Sociology and Criminology

The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers the B.A. and B.S. degree with a major in sociology and the B.A. and B.S. Degree with a major in Criminology. Sociology is the study of the origins, organizations, institutions and structure of human society and causal effects of human behavior in collective social action. Baccalaureate graduates in sociology find employment in a wide range of careers in such fields as community development, criminal justice, health services, policy development, public relations, and social services. Criminology is the study of criminal behavior and the institutions and structures of society that shape crime and its effects. Baccalaureate graduates in criminology find employment in such fields as law, policy development, law enforcement, and corrections.

The department offers a minor in sociology, which should be of interest to students majoring in other programs such as psychology, anthropology, family and consumer sciences, history, or philosophy.

The department also offers a minor in criminology, which should be of interest to students majoring in other programs such as psychology, anthropology, and political science.

A departmental honors program is available for outstanding students. Either the B.A. or B.S. degree can be used to gain licensure to teach social sciences at the junior and senior high school levels.

Several of the department’s courses can be used by non-majors toward fulfilling the “society and culture” requirement in the university’s general education program. Several of its courses are also recommended or required for majors in other programs, especially those in the College of Business and in the College of Health and Human Sciences. The department also participates in international study programs, in the University Honors Program, and in the interdisciplinary minors in black studies, environmental studies, gerontology, international studies, Latino/Latin American studies, nonprofit and NGO studies, Southeast Asian studies, and women’s and gender studies.