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:
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.
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.