Criminal Justice

About the Program

The Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice offers a variety of programs that link coursework in the social sciences to students’ career-related objectives and also prepares students to enter post-graduate programs in a variety of professions such as law, criminal justice, urban planning, public health, social work, and university teaching and research.

The department offers several majors that build upon the discipline of sociology: the systematic study of group behavior that seeks to understand the processes by which people build, maintain, and change their institutional arrangements and relationships with one another in an increasingly complex and global world.

Sociology (Check Sheet)
Sociology-Global Comparative Emphasis (Check Sheet)
Sociology-Criminal Justice Emphasis (Check Sheet)
Broadfield Social Studies - Sociology (with the College of Education)

The Sociology-Criminal Justice Emphasis is an interdisciplinary course of study that is designed to enhance students’ understanding of the nature and causes of criminal and delinquent behavior and the operation of the criminal justice system in the United States.

The department also offers several minors that complement the major or that can be taken in conjunction with other majors.

Anthropology (Check Sheet) (Jo Ellen Burkholder, Coordinator)
Asian Studies (Larry Neuman, Coordinator)
Criminal Justice (Check Sheet) (Marvin Free, Coordinator)
Family and Health Studies (Check Sheet) (Michael Oldani, Coordinator)
Forensic Science (Check Sheet) (Peter Killoran, Coordinator)
Sociology (Check Sheet)

Accreditation

The College of Letters and Sciences is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Career Opportunities

Business Management and Marketing
Consumer Protection
Corrections, Probation and Parole, Group Home Work
Environmental Resource Management
Human Resource Management
International Aid and Development
Journalism
Law Enforcement (local, state, and federal)
Paralegal
Private Investigation and Insurance Claims
Public Administration
Public Health
Publishing and Editing
Social Work
Travel and Tourism
Urban Planning

The Department offers academic advising for students and recommends minors that are most suitable for particular areas of employment.

Faculty

All of the courses offered by the Department are taught by the faculty; there are no teaching assistants. In addition to their commitment to teaching, faculty are actively engaged in research and publication in their areas of specialization. This scholarly activity further enhances students’ classroom experience by focusing on cutting-edge contemporary issues.

Internship Opportunities

The Department has a very active internship program that has been in operation for over three decades. Interested students can be placed in internships in a variety of occupational settings. The internships, which are taken by a majority of majors, enable students to gain valuable employment experience and learn to apply classroom knowledge to solving real-world social problems.

Hands-on Learning

Students are encouraged to engage in undergraduate research in collaboration with or under the supervision of faculty. Students also have the opportunity to present their research at annual meetings of scholarly associations. Some faculty also offer a serving learning component to their courses, and some frequently offer travel-study opportunities that allow students to combine academic learning with experiential learning through faculty-led group travel outside the United States.

Student Organizations

Membership in the Student Sociology and Anthropology Association allows students to share and discuss their academic experiences and career goals with other students. Members also conduct fundraising socials and participate in community service projects. The Department also inducts students into the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, an international sociology honor society.

Honors Program

The Department is currently developing an honors track to enhance the preparation of academically strong students for professional or graduate school.

Suggested Course of Study

For a complete list of courses, see the online course catalog.