Undergraduate Certificate in Criminology and Justice Studies

The Sociology Department has a strong emphasis in multiple aspects of the criminal justice system, highlighting the impact of law and society, corrections systems, and structures of deviance in the social order.

For students wishing to concentrate in these areas, we offer a certificate of specialization. Completion of the certificate provides evidence of specialized study, which can be beneficial for enhancing future career options and interests. The certificate is marketable to a wide variety of employers and educational institutions, including law enforcement, law school, social work, graduate and professional schools, community action organizations, and social services. Participation in the certification program also provides students with opportunities for networking and mentoring.

Dr. Michèle Companion is the coordinator of the Undergraduate Certificate in Criminology and Justice Studies.

General Requirements

Minimum requirement for completion: four courses/12 credit hours.
A minimum grade of 3.3 is required for each course applied.
All courses must be upper-division (3000+ level) in Sociology. Independent studies may not be applied.

Course Requirements

SOC 3410 - Sociology of Law
SOC 3400 - Criminology
Courses eligible to fulfill the additional two-course requirement include, but are not limited to, the following:
SOC 3360 - Sociology of Drugs and Addiction
SOC 3490 - Youth Gangs
SOC 4190 - Deviant Behavior
SOC 4520 - Sociology of Corrections and Rehabilitation
SOC 4960 - Juvenile Delinquency
Additional special topic courses may be offered in a given semester that can be counted toward the certificate. These courses must be approved in advance by the Certificate Coordinator or the Sociology Department Chair.

Certification Process

Students wishing to enroll in a certificate program must turn in an application to the Certificate Coordinator, ideally when they declare their major. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll by their junior year to ensure that certificate requirements are met.

Students must submit their transcript to the coordinator to verify that they have met the requirements for the certificate at the beginning of their final semester. To complete the certificate program, students are required to submit a five-page, typewritten self-statement, evaluating changes in their perceptions of criminology and justice studies as a result of program participation and the implication for future scholarly and professional work. The certificate will be mailed to recipients upon completion of a certificate audit and graduation.