Criminology, BA

The Criminology program encourages critical exploration of law-breaking behavior and the justice system.  It is appropriate for students interested in research or public policy issues related to crime and criminal justice.  It is also suitable for 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. 

The curriculum imparts to students an understanding of crime, deviance, and delinquency as social phenomena and provides training in the methods and theories of social and criminological research.  Graduates from the University of Portland with a criminology major will be able to: 

  • Analyze and interpret data to explain its measurement, nature, extent, and societal impact, and compare statistical trends and patterns across different sociological contexts, especially as related to crime.
  • Apply knowledge to analyze the structure and function of modern criminal justice systems including evaluating the roles policing, court processes, and corrections.
  • Apply criminological and sociological theories to explain behavior, including criminal offending, and evaluate the relevance of these theories in contemporary cases in writing. 
  • Critically evaluate existing and proposed crime policies by analyzing their effectiveness and synthesizing alternative approaches for crime prevention and reduction.
  • Articulate how the skills and capacities developed in the study of criminology translate into potential career and life paths. 

Career Paths

A criminology degree offers a wide range of career paths depending on your interests, education level, and whether you prefer research, fieldwork, or policy. Common career fields include law enforcement, investigations, legal/judicial services, crime policy & research, corrections, crime reduction and prevention, community justice systems, harm reduction, and restorative justice.  

Requirements

Criminology majors take 39 credits in the University Core Curriculum, 21-33 hours in the College of Arts and Sciences core, 36 hours of sociology courses for the major, and 9-21 hours of electives. 

Sample Courses

  • Sociology of Crime & Justice
  • Juvenile Delinquency
  • Criminology
  • Deviance
  • Sociology of Policing