Major Requirements

Major Requirements

Criminology majors must complete a combination of core criminology courses, criminology electives, and open electives. Core courses equip students with a foundational understanding of crime, social justice issues, victimization, and the criminal legal system. They introduce students classical and contemporary criminological theories and research and analytical techniques. The criminology electives supplement the core courses by offering students an opportunity to explore various topics of interest within the field and obtain practical experience. Open electives provide students the space to explore other academic interests or pursue another major or minor.

Required Courses

In addition, as party of their Liberal Studies requirements, students will register for a Criminology-specific capstone course (CRIM 395) that contextualizes the knowledge and skills learned in the curriculum.

Criminology Elective Requirements

Students must complete five elective courses (20 credit hours), with at least one criminology elective at the 300-level. Students work with their academic and faculty advisors to choose courses that reflect their interests and career goals.

The criminology program offers a range of courses in three areas: criminal justice administration, community justice, and race, class, gender and the criminal legal system. Students may select any five criminology elective courses from these areas, in whatever combination suits their interests. Students may also take special topics courses on contemporary issues within the field. 

Criminal Justice Administration

Criminal Justice Administration courses prepare students for careers in the criminal legal system by developing the leadership and administrative skills needed in the field. Through these courses, students explore, critique, and develop just and humane responses to crime.

Community Justice

Community Justice courses provide students with a strong understanding of the factors that produce crime at the neighborhood level. They explore effective crime prevention approaches that promote collaboration between criminal legal agencies and community partners. Through these courses, students learn how to support and enhance neighborhood informal social controls with the goal of stabilizing communities and reducing crime.

Race, Class, Gender, and the Criminal Legal System

Race, Class, Gender, and the Criminal Legal System courses examine the social, political, and economic factors that impact how crime is defined and responses to it. Through these courses, students learn about the values, ethics, and power dynamics that influence our understandings and administration of justice.

Special Topics

Periodically, the program offers students the opportunity to take courses on new and emerging topics in criminology. Students can take one or more of these courses to fulfill their criminology electives or open electives requirements. 

Other Disciplinary Courses

Students are permitted to complete up to three electives on criminology-related topics from a pre-approved list of courses taught by disciplines such as anthropology, geography, social work, public policy, sociology, or political science. 

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