2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.

View Undergraduate Section View Graduate Section

Explore Programs

Explore programs to find a fit for you.

Search Courses

Explore courses by subject and keyword.

Bachelor of Science in Sociology

Criminology Major

Program Curriculum

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Degree Core Requirements ¹
Sociology
Take in the order listed
SOC 1004	Introductory Sociology	3
SOC/HD 2104	Quantitative Approaches to Community Research	3
or STAT 3604	Statistics for Social Science
SOC 3104	Sociological Theory ²	3
SOC 3204	Social Research Methods	4
SOC 3004	Social Inequality	3
SOC 4194	Senior Seminar	3
Africana Studies, American Indian Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies Elective Courses
Select one of the following:		3
AFST 1714	Introduction to African American Studies
AINS 1104	Introduction to American Indian Studies
WGS 1824	Introduction to Womens and Gender Studies
Subtotal		22
Major Requirements
Take in order listed
SOC 2404	Deviant Behavior	3
CRIM 3414	Criminology	3
CRIM 3434	Systems of Justice	3
Subtotal		9
Elective Courses
Select 12 credits of the following: ³		12
CRIM/HIST 2504	Crime and Punishment in American History
CRIM/HIST 3124	Murder in American History
CRIM 3474	Women and Crime
CRIM 4424	Juvenile Delinquency
CRIM 4454	Topics in Criminology ⁴
CRIM 4474	Cyber Criminology
CRIM 4484	Hate Crimes
CRIM 4504	Family and Crime
CRIM 4754	Internship
CRIM 4974	Independent Study (in a related area with approval of the department chair)
CRIM 4994	Undergraduate Research (in a related area with approval of the department chair)
PSVP 2044	Peace and Violence
PSVP 2444	Conflict Resolution, Mediation and Peacebuilding
PSVP 4444	Schools, Violence, and Justice
SOC 4404	Sociology of Law
SOC 4414	Drugs and Society
Subtotal		12
Free Electives
Select 32 credits		32
Subtotal		32
Pathways to General Education
All students must fulfill the requirements of the Pathways for General Education Curriculum. Check the Undergraduate Course Catalog & Academic Policies for prerequisites
Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse
Select three credits in Pathway 1a		3
ENGL 1105	First-Year Writing (1F)	3
ENGL 1106	First-Year Writing (1F)	3
Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities
Select six hours in Pathway 2		6
Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences
Select six hours in Pathway 3		6
Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences
Select six hours in Pathway 4		6
Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking
Select three hours in Pathway 5a		3
Select six hours in Pathway 5f		6
Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts
Select three hours in Pathway 6a		3
Select three hours in Pathway 6d		3
Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States
Select three hours in Pathway 7		3
Subtotal		45
Total Credits		120

¹: In accordance with university guidelines, courses satisfying degree core requirements may not be double counted to satisfy other areas of a degree (e.g., Pathways to General Education Curriculum).
²: It is recommended to take two of the following courses prior to registering for SOC 3104: SOC 2004 Social Problems, SOC 2014 Sociology of Intimate Relationships, SOC 2024 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, SOC 2034 Diversity and Community Engagement, SOC 2304 Individual In Society, and/or SOC 2404 Deviant Behavior.
³: A maximum of 3 credits from CRIM 4754, CRIM 4974, and CRIM 4994 can be used to fulfill the requirements of the major.
⁴: CRIM 4454 Topics in Criminology may be taken up to three times; topics must be different.

Requirements for Satisfactory Progress: Students must have completed SOC 1004 Introductory Sociology, SOC 3104 Sociological Theory, SOC 3204 Social Research Methods, and an additional 6 credits of required or elective courses for the criminology major prior to attempting 72 credits (including transfer, advanced placement, advanced standing, and credit by examination).

Upon having attempted 60 credits, students must have an in-major GPA of 2.0 and an in-major GPA of 2.0 thereafter to be considered as making satisfactory progress toward the degree.

If satisfactory progress is not made, procedures will be followed as required by the Academic Eligibility Policy.

Graduation Requirements

Number of Credits for a Bachelor of Science Degree: 120 credits.

77 credits must be completed beyond what is required for a major in criminology.

Number of Credits for a Criminology Major: 43 credits.
The 43 credits consist of 22 credits of sociology core degree courses and 21 credits of additional courses for a criminology major.

Number of Credits of Free Electives: 32 credits.

Number of Credits for the Pathways General Education Curriculum: 45 credits.
All students with a criminology major are required to complete the Pathways General Education Curriculum.

Double Majors in the Department of Sociology: The Department of Sociology offers a major in sociology, with and without options, and a major in criminology. Students are permitted to obtain both majors. Courses in the sociology core degree can meet the requirements of both majors, but none of the other required or elective courses taken for either major can count toward the other.

Minimum GPA: A minimum 2.0 in-major GPA and 2.0 overall GPA.
All courses with a SOC prefix, CRIM prefix, or cross-listed with SOC and/or CRIM are included in the calculation of the in-major GPA.

Grade Requirement: Courses taken as part of the sociology core degree and criminology major must be taken for a letter grade of A-F.

Prerequisites: Check the Undergraduate Course Catalog & Academic Policies for prerequisites.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students who did not successfully complete at least two years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language during high school must successfully complete six credit hours of a single foreign, classical, or sign language at the college level. Courses taken to meet this requirement do not count toward the hours required for graduates. Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog for details.