Criminology
Women's College and College of Adult Undergraduate Studies
Overview
Major
Minor
Four-Year Plan
Course Descriptions
Mischelle L. Van Brakle, J.D., Ph.D., Chair
The criminology program of the School of Arts and Sciences offers a major and minor in criminology to students in the Women’s College and the College of Adult Undergraduate Studies. The program provides students an opportunity to pursue studies leading to graduate school or a career in the administration of justice. The program is structured around the study of both crime and deviance to ground students with an understanding of criminal behavior and the official reactions to such behavior. To analyze criminal behavior and its motivation, the program draws on social science disciplines including sociology and psychology as well as applied field experiences. Criminology majors gain the skills and breadth of knowledge that enable them to explain a wide range of criminal behavior. Criminology as a discipline is broader than the study of criminal justice, which focuses on understanding government responses to crime from a rational choice perspective.
A student majoring in criminology participates in a practicum or field experience with a criminal justice or social service agency that gives the student an opportunity to combine the theory and the practice of criminology and criminal justice. The field experience is a capstone course that includes a series of seminars directed by a faculty member designed to help students integrate the field experience with their classroom learning, as well as to prepare students for successful careers upon graduation.
The criminology and social deviance program also offers a minor in criminology. The criminology minor provides students a basic understanding of criminal behavior and the criminal justice response in the context of today's society. With this minor, graduates will be prepared to succeed in an occupation involving interaction with people, including policy making, community action, social research and social services.
Students with a 3.2 grade point average overall and a 3.2 grade point average in their major courses may become active members of Alpha Phi Sigma, the national honor society in criminal justice.
Criminology courses that fulfill the general education requirement in gender studies: CRM-325.
All courses credited toward the criminology major or minor must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
Programs of Study
Required Courses for a Major in Criminology and Social Deviance (Credits)
SOC-101 Introductory Sociology (3)
CRM-101 Introduction to Criminology (3)
SOC-209 Race, Class and Gender (3)
CRM-360 Research Methods and Crime Analysis (4)
CRM-203 Theories of Crime and Social Deviance (3)
CRM-461 Practicum (4)
One course from the following
CRM-411 Advanced Topics (3)
CRM-463 Independent Research (3)
Six courses from the following, at least 3 at the 300 level
CRM-130 Criminology at the Movies (3)
CRM-205 Policing and Society (3)
CRM-220 Criminal Law and Procedure (3)
CRM-230 Terrorism & Homeland Security (3)
CRM-240 Corrections in America (3)
CRM-310 The Criminal Justice System (3)
CRM-311 Special Topics in Criminology (3)
CRM-315 Victims of Crime (3)
CRM-320 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
CRM-325 Violence Against Women (3)
SOC-222 Social Problems or SOC-371 Honors: Social Problems (3)
SOC-301 Social Justice (3)
SOC-340 Deviance and Social Control (3)
Required Courses for a Minor in Criminology
SOC-101 Introductory Sociology (3)
CRM-101 Introduction to Criminology (3)
CRM-360 Research Methods and Crime Analysis (4)
CRM-203 Theories of Crime and Social Deviance (3)
Two courses from the following
CRM-130 Criminology at the Movies (3)
SOC-222 Social Problems or SOC-371 Honors: Social Problems (3)
CRM-230 Terrorism & Homeland Security (3)
CRM-240 Corrections in America (3)
SOC-301 Social Justice (3)
CRM-310 The Criminal Justice System (3)
CRM-311 Topics in Criminology (3)
CRM-315 Victims of Crime (3)
CRM-320 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
SOC-315 Sociology of Law (3)
SOC-340 Deviance and Social Control (3)
Senior Experience: (choose one):
CRM-411 Advanced Topics (3)
CRM-461 Practicum I (4)
CRM-463 Independent Research (3)
Four-Year Plan
Sample program of study for full-time criminology and social deviance majors. Students should consult with the program coordinator for their academic plans as many courses are offered on alternating years.
Fall | Spring | ||
---|---|---|---|
First year | |||
ENG 101 College Writing | 4 | CRM-101 Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
SOC-101 Introduction to Sociology | 3 | MAT-215 Basic Statistics | 3 |
IDS-100 Perspectives on Education | 3 | General Education/Electives | 9 |
General Education/Electives | 6 | [15 credits] | |
[16 credits] | |||
Second year | |||
CRM-360 Research Methods | 4 | CRM-203 Theories of Crime and Social Deviance | 3 |
SOC-209 Race, Class, Gender | 3 | Criminology Elective | 3 |
General Education/Electives | 9 | General Education/Electives | 9 |
[16 credits] | [15 credits] | ||
Third year | |||
Criminology electives | 6 | Criminology electives | 6 |
General Education/Electives | 9 | General Education/Electives | 9 |
[15 credits] | [15 credits] | ||
Fourth year | |||
CRM-461 Practicum | 4 | Departmental Senior Elective | 3 |
General Education/Electives | 6 | General Education/Electives | 9 |
Criminology elective | 3 | [12 credits] | |
[13 credits] |
Note: Since criminology is part of the discipline of sociology and incorporates elements of the discipline of psychology, some courses are listed under the designation SOC. See the sociology catalog section for a listing of these courses. See also the psychology department section for a listing of PSY courses.
Courses
CRM-101 Introduction to Criminology
CRM-105 Applied Defensive Techniques in Criminology
CRM-130 Criminology At the Movies
CRM-203 Theories of Crime and Social Deviance
CRM-205 Policing and Society
CRM-220 Criminal Law and Procedure
CRM-230 Terrorism and Homeland Security
CRM-240 Corrections in America
CRM-310 The Criminal Justice System
CRM-311 Topics in Criminology
CRM-315 Victims of Crime
CRM-320 Juvenile Delinquency
CRM-325 Violence Against Women
CRM-360 Research Methods and Crime Analysis
CRM-411 Topics in Criminology
Provides a context for understanding the broad focus of the discipline of criminology. As an upper-level course in the criminology major, reviews key criminological and sociological writings from an advanced, informed perspective. The student uses these scholarly resources to develop a paper that synthesizes her particular knowledge of criminological theory, research and applications. Students also develop their abilities to analyze their personal experiences from a criminological perspective and explore options for continued study or employment related to their sociological training. Topics will vary, though recent topics have included: Corporate Crime, Courts and Sentencing, Social Inequality in the Criminal Justice System, and Drugs and Society. Prerequisite: PSY-210 or CRM360, CRM-203 or SOC-350, and junior/senior status.
CRM-461 Criminology Practicum I
Integrates field experience with an academic seminar. Students are required to find a placement (internship) in social service, criminal justice or social action agencies consistent with their abilities and interests. This placement must be approved by the student's advisor and practicum coordinator prior to beginning the course. Students must complete a minimum of 190 field hours during the semester. Prerequisites: PSY-210 or CRM-360, and conference with the coordinator. Limited to majors of at least junior status. Not open to liberal arts majors. [4 credits]
CRM-463 Independent Study in Criminology
Provides a student with an opportunity to pursue a scholarly project under the direction of a faculty member. Work may include directed readings, literature review, clinical study, or data collection and analysis. Prerequisites: PSY-210 or CRM-360 and acceptance for supervision by a department faculty member. [ 3 credits ]