Sociology - Criminology (B. A.)

The academic requirements and course descriptions for the above major may be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Overview

The pursuit of a degree in criminology opens three career paths- preparation for graduate school and a career as a teaching or research criminologist; preparation for law school and a legal career; preparation for entry into the field of criminal justice.  Whether choosing a career in law and advocacy, management and personnel, or any of the allied criminal justice fields, an education from Immaculata University's sociology/criminology department will provide students an opportunity to practice commitment to social justice.

Four-year Course Sequence

Semester One Semester Two

Freshman Year

  • LAS 100/THE 109
  • ENG 106
  • Foreign Language
  • SOC 202
  • MAT 101/203
  • PHYS ED / EXS 101

Freshman Year

  • LAS 100/THE 109
  • ENG 107
  • Foreign Language
  • SOC 314
  • MAT 102/204
  • PHYS ED / EXS 101

Sophomore Year

  • ENG LIT (100 level)/ PHI ELECTIVE
  • LAB SCI
  • HIS 115
  • SOC 345
  • THE/Elective
  • HIS/POL 209
  • Physical Education

Sophomore Year

  • ENG LIT (100 level)/ PHI ELECTIVE
  • LAB SCI
  • HIS 116
  • PSY 208
  • THE/ Humanities Elective
  • HIS/POL 210
  • Physical Education

Junior Year

  • SOC 317
  • SOC 307
  • SOC/SWK 343
  • Concentration/Elective
  • Concentration/Elective

Junior Year

  • PHI ELECTIVE
  • SOC 312
  • SOC 314
  • Concentration/Elective
  • **HUMANe/Elective

Senior Year

  • SOC 352
  • THE/Elective
  • SOC Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • CROSS CULTURAL REQUIREMENT

Senior Year

  • SOC 354
  • THE/Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective

Sociology Concentration: 30 s.h. (semester hours) to include 202, 307, 312, 314, 317, 343, 345, 352, 354, PSY 208 PLUS 6 social science c.h. (credit hours) to include HIS/POL 209, 210 and 3 s.h. concentration elective chosen from either History/Politics 211; Psychology 101, 307, 320; Spanish 101/102, 103/104; Sociology 318, 328.

e indicates elective - social science elective must be taken outside of the major.
/ indicates an "either - or" selection
** Course may be taken in either semester

Career Options

Employment and career opportunities within the professions of law, social work, sociology, correctional systems, and criminal justice administration have been expanding in general and have been increasing for women in particular.  A Criminology major enables a student to have the most advantageous educational background to pursue the broadest range of options within the field of criminology and criminal justice including entry level positions with probation and parole, residential treatment programs, social services, correctional administration, county and federal government positions, and future graduate work in law, social work, sociology, public policy, and criminal justice administration.

Possible Careers

The Department of Labor statistics for growing areas of employment reveal that the entire social service industry, including correctional services, is expected to grow much faster, on average, than all other occupations through 2008.  Increased concerns to handle crime and juvenile delinquency are expected as well as increased need for school social workers and court social workers.  Career surveys on specific careers, such as probation officers, indicate that hiring preference is given to students with college degrees who majored in sociology, psychology, or criminology who have obtained a supervised field experience in a social service agency or a correctional system.