Criminology

Make a Difference in the Criminal Justice System and Communities

A major in criminology gives you the tools to understand and improve the world around you and the systems that shape safety, justice, and community well-being. You’ll explore why crime occurs, how it impacts different communities, and how communities and criminal legal agencies come together for public safety.

Through hands-on coursework, you’ll learn how to collect and analyze data, interpret trends, and develop evidence-based policy recommendations that support victims, justice impacted populations, and communities. You’ll examine the full landscape of the criminal justice system, from law enforcement and courts to corrections, as well as community-based agencies that work in this space. Courses will challenge you to think critically about structural inequities, patterns in victimization, persistent and emerging crime trends, and system responses. The curriculum will help you develop the analytical, research, and organizational skills that professionals rely on to bring about real-world impact.

Our faculty is a blend of accomplished scholars and seasoned practitioners. They bring their professional and research experience from law enforcement, courts, corrections, community agencies, research, and policy directly into the classroom. Their active engagement with local stakeholders ensures your learning is grounded in real issues, real people, and real opportunities to make a difference.

A criminology degree also provides a strong foundation for graduate study in law, social work, sociology, public policy, public health, and other related fields. Students looking to accelerate their path can choose from various 3+2 BA/MA programs in addition to the 3+3 BA/JD program, which allows high achieving first-year students to be admitted simultaneously to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (LAS) and the College of Law (LAW). You’ll complete three years in LAS and your final three years in LAW—earning both degrees on an expedited timeline.