Criminology, BA

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers students seeking careers in criminology or criminal justice a broad liberal arts education that encourages them to think critically about crime and justice issues and prepares them for careers in the criminal justice system. The degree programs offered are the bachelor of arts program in criminology and the bachelor of arts program in criminology with a Pre-Law Specialization. Additionally, students may minor in criminology. The department also offers graduate work at the master’s level.

The program in criminology and criminal justice has a fivefold objective:

The education of students for employment and leadership in the expanding field of criminology and criminal justice.
The education of presently employed criminal justice personnel, who recognize a need for furthering their education.
The instruction of students who wish to acquire an understanding of the processes of criminal justice as a cultural part of their higher education.
The instruction of students who wish to prepare for graduate study and/or research in criminology.
A curriculum that provides an excellent foundation for students preparing for a career in law.

Nearly every level of government offers opportunities for professional careers in criminology and criminal justice. For example, employment opportunities normally exist in more than 50 federal agencies (e.g., Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Treasury, Federal Bureau of Prisons). Graduates also will find employment in local and state organizations including law enforcement (e.g., Pennsylvania State Police, various municipal police departments) and correctional agencies (e.g., probation, parole, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections). Additionally, there are a wide variety of opportunities in the expanding fields of private, commercial, and industrial security, including cybersecurity. Furthermore, many governmental agencies have specialized units dealing with juveniles, community relations, training, education, and research. Career opportunities also are available in research and teaching at the college level and in research divisions of various agencies.

Crimson Core: 40-42cr

As outlined in the Crimson Core Requirements with the following specifications:

Quantitative Reasoning and Data Analysis: 3cr

MATH 117 - Probability and Statistics Credits: 3

Major: 42cr

Required Courses: 21cr

CRIM 101 - Crime and Justice Systems Credits: 3
CRIM 102 - Survey of Criminology Credits: 3
CRIM 255 - Law, Social Control, and Society Credits: 3
CRIM 306 - Criminological Research Methods Credits: 3
CRIM 400 - Theoretical Criminology Credits: 3
CRIM 403 - Dilemmas in Criminology and Criminal Justice Credits: 3
CRIM 410 - Race, Ethnicity, Social Structure, and Crime Credits: 3

CRIM electives (1) (2): 21cr

CRIM 205 - Policing and the Community Credits: 3
CRIM 210 - Criminal Law Credits: 3
CRIM 215 - Survey of Courts and the Criminal Justice System Credits: 3
CRIM 225 - Survey of Corrections Credits: 3
CRIM 235 - Survey of Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Law Credits: 3
CRIM 321 - Cybersecurity and Loss Prevention Credits: 3
CRIM 323 - Cybersecurity and the Law Credits: 3
CRIM 344 - Terrorism Credits: 3
CRIM 354 - White-Collar Crime Credits: 3
CRIM 374 - Environmental Crime and Justice Credits: 3
CRIM 384 - Violence and Victimology Credits: 3
CRIM 391 - Substance Use and Abuse in Criminal Justice Credits: 3
CRIM 394 - Crime and Delinquency Prevention Credits: 3
CRIM 420 - Media Portrayal of Crime Credits: 3
CRIM 450 - Women and Crime Credits: 3
CRIM 470 - Comparative Study of Justice Credits: 3
CRIM 493 - Internship Credits: 3-12

Pre-Law Specialization: (21cr)

No specialization course can count as a Crimson Core courses.

Business courses

One course from this area.

ACCT 201 - Accounting Principles I Credits: 3
ACCT 202 - Accounting Principles II Credits: 3

Economics courses

One course from this area.

ECON 121 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3
ECON 122 - Principles of Microeconomics Credits: 3

English courses

One course from this area.

ENGL 212 - American Literature: Beginnings to 1900 Credits: 3
ENGL 227 - Introduction to Legal Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 265 - Law and Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 310 - Public Speaking Credits: 3
ENGL 321 - Persuasive Speech and Writing Credits: 3

History courses

One course from this area.

