Program Overview
Are you committed to promoting social equality in law enforcement and criminal justice reform? Curious about how the criminal legal system operates in society as an agent of control? An interdisciplinary major grounded in the liberal arts, Criminology at UNE focuses on the study of the social construction of crime and criminals, theories of illegal and deviant behavior, social reaction to crime, and the effectiveness of anti-crime policies. You emerge prepared, through hands-on classroom learning and real-world research and professional experiences, for a variety of rewarding careers in this dynamic field.
Why UNE for Criminology
Criminology is an exciting field in which to work – and, at UNE, it’s an exciting one to study as well. With student engagement as a top priority, we offer hands-on classroom experiences, research opportunities, and internships that make for an incredible student experience as well as an impressive resume for potential employers or graduate/professional schools.
- Emphasis on engaging internships and capstone experience
- Development of in-demand liberal arts skills
- Travel abroad opportunities
- Strong job and graduate school placement rates
Academics
Examples of Available Courses
The following are examples of the exciting courses that you may take as a Criminology major at UNE:
- Deviance and Crime
- The Criminal Legal System
- Theories of Race and Racism
- Crime, Media, Culture
- Human Trafficking
- Juvenile Delinquency
Curriculum
| CAS Core Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| Total | 42–46 |
| Required Courses | Credits |
| SOC 170 – Deviance and Crime | 3 |
| PSC 125 – Understanding Law: An Introduction or PSC 210 – Constitutional Law | 3 |
| CRL 205 – The Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| SOC 311 – Theories of Race and Racism | 3 |
| SOC 345 – Crime, Media, and Culture | 3 |
| SOC 270 – Classical Social Theory or SOC 280 – Contemporary Social Theory | 3 |
| SOC 268 – Practice of Social Science Research | 3 |
| SOC 370 – Applied Field Method in Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 300 – Sociology Internship or PSY 300 – Psychology Internship | 3–15 |
| SOC 494 – Cap Exp: Thesis | 3–16 |
| Four (4) Criminology elective courses | 12 |
| Minimum Required Major Credits | 42 |
| Open Elective Courses (needed to reach 120 credits) | Variable |
| Minimum Required Total Credits | 120 |
Elective Course Options
| Criminology Elective Course Options | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANT 312 – Human Trafficking | 3 |
| HIS 266 – History of Drugs in the Americas | 3 |
| PSC 241 – Human Rights in World Politics | 3 |
| PSC 278 – Pol Sci Human Trad II | 3 |
| PSC 330 – Theories of Politics and War | 3 |
| PSY 205 – Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 236 – Mental Health & Society | 3 |
| PSY 370 – Drugs, Society, and Behavior | 3 |
| SOC 333 – Sociology of Law | 3 |
| SOC 350 – Deviance | 3 |
| SOC 421 – A Just Society? | 3 |
Careers
Criminology professionals may work in a variety of environments, including police stations, courts, prisons, government agencies, and a variety of non-profits, including victim advocacy groups. A degree in Criminology will position you well for careers such as:
- Jury Consultant
- Probation Officer
- Forensic Psychologist
- Criminal Attorney
- Clinical Social Worker
- Criminology Professor
- Criminal Policy Analyst
Career Advising
Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.
Experiential Learning
Our Criminology major’s emphasis on hands-on learning engages you in problem-solving and provides opportunities for experiential learning via student research and professional experiences.
Internships
Our database of more than 900 internship sites allows you to gain valuable professional experience as an undergraduate student. You may intern with law offices, legal service organizations, social justice non-profits, government agencies, and other community organizations.
Senior Capstone Experience
You will choose a capstone experience to widen the scope of your expertise. We offer three options:
- Study abroad with a focused concentration in your coursework
- Complete an additional internship (This 360-hour experience often leads to a job offer after graduation)
- Write a senior thesis (with the goal of publishing a professional article)