MAJOR IN SOCIOLOGY OR CRIMINOLOGY

Those who major or minor in our department find that sociology and criminology provide them with an excellent foundation for a multitude of career paths, including many of those in criminal justice, community and social services, the government, education, business and industry. A major in sociology or criminology will prepare you for the job market as well as for further study with graduate and professional degrees.

Sociologists study the impact that the social environment has on our behavior throughout our lives. Sociologists believe that people’s actions are strongly influenced by the conditions and situations in which they live, work, and play. Everybody makes decisions, but we recognize and study how social structures and institutions affect and constrain those decisions.

Criminology is the study of crime and delinquency and their prevention and control, and strives to investigate, understand, and solve social problems related to crime, law, punishment, and justice. The major in Criminology is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the social control systems of a society, such as the justice system. Students learn about crime causation, the origins and nature of criminal laws, the structure and operation of criminal justice, and competing ideologies and philosophies of justice. This program will educate students in diverse theories exploring the many social dimensions of crime and the effectiveness (and implications) of current criminal justice policies.