Criminology Degree

Learn more about how you can double major in sociology and criminology in just 18 courses.

Course Information

Program Overview

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Criminology Degree at Assumption

Criminology is far more than the study of "how" crimes occur, it explains the underlying reasons why crimes occur in society. The Criminology major at Assumption provides students with an understanding of crime as a social phenomenon, both regarding its causes and its consequences for society. Coursework in the major encompasses the study of how laws are made (the sociology of law), why some people break those laws (theories of crime), and the societal reaction to law-breaking behavior by the criminal justice system (the field of penology).The Criminology major also gives students a strong background in the social science research methods and sociological theories they will need throughout their careers.

The Criminology major at Assumption emphasizes personal, hands-on experience and independent research. The required Internship Seminar provides opportunities for experiential learning in agencies and organizations within the criminal justice system or closely allied professions like victim services agencies.

In addition, Criminology majors are prepared for graduate study in criminology, criminal justice, related social sciences, and the law. They are also ready for careers in law enforcement, institutional corrections, probation and parole, in social and human service agencies that deal with crime victims, or in a number of diversion and treatment programs that are designed to provide alternatives to incarceration, especially for juvenile offenders.

Criminology Major

Criminology majors take 13 courses: six required and six electives. This breadth of coursework prepares students for a variety of engaging career paths. Click here for course requirements.

The Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology has identified the following specific learning goals for our students:

  1. To develop an understanding of sociological, criminological, and anthropological approaches to analyzing and addressing the complex interactions between individuals and societal, historical and cultural forces;
  2. To appreciate the diverse ways of being human and understand the need for multicultural awareness; 3) To better understand how social inequality is based upon divisions of class, race, ethnicity, gender, age and sexual orientation;
  3. To gain awareness of how concerns for social justice guide movements and policies for social change; 5) To develop critical thinking skills, and to acquire the written and oral communication skills necessary for successful careers and post-graduate education;
  4. To gain specific competencies in theory, research methodology and analysis;
  5. To engage in learning outside the classroom through community service learning and internship opportunities and extracurricular activities such as lectures, workshops, and “teach-ins.”