Criminology & Criminal Justice

The Interdisciplinary Studies Major (Criminology and Criminal Justice) offers an opportunity for students to learn about the components of the juvenile and criminal justice systems, become acquainted with the issues affecting these systems, apply theoretical concepts to real-world phenomena, interface with criminal justice and social service provider practitioners, and plan an academic and/or applied career in criminology and criminal justice.

Click here to download the curriculum for the Criminology/Criminal Justice Program

Mission
Our mission is to provide a broad liberal arts education for students with academic and applied careers in criminology and criminal justice. A rigorous liberal arts education is essential for careers in law, social services, and criminal justice. For students interested in pursuing advanced degrees, the Interdisciplinary Studies Major (Criminology and Criminal Justice) can serve as the first step on their educational career.

Learning Objectives
• Understand theories of crime, victimization, and criminal justice (i.e., theories about anomie, learning, social control, conflict, labeling, rehabilitation, alternatives to incarceration).

• Think critically about crime, victimization, and criminal justice (i.e., be able to apply, critique, compare, and integrate knowledge in the area).

• Understand how race/ethnicity, gender, wealth, and power are related to crime, victimization, and criminal justice.

• Understand and be able to use basic social science research methods, as well as those most relevant to the study of crime, victimization, and criminal justice.

• Be able to take a cross-cultural perspective when thinking about crime, victimization, and criminal justice (e.g., globalization, international crime and punishment).

• Explore career paths in the criminal justice system, and make career choices that best fit their career interests.

• Learn to make appropriate decisions, think creatively and be able to express themselves in written and oral communication to supervisors and clients.

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