Sociology and Criminology Department

The sociology and criminology department provides students with the conceptual and research skills to investigate and understand a variety of social experiences, from our everyday behaviors and interactions with friends and family to large-scale social institutions like economies, governments, and religions. Our majors learn to think critically and conduct research professionally. 

The department offers two majors, sociology and criminology. Both majors have the same central focus—the perspective of social structure and social processes—and receive the same grounding in statistics, research, and theory. The criminology major prepares students to apply their knowledge and skills to the specific social institutions related to crime and punishment. 

The department also supports double majors with psychology and social work. Students with a strong interest in other majors may work out a four year curriculum plan with an advisor in the department combining sociology or criminology and a second major. 

Recent graduates of the department work in fields as diverse as public health, law, counseling, probation and parole, education, planning, social work, business administration, government, and pharmaceutical research. 

Our alumni have pursued advanced degrees in sociology, criminology, social work, public health, statistics and education at many different universities.