Sociology and Criminology (SC)

Professors: Medora Barnes (Chair), Richard Clark, Wendy Wiedenhoft Murphy, Associate Professors: Kenneth Sean Chaplin, Gloria Vaquera, Assistant Professors: Kathleen Knoll-Frey.

Through studying sociology and criminology one learns to draw connections between personal experiences and larger social and historical processes. Department courses give students the analytical tools to understand the complex issues that face us in the 21st century, including: global structures of inequality, crime rates, drug usage, health, the environment, prejudice and discrimination, family, sexuality and gender, and many others. A distinct benefit of a degree in sociology and criminology is that the most important contemporary problems—both within the U.S. and globally—will be social, and majors will learn more about these issues and how to affect change.

The diversity and flexibility of the curriculum provides unique opportunities for majors and minors to work with faculty to clarify their career goals and build an excellent foundation for graduate school, or finding careers in fields such as law, criminal justice, social work, health services, business, non-profit, and education. All department majors earn a BA in Sociology and Criminology. Depending on one's career interests, there is the option to focus one's studies in an area of specialized concentration: 1) Criminology, 2) Forensic Behavioral Studies, 3) Social Work, Community and Health, or 4) Diversity, Culture and Justice. All concentrations require students to complete an internship to gain professional experience within their field.

Majors and minors have a wide range of interesting and useful courses to choose from, and they have considerable freedom to design programs of study that match their academic and career goals. All department majors take courses in the foundations of sociology, research methods, and sociological theory. The department is committed to embedding service learning and experiential opportunities within the curriculum, so students can gain hands-on experience during their studies.

Because of its integrative, synthesizing nature and because it offers key social research skills, sociology nicely complements other disciplines. Sociology and Criminology majors participate in a range of interdisciplinary programs on campus including, Public Health; Leadership; Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies; Entrepreneurship; Catholic Studies; and Peace, Justice, and Human Rights. It is strongly recommended that students interested in these programs investigate them as early as possible in their academic careers.

In addition to departmental awards, the department sponsors the Tau chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society. Membership is open to students whose academic record reflects outstanding achievement and demonstrated interest in the field.