Department of Sociology & Crime, Law and Justice

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Undergraduate Programs in Sociology and Crime, Law & Justice

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The Sociology program

We currently have an estimated 180 majors and 280 minors.

Courses focus on the basic institutions of society, such as family, education, religion, the economy, and government, as well as dimensions of social inequality, such as class, gender, and race. We offer both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science degree program. Both programs are intended to provide students with a broad liberal arts education and a focus on research methodology, analytical techniques, and areas of substantive interest within the discipline.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the sociology major, a student should:

• Be familiar with the history, breadth, and distinctiveness of sociology as a discipline.

• Appreciate how key sociological questions (e.g., about the centrality of institutions, the forces driving stability and change, the tension between individual choice and structural constraint) advance knowledge of social reality.

• Understand basic concepts, theories, and findings and be able to compare, critique, and apply them.

• Possess the methodological skills (in data collection, measurement, statistical analysis, and computing) needed to conduct a competent, ethically responsible piece of research.

• Be able to communicate the results of sociological scholarship in written and oral form.

• Be able to interpret and evaluate sociological scholarship produced by others.

• Recognize the range of career options and the opportunities to “make a difference” (through active citizenship, policy involvement, and the like) that are available to someone with a background in sociology.

To learn more about how we assess if these learning objectives have been met, click here.

The Crime, Law & Justice program

With over 650 majors, we are one of the largest undergraduate programs in the College of the Liberal Arts.

We use a multi-disciplinary, social and behavioral science approach to the study of crime and the criminal justice system. Our curriculum conveys broad knowledge about crime and justice, research methods, and promotes an understanding of the interrelated components of all justice systems-civil, administrative, and criminal.

The program offers a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree. Students in both degrees gain knowledge of the criminal justice and legal systems as well as abilities to solve problems, think and read critically, and write effectively. The Bachelor of Arts degree allows students to pursue more traditional liberal arts courses by providing a breadth of knowledge in languages, arts, humanities, social sciences and other cultures. The Bachelor of Science degree provides the opportunity for depth by allowing students to develop a stronger foundation in research methods, quantification, and the sciences as a basis for the study of crime and the criminal justice and legal systems.

Either degree is suitable for students seeking entry-level positions in the criminal justice system and for students interested in graduate or professional school.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the Crime, Law, and Justice major, a student will be expected to:

• Understand the causes and consequence of crime and the operation of the criminal justice system.

• Understand, evaluate, and compare theories of crime and criminal justice.

• Understand both quantitative and qualitative research methods in the area and appreciate the social scientific approach to knowledge.

• Have an in-depth knowledge of some of the substantive areas within the field.

• Have the ability to locate and consult works in the area and write a research paper that is coherent, cogent, and attentive to the conventions of the field.