HIST 320 - History of England to 1688 Credits: 3
HIST 342 - The Early Republic Credits: 3
HIST 346 - Recent United States History Credits: 3
HIST 475 - History of American Constitutionalism Credits: 3

Philosophy courses

One course from this area.

PHIL 101 - Critical Thinking Credits: 3
PHIL 122 - Contemporary Moral Issues Credits: 3
PHIL 130 - Introduction to Biomedical Ethics Credits: 3
PHIL 221 - Symbolic Logic I Credits: 3
PHIL 270 - Ethics and the Environment Credits: 3
PHIL 320 - Ethical Theory Credits: 3
PHIL 450 - Philosophy of Law Credits: 3

Political Science courses

One course from this area.

POLI 358 - Judicial Process Credits: 3
POLI 359 - Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties Credits: 3
POLI 361 - Modern Political Thought Credits: 3

Additional Pre-Law elective

One additional course from any of the above categories.

Free Electives: 15-38cr

Total Degree Requirements: 120cr

(1) 15 CRIM elective credits must be 300 level or higher

(2) No more than six (6) credits from CRIM 493 can be used as CRIM elective credits

SLOs

1	Apply theory and research to real world problems in criminology and criminal justice.	Direct Measures: Projects, presentations, quizzes, and examinations from CRIM 102 (Survey of Criminology), CRIM 306 (Criminological Research Methods), CRIM 400 (Criminological Theory), all are required courses. End of semester faculty feedback for these courses focused on strengths and weaknesses of obtaining course Student Learning Outcomes, to include Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) for CRIM 306 and CRIM 400. Indirect Measures: Pre and post surveys in select criminology courses associated with criminal justice real world issues and the theoretical foundation for policies to address these issues (e.g. elective courses – CRIM 235 – Survey of Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Law, CRIM 344 – Terrorism, CRIM 394 – Crime and Delinquency Prevention).
2	Develop an understanding of their professional and the ethical responsibilities within criminology and criminal justice.	Direct Measures: Projects, presentations, quizzes, and examinations from CRIM 101 (Crime and Justice Systems), CRIM 306 (Criminological Research Methods) and CRIM 403 (Dilemmas in Criminology and Criminal Justice – Capstone Course), all are required courses. End of semester faculty feedback for these courses focused on strengths and weaknesses of obtaining course Student Learning Outcomes, to include Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) for CRIM 306 and CRIM 403. Indirect Measures: Pre and post surveys in select criminology elective courses associated with professional and ethical responsibilities in criminology and criminal justice (e.g., CRIM 205 – Policing and the Community, CRIM 401 – Contemporary Issues, CRIM 420 – Media Portrayal of Crime).
3	Demonstrate general knowledge of the components of the criminal justice system and their responsibilities.	Direct Measures: Presentations, quizzes, and examinations from CRIM 101 (Crime and Justice Systems) and CRIM 255 (Law, Social Control, and Society), both are required courses. End of semester faculty feedback for these courses focused on strengths and weaknesses of obtaining course Student Learning Outcomes. Indirect Measures: Pre and post surveys in select criminology courses associated with the various components of the criminal justice system (e.g., CRIM 205 – Policing and the Community, CRIM 215 – Survey of Courts and the Criminal Justice System, CRIM 225 – Survey of Corrections).
4	Demonstrate an awareness of diversity issues and responsible citizenship.	Direct Measures: Presentations, quizzes, and examinations from CRIM 255 (Law, Social Control, and Society), CRIM 410 (Race, Ethnicity, Social Structure and Crime), and CRIM 403 (Dilemmas in Criminology and Criminal Justice – Capstone Course), all are required courses. End of semester faculty feedback for these courses focused on strengths and weaknesses of obtaining course Student Learning Outcomes, to include Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) for CRIM 403 and CRIM 410. Indirect Measures: Pre and post surveys in select criminology courses associated with awareness of diversity issues and responsible citizenship (e.g., CRIM 205 – Policing and the Community, CRIM 384 – Violence and Victimology, CRIM 450 – Women and Crime).