Criminology Minor Requirements

Prerequisite: One social science course or Permission Of Instructor (POI).

How have Supreme Court decisions concerning freedoms of speech, press and religion; the rights of the accused; civil rights for women and minority groups, and the right of privacy changed our lives and the political system? We will use legal opinions and political science analysis to answer this question. Students will research cases and topics and make presentations to the class.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

Principles of Sociology: A study of the interaction in the major social institutions: the family, military, economy, religion, education, government / legal, leisure, mass media, peer group, community, and social stratification. How everyday life is influenced by culture, status, and role constructs. Sociology as an applied /problem solving discipline is emphasized.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Social Problems: Appreciation of how “social problems” are defined by culture. Areas studied: (1) the city (urban change); (2) healthcare; (3) family disorganization; (4) labeling of sexual behavior; (5) individual and organized crime; (6) juvenile delinquency; (7) lifecycle problems; (8) substance use – drugs, alcohol, smoking; (9) war and terrorism; (10) secrecy and privacy; (11) poverty; (12) environmental issues.

Offered spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: SOC 0100

Selected classical theorists. Comte, Spencer, Durkheim, Simmel, Weber, and others will be studied with an interest in their social concepts as they are employed today.

Offered spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: SOC 0100 or SOC 0110

Selected modern theorists read in the original with emphasis on how a theory is constructed. Freud, Parsons, Merton, Goffman, Park, Homans, Feminist Sociologists (K. Millet, D.E. Smith, de Beauvoir, J. Mitchell, B. Hooks), and others. The application of concepts to empirical research and sociological practice.

Offered fall semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: SOC 0200 or SOC 0205 or Permission Of Instructor (POI).

Social Stratification & Mobility: A study of power relationships in society. Socioeconomic status variables and everyday life. Ruling class, elite, and pluralistic theories. Social mobility patterns of religion-ethnic groups. Changes in American class structure due to globalization. U.S. social class impact on third world countries. “Rags to riches” and other belief patterns.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: SOC 0100

An analysis of contemporary views of criminal behavior, social theories of causation /perpetration of crime. Areas of studies will be deviance; penal reform; crime detection; changing definition of crime; and agencies of social control. Special emphasis on criminal law procedure and the elements of crimes.

Offered fall semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: SOC 0100

Origin of reformatory system, the social values of the middle- class reformers, the juvenile system, gang behavior, types of J.D. treatment of youthful offenders, and new patterns of offenses. Field trips to facilities for juveniles and to juvenile court.

Offered spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: SOC 0100 or SOC 0110 or Permission Of Instructor (POI).

This course examines the field of victimology. It will investigate major theories and concepts that will allow for a greater understanding of both offenders and victims. Areas addressed in the course include but are not limited to the prevalence of victimology, biological and environmental factors related to victimology, the consequences for both offenders and victims, effective interventions, and special issues such as consumer victimization, cybercrimes, legal and ethical issues working with offenders and victims, sexual assault and human trafficking, terrorism, and gang victims.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

Social Mediation/Dispute Resolution: Theories and practices of dispute resolution. Social problems amenable to mediation include domestic issues; cohabitation; divorce; child custody; employer-employee conflicts; educational services; and other areas. Topics covered: theories of social conflict / mediation; identifying the social context; ethical knowledge; techniques for building collaborations; identifying impasses; updating professional training; integration of other professionals (lawyers, religious professional, therapists, and human resources); drafting a mediation document. Guest speakers will share their knowledge and experiences. This course fulfills the Critical Thinking requirement in the Undergraduate College’s General Education program.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: Sociology majors or Permission Of Instructor (POI).

Racial and Ethnic Groups: Principles of acculturation-assimilation, prejudicediscrimination, and conflict-accommodation patterns. Exploration of social diversity (race, ethnicity, religious, age, gender, and nationality variables will be examined). Social justice movements (civil rights). Models for building social harmony.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

The history, traditions, social philosophies, practices, and procedures of the civil and criminal systems. The court’s importance and impact on society from arrest to case dispositions. Site visits to observe the workings of the courts. The application of sociological theory, methods, and interventions.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: SOC 0100 or SOC 0110 or Permission Of Instructor (POI).

An introduction to research methods in the social sciences which includes descriptive and inferential statistics, qualitative methods, survey methods, research design, document analysis, special interviewing skills, experimental and quasiexperimental approaches to research, and analytical tools. Students complete a research proposal or research project in their major discipline.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: SOC 0100 or SOC 0110, PSY 0100 or Permission Of Instructor (POI).

Theoretical/applied knowledge related to legal/illegal drug use. Topics include: relationships between institutions and substance abuse; theories of causation/perpetuation; treatment models; intro to pharmacology of substance abuse; roles of the abuser; race, class, ethnicity, gender, and other socio-cultural themes in advertising of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes; and special issues for woman substance abusers.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: Open to senior sociology majors, others by permission.

Evaluation of current research, theory, and practice in sociology. Format is student presentations and discussion with faculty guidance. Topics vary by semester. 

Offered as needed. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

Sociology of Stress & Crisis Intervention: Bio-socio-psycho foundations, social systems and stress, situational crisis theories, techniques for stress reduction, crisis intervention, burnout, PTSD, violence, life cycle issues, legal/ethical issues in intervention, religion, animal companions. Selfmonitoring stress reduction techniques taught and practiced.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: Open to juniors and seniors in the Sociology B.S. degree.

Supervised experience in an outside practice/agency or institution. Faculty-student conferences and evaluation sessions will be held periodically. An on-campus supervisory class will be held based on the professor’s discretion and student need. 

Offered fall/spring semester. (3-15 Credits)*

*BS Criminology and BS Sociology students are required to complete a minimum of 9 credits of Internship, 3 credits of which satisfy the core curriculum experience course requirement.