Criminology Major - Bachelor of Science (BS)

Criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior. The discipline of Criminology understands criminal behavior through the lens of the social sciences, particularly sociology, asserting that crime and criminal behavior is influenced by the social world. Further, criminologists advocate that identifying the structural roots of criminality is key to effectively addressing the behavior. Using a community-centered approach, the Criminology degree at UWL provides students with in-depth education on criminal behavior and its ties to factors such as poverty, discrimination, trauma, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The program prepares students to assess and engage both criminal justice institutions and other community organizations, to interpret current research on crime, and to effectively apply research findings as they engage with clients and organizations throughout a community.

Students in the program will acquire practical experience in applying their knowledge and skills to support a broad array of community members and be prepared to apply their degree in areas both inside and outside of the criminal justice system. Both the required and elective courses in the curriculum will make heavy use of experiences such as undergraduate course-embedded research, collaborative assignments and projects, community-based learning, and extensive writing. Students will gain hands-on experience with community partners not only through internships, but also through course-embedded research and community-engaged learning projects.

Every Criminology major completes a senior project in one of the three senior capstone courses: SOC 405 Quantitative Social Research, SOC 416 Qualitative Explorations, or CRIM 422 Criminology Seminar. Working closely with faculty, each student designs and completes a semester-long investigation of a criminology related topic. The senior capstone course provides students with firsthand experience and analytical skills that are valuable in the work world and in graduate study.

(All colleges, excluding teacher certification programs)

36 credits

Core
CRIM 115Criminology and Criminal Justice through the Ages3
or SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology
SOC 200Foundations of Social Analysis 13
SOC 250Methods of Social Research I 13
SOC 350Methods of Social Research II3
CRIM 322Criminology3
CRIM 422Seminar in Criminology3
or SOC 405 Quantitative Social Research Seminar
or SOC 416 Qualitative Explorations
Electives 2
Category 1: Criminology electives
Select a minimum of nine credits from the following:9
CRIM 312
Courts, Crime, and Justice
CRIM 313
Law and Society
CRIM 318
Surveillance and Society
CRIM 321
Delinquency
CRIM 323
Corrections and Penology
CRIM 324
Criminal Justice
CRIM 325
Juvenile Justice
CRIM 326
Sociopharmacology
CRIM 327
Victimology
CRIM 328
Youth Rebellion
CRIM 329
Crimes of the Powerful
CRIM 331
Restorative Justice
CRIM 333
Human Rights Policing
CRIM 340
Corrections Administration
CRIM 345
Race, Gender, and Crime
CRIM 399
Special Topics in Criminology
CRIM 409
Readings and Research in Criminology
CRIM 423
Queer Criminology
CRIM 450
Internship in Criminology or Criminal Justice
SOC 325
Sociology of Mental Illness
SOC 330
Social Psychology
SOC 429
Sociology of Deviance
Category 2: Sociology electives
Select a minimum of six credits from the following:6
SOC 105
Introduction to LGBT Studies
SOC 120
Social Problems
SOC 150
Introduction to Social Justice
SOC 201
Careers in Sociology
SOC 212
Marriage and Family
SOC 216
Society and Schools
SOC 225
Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
SOC 240
The Sociology of Sport and Leisure
SOC 308
Disability and Society
SOC 310
Social Stratification
SOC 315
Religion and Society
SOC 316
Gender, Sexuality, and Social Change in Religion
SOC 317
Sociology of Media
SOC 319
Sociology of City Life
SOC 320
Demography
SOC 328
Environmental Sociology
SOC 332
Environmental Justice
SOC 335
Collective Behavior
SOC 336
Sociology of Popular Culture
SOC 337
Globalization, Women, and Work
SOC 338
Sociological Aspects of Work and Life
SOC 369
Sociology of Sexualities
SOC 370
Sociology of Gender
SOC 380
Fat Studies and Body Politics
SOC 399
Special Topics in Sociology
SOC 404
Global Inequality
SOC 409
Readings and Research in Sociology
SOC 420
Health Care and Illness
SOC 422
Death, Dying, and Bereavement
SOC 450
Internship in Sociology
SOC 485
Research Apprenticeship
SOC 486
Teaching Apprenticeship
SOC 499
Seminar in Sociology
Additional electives
An additional three credits selected from either Category 1 or Category 23
Total Credits36
1

To enroll in SOC 200 Foundations of Social Analysis and SOC 250 Methods of Social Research I, a student must have declared criminology or sociology as a major. Once a student has declared criminology or sociology as a major, a minimum of four semesters is needed to complete the required core course sequence.

