2026-2027 Academic Catalog

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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, Indigenous Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies Elective Courses
Select one of the following:		3
AFST 1714	Introduction to African American Studies
NDIG 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 with a minimum of 6 credits at the 4000-level: ³		12
CRIM/HIST 2504	Crime and Punishment in American History
CRIM/HIST 3124	Murder in American History
CRIM 4224	Victimology
CRIM 4374	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
Pathways Concept 7 is currently suspended effective Fall 2025. Please refer to the Pathways Page for more information.
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.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

All students must meet the following minimum criteria to be certified as making satisfactory progress toward a degree:

1. Upon having attempted 72 semester credits (including transfer, advanced placement, advanced standing, and credit by examination) students must:

a. Be enrolled in a degree-granting program, and

b. Be certified at the close of the academic year by their department as

making satisfactory progress toward a degree based upon pre-established

minimum criteria, and

c. Have an in-major GPA of 2.00 or above and maintain an in-major GPA of

2.00 or above until graduation.

Students who do not meet these minimum standards will follow the procedures outlined in University Policy 6305 regarding academic warning, probation, suspension, and continuation.

To ensure timely progression in the Criminology major, it is recommended that students:

Have an in-major GPA of 2.0 by the semester in which they have attempted 60 credits (includes all SOC, CRIM, or cross-listed SOC/CRIM designated courses).
Complete SOC 1004 Introductory Sociology, SOC 3104 Sociological Theory, SOC 3204 Social Research Methods, and an additional 6 credit hours of required or elective courses by the semester in which they have attempted 72 credits.

Graduation Requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring that all graduation requirements are met and should consult their academic advisor regularly for assistance with degree planning.

Hours Requirement

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology (major in Criminology), students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. All courses used to meet major requirements must be taken for a letter grade (A–F), unless otherwise specified. Courses taken on a pass/fail basis may not be used to satisfy major requirements.

Credit Distribution

Minimum of 120 semester credit hours from the following categories:

Degree Core and Major Requirements: 43 credits
Pathways General Education: 45 credits
Free Electives: 32 credits

In-Major 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.

Double Majors in the Department of Sociology

The Department of Sociology offers a major in sociology 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.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students must meet the university’s language study requirement by completing two units of a single foreign, classical, or American Sign Language in middle or high school. Students who do not complete two units prior to admission must earn six semester hours of college-level credit in a single, foreign, classical, or American Sign Language. These credits are in addition to the total number normally required for graduation.