Criminology, Bachelor of Arts
Criminology is the study of crimes, criminals, crime victims, theories explaining illegal and deviant behavior, the social reaction to crime and criminals, the effectiveness of anti-crime policies and the broader political terrain of social control. The major contains courses in sociology, other social science disciplines and the humanities. Students who are planning to attend graduate or professional schools and students who are currently working in criminal justice or other public service fields as well as those planning to do so in the future will find this major of interest.
Learning Outcomes. Students will:
- Know the core literature and debates that make up the discipline of criminology.
- Understand the key components of criminological theory and apply theory to specific contexts.
- Understand the methods of criminological research.
- Make reasoned and informed judgment on issues relating to crime and punishment.
- Organize thoughts and communicate arguments effectively in writing.
Credits Required.
| Criminology Major |
39-42 |
| General Education |
42 |
| Electives |
36-39
|
| Total Credits Required for B.A. Degree |
120 |
Coordinator. Professor Barry Spunt, Department of Sociology (212-237.8677, bspunt@jjay.cuny.edu)
Advising resources. Criminology and Sociology Advising, contact socadvising@jjay.cuny.edu. Visit the department's website for advising resources (course worksheet and advising handbook). Criminology Advising Resources. Sample Four-Year Plan (for students who declared before Fall 2017 and beginning in Fall 2017).
Honors option. To qualify for honors in the major, a student must have completed the credit requirements for the major and have earned at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average in courses above the 100-level in the major. Credit for courses required as prerequisites for major courses applied to the major will not be calculated into the major cumulative grade point average. Students must have also earned at least a 3.2 overall cumulative grade point average. This honor will be noted on the student’s transcript.
Additional information. Students who enrolled for the first time at the College or changed to this major in Fall 2017 or thereafter must complete the major in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose either the form shown here or the earlier version of the major. A copy of the earlier version may be obtained in the 2016-2017 Undergraduate Bulletin.
Foundation courses
RequiredTotal Credit Hours: 3-6
Advisor recommendation: SOC 101 will fulfill the Flexible Core: Individual and Society area and MAT 108 or MAT 141 can fulfill the Required Core: Math and Quantitative Reasoning area of the General Education program depending on students mathematics placement.
Part One. Disciplinary Requirements
Required
| SOC 203 | Criminology | 3 |
| SOC 314 | Theories of Social Order | 3 |
| SOC 440 | Senior Seminar (Criminology) | 3 |
| SSC 325 | Research Methods in Criminology and Sociology | 3 |
| STA 250 | Principles and Methods of Statistics | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 15
Part Two. Applications of Criminology
Select three (two courses must be at the 300-level or above)Total Credit Hours: 9
Part Three. Advanced Methods
Select one course
| SOC 324 | Advanced Social Statistics | 3 |
| SOC 327 | Advanced Sociological Methodology | 3 |
| SOC 328 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| SOC 329 | Evaluation Research | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Four. Electives
A. Multi–Disciplinary Electives
Select one
B. Sociology Electives
Select two
Total Credit Hours: 9
Total Credit Hours: 39-42