SOCIOLOGY MAJOR

Criminal Justice Track

Students interested in understanding crime in society, including the variety of crimes that occur, crime trends and patterns, and why individuals choose to commit crime, should consider following the criminal justice track within Sociology. This track prepares students for a variety of jobs within law enforcement. Sociology CJ graduates have gone on to become police officers, probation/parole officers, corrections officers, and criminal investigators. Students within this track have also pursued graduate-level degrees in law, as well as Master’s/PhD degrees.

A major in Sociology with a Criminal Justice focus requires the following:

Six Core courses:

201 – Principles of Sociology
302 – Methods of Sociology
303 – Social Statistics and Data Analysis
339 – Sociological Theory
403 – Survey Methodology
496 – Sociology Capstone Experience

Four courses in Crime and Deviance:

341 – Criminology (Required)

Three elective courses selected from:
342 – Deviant Behavior
343 – Juvenile Delinquency
344 – Violence in Society
346 – Crime and Organizations
347 – Alcohol, Drugs and Society
348 – Family Violence
349 – Hate Crimes and Terrorism
351 – Environmental Crime
352 – Rural Crime
353 – Human Trafficking

Two courses in Political Science:

230 – Introduction to Criminal Justice (Required)

One elective course selected from:
322 – Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
323 – Rights of the Accused
346 – Criminal Justice and Public Policy
347 – Politics of Crime and Justice

One additional sociology elective course above the 299 level

498 – Sociology Internship is a recommended, but optional, elective.

Minor or Collateral in Sociology

A minor requires 18 hours, including Sociology 201.

A collateral requires 12 hours, including Sociology 201.

No more than six hours in either the minor or collateral can be earned from courses below the 300 level.

SOCIOLOGY MAJOR

Recommended Four-Year Plan for Criminal Justice Track