
The American criminal justice system is charged with providing safety and justice for all citizens. As a Criminology major at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, you’ll receive the academic preparation you’ll need for a career in criminal justice.
At IUP, you’ll take five required Criminology courses and choose two courses from each of three areas: The Criminal Justice System, Critical Issues in Criminology, and Diversity Issues in Criminology. Among the classes from which you can choose are Policing and the Community, Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Law, White-Collar Crime, Violence and Victimology, and Environmental Crime. Criminology majors are also encouraged to complete an internship.
Criminology majors are required to take a minor or concentration. One option is a minor in Information Assurance, which is offered in cooperation with the Department of Computer Science. Criminology courses include Cybersecurity and Loss Prevention and Cybersecurity and the Law.
What You'll Become
The Bachelor of Arts in Criminology prepares you for careers in criminal justice. Nearly every level of government offers jobs in this field. Graduates can also pursue employment in local and state law enforcement, probation, parole, the custody and treatment of adult and youthful offenders, and private, commercial, and industrial security. In addition, many graduates continue on and pursue graduate degrees.
For those interested in law enforcement, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job prospects in local police departments are excellent. Opportunities also exist in government agencies. In 2006, according to the report, 79 percent of police officers and detectives were employed by local governments, while state police agencies employed about 11 percent, and federal agencies employed less than 10 percent. Correctional officers jobs are expected to increase at a faster-than-average rate of 16 percent by 2016. Similar job prospects exist throughout the criminal justice system, and graduates of the Criminology Department are currently employed in a wide variety of these positions.