Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Criminology, B.A.


About the Criminology Bachelor’s Program


Criminology is the sociological study of law-making, law-breaking, and social control. Areas of specialization and faculty expertise include criminology and delinquency, intimate relationships and families, race and ethnicity, inequality, gender, aging, social psychology, medical sociology, religion, social research methods, and social theory. A major in criminology is beneficial to students planning careers in a variety of areas, including business, law, law enforcement, government, international development, medicine, and social services. Courses in sociology fulfill core curriculum requirements in the social and behavioral sciences and multicultural core requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences and the university.

A student majoring in sociology must complete 30 hours in sociology or criminology, 24 of which must be upper-division courses (3000 or 4000). It is the student’s responsibility to make sure they reach the 40 upper-division hours that are required for graduation. A maximum of 9 hours of transfer credit may be accepted for the major. For a course to apply to the major or minor, a student must score a C or better.  Additionally, a GPA of 2.0 or higher is required to be admitted to the program. Core course requirements are as follows:

The criminology major requires a total of 30 hours of sociology and/or approved courses in the above related areas.

Communication Literacy Requirement. Communication Literacy courses for the Sociology major include SOC 3391 , SOC 3392 , SOC 3393 , and SOC 3394 .

Recommended Sample Curriculum


First Year


Fall


Total: 13

Spring


Total: 15

Second Year


Fall


  • 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Sophomore Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • ENGL 2000 Level Literature 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Life and Physical Sciences 4 Semester Credit Hours
  • Criminology Elective (2000 level) 3 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 16

Spring


  • ENGL 2000 Level Literature 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Sophomore Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Personal Fitness and Wellness 1 Semester Credit Hour
  • Life and Physical Sciences 4 Semester Credit Hours
  • Sociology Elective (Junior/Senior) 3 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 14

Third Year


Fall


  • 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Creative Arts 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Criminology Elective (Junior/Senior Level) 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Minor 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Personal Fitness and Wellness 1 Semester Credit Hour
  • Oral Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 16

Spring


Total: 15

Fourth Year


Fall


Total: 16

Spring


Total: 15

Total Hours: 120


Sophomore Foreign Language. A student must complete 6 hours at the sophomore level or above in a single language. If 4 or more semesters of high school foreign language are accepted for admission, the student should consult the information preceding the course listing for the foreign language department. A student enrolling in the first-year sequence will have a total requirement of 11-16 hours. A student who enrolls in the second-year sequence will have a 6-hour requirement. See Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirements  for further explanation.