Why Criminology?
Criminology is an interdisciplinary field in behavioral and social sciences and the humanities. The study of criminology is informed by the disciplines of sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, statistics, and social service. This major is designed for students interested in studying crime and criminal behavior and working in criminal justice or public service or attending graduate or professional schools will find this major of interest.
The Perspective
Criminology, as an interdisciplinary major, builds on the strengths of the social sciences and humanities, and ties together the Department’s areas of interest, including qualitative and quantitative methods of research (mixed methods approaches), economics, gender, class, critical race theory, social movements, crime, terrorism, social service, anthropology, and geography. The major focuses on contemporary empirical issues like policing, mass incarceration, cybercrime, drugs, and comparative criminal justice.
Program Objectives
The criminology program objectives are threefold:
Criminal Etiology
Students in the degree program will learn criminological theoretical foundations to objectively determine root causes of criminal and socially deviant behavior in terms of extraneous factors, including behavioral, social, sociological, cultural, and economic.
Penology
Students will develop evidence-based, effective, and humane/socially just means for analyzing deviant behavior and understanding culturally appropriate responses to crime and criminality.
Sociology of Law
Students will examine how laws are made and enforced.