Bachelor of Arts - Criminology and Justice Studies

The Criminology and Justice Studies major is offered through the Sociology Department. This major draws on the intellectual traditions of sociology and critical criminology to understand the social correlates of crime and justice. The major provides students with a theoretical and practical foundation for building a lifelong understanding of crime and social justice and the myriad social processes surrounding both. Students majoring in Criminology and Justice Studies will be able to evaluate critically issues of crime and justice and to pursue solutions for positive social change. The degree also provides students with the requisite skills for graduate study and/or entry-level practice in the areas of social justice, administration of justice, and criminal justice systems. Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Justice Studies will be able to: Analyze and interpret the diversity of social experience associated with criminology and social justice issues, especially as they relate to race, class, gender, age, sexual preference, religion and nationality. Assess competing theoretical approaches to criminology and social justice issues of publics with differing and multiple interests; specify structural or institutional sources of these criminology and social justice issues; and propose and assess policies, interventions and/or modes of advocacy that will enact positive change. Locate, analyze, assess, and communicate criminology and social justice scholarship. Articulate the applicability of and demonstrate ability to employ a range of research strategies to particular research questions, theoretical orientations, and social contexts. Articulate the ethical and social justice implications of criminology and justice studies. The degree prepares students to pursue careers in criminal justice and social service agencies, as well as graduate study in such fields as criminology, law, criminal justice, and justice studies. Students with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Justice Studies can pursue a wide variety of job opportunities which include government as well as community service agencies geared toward youth and families, law enforcement and correctional agencies, and non-profit organizations that examine social and legal justice practices both at home and abroad. Students pursuing careers in traditional criminal justice fields such as law enforcement, probation and prisons will have a solid foundation to work and effect social change in these fields. Our program prepares students to be transformative leaders in a variety of locations, from probation and legal advocacy to community activism and policy research. Students should consult with advisors in appropriate areas as they plan their studies.