2

Electives should be selected in consultation with a faculty advisor.

Double majors in criminology & sociology:

  • Double majors in criminology and sociology may only count SOC 110 or CRIM 115, SOC 200, SOC 250, SOC 350 and either SOC 405, SOC 416, or CRIM 422 towards the completion of the criminology major.
  • Double majors in sociology and criminology may not count CRIM 322 as an elective for the sociology major.
  • Only six credits of elective courses taken for the sociology major may be applied to the criminology major.
  • Students double majoring in criminology and sociology may not earn a minor in criminal justice. 

Criminology majors with criminal justice minors:  

  • Only CRIM 324 and three additional credits taken for the criminal justice minor may be applied to the criminology major.

All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements to qualify for a degree. All enrolled students have access to a degree audit to track all of these requirements. 

College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH/VPA) Bachelor of Science core requirements

The college core provides opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge by taking courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and/or sciences beyond the Core General Education Requirements (CGER). Students may select from courses offered by the full range of academic departments within the college according to their interests. The college core allows students to build their critical thinking, communication, problem solving, teamwork, and global competencies through in-depth exploration of topics of their choosing.

The following conditions apply:

  1. Students majoring in English (writing and rhetoric or literary and cultural studies emphases only) or in the Department of Global Cultures and Languages must earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Teacher education majors earn a Bachelor of Science degree and follow the School of Education core. Students majoring in other CASSH programs may choose either a B.A. or a B.S. degree.
  2. Courses completed for the college core cannot overlap with CGER or the student's first major except where otherwise stated. The college core is in addition to those degree requirements. Overlap with a second major, minor, or certificate is allowed.
  3. Courses approved for use in the college core:
    1. Fine arts category: 150-300 level in ART, 100-300 level in MUS or THA.
    2. Humanities category: 100-300 level in CHI, FRE, GCL, JPN, HCK,
      HMG, RUS, or SPA, SPE 207, SPE 214, CST 211, CST 213,
       CST 310 , CST 312, CST 315 , CST 319, CST 338 , CST 410 ,
       CST 412       , CST 413 , CST 415 , CST 419 ,
             100-300 level in PHL, 200-300 level in ENG or HIS,
       MS 402, RGS 207, RGS 210, RGS 308, RGS 309, RGS 321, RGS 360,
       RGS 374.
    3. Social science category: 100-300 level in ANT, ARC, CRIM, ENV,
      POL, PUB, or SOC, CST 190, CST 230, CST 260, CST 271,
       CST 280, CST 301, CST 321, CST 322, CST 330,  CST 331, CST 332,
       CST 333, CST 334, CST 336, CST 337, CST 339, CST 350, CST 351,
       CST 353, CST 354, CST 358, CST 360, CST 365, CST 378, CST 380,
       CST 388, PSY 100,100 level in RGS,
       RGS 205, RGS 303, RGS 307, RGS 314, RGS 316, RGS 320, RGS 322,
       RGS 328, RGS 337, RGS 340, RGS 350, RGS 353, RGS 362, RGS 373,
       RGS 377, RGS 409. Students with a declared minor in child/youth
      care or psychology may request additional courses from those programs be applied to the core by contacting the CASSH Academic Services Director.

