Academic Bulletin

College of Arts & Sciences - Undergraduate

CRIMINOLOGY
www.as.miami.edu/sociology

Educational Objectives | Degree Programs | Major | Minor | Departmental Honors

Introduction

The major in Criminology provides a comprehensive understanding of crime and the criminal justice system.  The major prepares students to assume roles of leadership in this critical area of modern society.  Courses are designed to review theory, research, and applications of knowledge regarding delinquency and crime, as well as to understand the manner in which offenders are processed.  Students learn about the nature and extent of crime, different types of crime, and theories to explain crime.  In addition, detailed analyses are made of the functions of the law, police, courts, and correctional systems and the ways in which these are linked to broader aspects of society.  Students may also minor in Criminology.  The Criminology major and minor are administered through the Department of Sociology.

Educational Objectives

CRIMINOLOGY courses have several broad objectives, including:

1. General education and development of critical thinking skills.
2. Undergraduate preparation for pursuing careers in such fields as law and society, in the local and state criminal justice systems (e.g., juvenile probation officer, pretrial services officer, crime analyst for criminal justice agencies), or in federal agencies (e.g., DEA).
3. Preparation for graduate study in criminology, criminal justice, sociology, or other social and behavioral sciences.
4. Preparation for law school.

Degree Programs

Students may earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology.  The Department of Sociology also offers graduate degrees in Sociology (M.A., Ph.D.) with emphases in criminology and in other areas (race/ethnic relations and medical sociology).

Major

The major in Criminology consists of 31 credit hours including SOC 101, SOC 210, SOC 211, SOC 212, SOC 371, and SOC 470.  Fifteen additional credit hours in Sociology courses are required.  It is highly recommended that students primarily take such classes that have criminological foci and emphases (e.g., SOC 370).  Additional information and course descriptions are listed under the Department of Sociology in this Bulletin.  All courses taken for credit toward the major must be passed with a grade of C- or higher with an overall GPA of 2.0.  Normally students cannot transfer more than 12 credits toward the major.

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Minor

The minor in Criminology consists of 15 credit hours, including SOC 101 and SOC 371.  A student majoring in Sociology may not minor in Criminology.  All courses taken for credit toward the minor must be passed with a grade of C- or higher with an overall GPA of 2.0. Additional information and course descriptions are listed under the Department of Sociology in this Bulletin.

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Departmental Honors

Graduation with Departmental Honors is available to eligible students who fulfill the following:

1. Students desiring Departmental Honors in Criminology must maintain an overall GPA of 3.3 and a GPA of 3.5 in Criminology.  They must also achieve a minimum of B in all Criminology courses.  For transfer students, the Department uses the cumulative, combined GPA calculated by the Office of the Registrar.

2. A student seeking Departmental Honors is required to write an independent research paper which is submitted to the Undergraduate Committee in the Department of Sociology.  The nature of the independent research project is determined by the faculty member(s) with whom the student works. This project is done in SOC 498 & SOC 499 (Honors I & II).  The student should have the same professor for all six credits.

3. Recruitment of eligible students is by departmental invitation at the beginning of a student's junior year.

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