About
The Criminology BA program is one of three majors in the Department of Sociology and Social Work and was, until recently, a popular criminology track of study within the sociology major. Criminology majors at the University of Portland study crime as a social phenomenon including the social processes of making laws, of breaking laws, and of reacting toward the breaking of laws. The objective of the field of criminology is the development of a body of knowledge regarding this process of law, crime, and treatment or prevention. A central goal of the criminology BA curriculum at the University of Portland is to apply a social scientific and humanistic study of crime toward strategies for working for justice. This includes social, economic, restorative, and retributive justice. The courses that comprise the curriculum emphasize respect for human dignity and an obligation to improve societal conditions. A Criminology BA is well-suited for students interested in research or public policy issues related to crime and criminal justice. It also will prepare students who may seek employment opportunities in law-enforcement, criminal law, the corrections system, and other government and nonprofit agencies that provide services or resources for those involved in the justice system.