Diversity course requirement

All students in CASSH must complete at least one diversity course from within CASSH. This course can overlap with CGER, major, minor, or other degree requirements. Select from the 100-400 level in ANT, ARC, CHI, CRIM, FRE, GCL, GER, HCK, HMG, JPN, RUS, SOC, SPA, or RGS; or from the following:
 ART 215, ART 251, ART 301, ART 331, ART 332, ART 335, CST 271,
 CST 332, CST 337, CST 419, ENG 207, ENG 208, ENG 210, ENG 212,
 ENG 215, ENG 220, ENG 336, ENG 357, ENG 360, ENV 350, ENV 351,
 ENV 352, ENV 353, ENV 354, HIS 195, HIS 220, HIS 230, HIS 250,
 HIS 260, HIS 285, HIS 310, HIS 319, HIS 327, HIS 328, HIS 329,
 HIS 330, HIS 333, HIS 335, HIS 336, HIS 338, HIS 345, HIS 357,
 HIS 359, HIS 360, HIS 362, HIS 363, HIS 377, HIS 383, HIS 386,
 HIS 389, HIS 390, INS 494, MUS 205, MUS 209, MUS 377, PHL 212,
 PHL 335, PHL 336, PHL 349, POL 130, POL 140, POL 202, POL 205,
 POL 309, POL 325, POL 330, POL 332, POL 335, POL 336, POL 340,
 POL 341, POL 344, POL 345, POL 346, POL 355, PUB 210, PSY 282,
 PSY 283, PSY 318, PSY 319, PSY 325, PSY 360, THA 130, THA 351. 

Bachelor of Science course requirement

Bachelor of Science students complete four courses as follows:

  1. A lab science course from:
     ANT 102, BIO 100, BIO 105, BIO 203, BIO 312,BIO 313, CHM 103,
     CHM 104, ESS 205, ESS 206, GEO 101, GEO 221, GEO 222, MIC 100,
     MIC 230, PHY 103, PHY 104, PHY 106, PHY 155, PHY 160, PHY 203,
     PHY 204; and
  2. An approved college core social science course; and
  3. An additional course from the previously listed lab sciences, college core social science, or a qualitative course from: CS 101, CS 115, CS 120, CT 100, FIN 207, MTH 115, MTH 116, MTH 123, MTH 150, MTH 151, MTH 160, MTH 175, MTH 207, MTH 208, MTH 215, MTH 216, STAT 145, STAT 245; and
  4. One course from the college core fine arts or humanities categories.

Second major, minor, certificates, or individualized option requirement

In addition to all other College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities core requirements, all students in CASSH must complete one of the following:

  1. Complete a second major outside of the student's major program; or
  2. Complete a minor outside of the student's major program, consisting of at least 18 credits; or
  3. Complete two certificates outside of the student's major program with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400-level; or
  4. Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits that are in addition to the minimum credits required in the CGER. At least 12 credits must be earned at the 300/400-level outside the major department. The remaining six credits may consist of:
    1. 100-level or higher courses outside the major; or
    2. 300/400-level courses inside the major department not being used to fulfill major requirements.

 

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the Core General Education Requirements (CGER).
  2. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  3. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  4. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  5. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  6. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  7. Submit an application for graduation via the "Submit Intent to Graduate" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
CRIM 115 (CGER HA-PDU Humanities & Arts: Pasts that Define Us)3CRIM Elective3 
CST 110 (CGER CL-SL Communication & Literacy: Spoken Literacy)3ENG 110 (CGER CL-WL Communication & Literacy: Written Literacy)3 
UWL 100 or FYS 100 (CGER SBS-FS Social & Behavioral Science: Social Foundation for Success)2CGER MQR-QR Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: Quantitative Reasoning3 
CGER NSWL-ES Natural Science & Wellness: Experiential Science4CGER NSW-MBP Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet3 
CGER CL-SWT Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell3CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics3 
 15 15  
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
SOC 2003CRIM 3223 
SOC 2503CRIM Elective3 
CGER CP-CW Civics & Perspective: Cultures of Our World 3Minor Course3 
CASSH Core Course3CASSH Core Course3 
University Elective3University Elective3 
 15 15  
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
SOC 3503CRIM Elective3 
SOC Elective3CGER CP-CU Civics & Perspective: Communities of the United States3 
CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies3Minor Course3 
CASSH Core Course3University Elective3 
Minor Course3University Elective3 
 15 15  
Year 4
FallCredits SummerCredits
SOC Elective3 CRIM 422, SOC 405, or SOC 4163
Minor Course3 CRIM or SOC Elective3
Minor Course3 CASSH Core Diversity Course3
University Elective3 Minor Course3
University Elective3 University Elective3
 15   15
Total Credits: 120