Criminology Emphasis in Sociology Criminology combines the sociological and psychological aspects of social relations to study the causes and correlatives of crime and deviant behavior. It is one of the fastest growing disciplines at American universities, and for good reason. Sociology majors with course work in criminology are prepared to apply for employment with both government and corporations. Over 1.6 million persons are employed in criminal justice, including nearly 800,000 as police officers, over 300,000 by courts, and 500,000 working in corrections. In fact, corrections, with employment in prisons and probation and parole, is th most rapidly expanding section of the criminal justice system.
Corporations employ another million private police and security personnel.
There are millions of additional populations, including children and juveniles, persons dependent on drugs and alcohol, mental health clients, and welfare clients. The Department of Sociology through its criminology emphasis offers a unique opportunity for students interested in careers as lawyers, court administrators, criminal justice administrators, criminal justice research administrators, social services professionals, police officers, juvenile caseworkers, or substance abuse counselors.