Criminology
The scientific study of crime, its causes, and societal response.
Criminology studies crime as a social phenomenon, why it happens, how it's distributed across populations and places, and how society responds to it, drawing heavily on sociology and statistics. It's more theory- and research-focused than criminal justice's systems-and-practice orientation.
Coursework builds research methods and statistical analysis skills applied specifically to crime data, and upper-level courses often dig into specific theories of criminal behavior and policy debates around punishment and prevention.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Introduction to Criminology
- ✓Theories of Crime
- ✓Research Methods in Criminology
- ✓Statistics for Social Science
- ✓Juvenile Delinquency
- ✓Victimology
- ✓Crime & Public Policy
- ✓Senior Research Project
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Introduction to Criminology
- +General education requirement
- ✓Theories of Crime
- +General education requirement
- ✓Research Methods in Criminology
- +General education requirement
- ✓Statistics for Social Science
- +Free elective
- ✓Juvenile Delinquency
- +Free elective
- ✓Victimology
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Crime & Public Policy
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Senior Research Project
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Curious about why crime happens, not just how the system responds
- ★Comfortable with statistics and social science research
- ★Interested in policy debates around punishment and prevention
- ★Considering research, policy, or graduate study in criminal justice
Common minors & double-major pairings
Sociology · Psychology · Statistics
Frequently asked questions
What is a Criminology major?
The scientific study of crime, its causes, and societal response.
What courses do Criminology majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Introduction to Criminology, Theories of Crime, Research Methods in Criminology, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Criminology program?
Criminology coursework typically builds skills like Analyzing crime data and patterns, Understanding theories of criminal behavior, Statistical and research methods, Critical evaluation of criminal justice policy.
Is Criminology a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Curious about why crime happens, not just how the system responds" or "Comfortable with statistics and social science research" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What other majors pair well with Criminology?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Sociology, Psychology, Statistics.
How is Criminology different from Criminal Justice?
They're related but distinct. Criminology: The scientific study of crime, its causes, and societal response. Criminal Justice: How crime, law enforcement, courts, and corrections systems work. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Criminology degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/criminology