Key takeaways
- Different colleges offer a different set of specializations within criminology degree.
- Diverse specialization options include applied social science, forensic psychology, and criminal justice, allowing students to tailor their studies to specific career goals.
- A criminology undergraduate degree is ideal for those interested in research, human psychology, law enforcement, and social justice, with a focus on understanding crime and contributing to societal improvement.
- Colleges offer different types of degrees including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Associate’s Degree, and Master’s Degree, each with varying levels of preparation for different career paths.
- Top colleges for criminology include the University of Maryland, George Mason University, the University of South Florida, Keiser University, Florida State University, and the University of Wyoming.
- Undergraduate degree holders can pursue criminology careers in law enforcement, social services, forensic science, and policy analysis, among others.
- Students must consider factors like acceptance rates, GPA requirements, program flexibility, and student life when choosing a college for an undergraduate criminology program.
An undergraduate college degree is a major stepping towards a successful career that you wish to have for yourself. However, deciding which program you must enroll in according to your career goals and personal preferences is a huge decision.
If you have already decided that a degree in criminology is what you need to have a fulfilling career, then it’s time to look for colleges for criminology. Choosing to pursue a degree in criminology opens doors to a diverse field that delves into the complexities of crime, justice, and societal impact. However, a good, esteemed, and prestigious college is a surefire way to make the most out of your degree.
Whether you’re interested in the workings of law enforcement, or driven by a desire to contribute meaningfully to society, enrolling in colleges for criminology will equip you with the knowledge and skills to navigate these dynamic landscapes.
To help you start your college journey on the right note, here is everything you need to know about the top colleges for criminology.
What do you need to know about a criminology college degree?
Before you go ahead and enroll in colleges for criminology, there are some important things you must understand. These include the types of degrees, how much time an undergraduate degree needs, the areas of specializations and coursework in criminology, and so on.
Explore these details below!
Areas of specialization within criminology degree
Like any degree, there are some areas of specialization, also sometimes referred to as areas of concentration or emphasis. These are areas in which individual students each pick one to align with their interests and career goals.
Consequently, they learn through specific coursework and targeted topics to prepare them for the specialized field.
In criminology degrees, there are numerous specializations offered by colleges. Every college may offer a different set of options. However, the following are the most commonly found specializations in colleges for criminology:
- Applied social science
- Corrections and case management
- Criminal Justice
- Criminal law
- Forensic psychology
- Forensic science
- Human rights
- Social policy
Who should get a criminology degree?
You will acquire a multitude of skills and expertise when you get an undergraduate degree in criminology. The program walks you through important aspects of crime and criminals and has you study the two in depth.
However, there are some things about the criminology major that make it a suitable choice for a certain type of people with certain interests. How about deciding whether or not a criminology degree is good for you?
As yourself the following important questions to make an informed decision:
- Are you good at research?
- Do you like to read, particularly case studies, crime novels, and so on?
- Do you like to write, or wish to learn to write better?
- Do you find human psychology interesting?
- Are law enforcement jobs like patrolling officers something of interest to you?
- Are you observant?
- Do you wish to study criminology in isolation or intertwined with other disciplines?
- Do you wish to pursue education after a bachelor’s degree i.e., graduate degree?
- Are there accredited colleges on your radar offering a criminology degree?
- Are you keen to study law?
- Criminology programs include math and particularly statistics courses. Are you willing to attend such courses?
Another way to decide whether a criminology degree is right for you is to explore the career prospects. Firstly, explore the criminology jobs in your area, or whichever state/city you are planning to stay in after graduation. This will help you foresee your career opportunities after getting the degree.
Secondly, speak to someone who is either working in the same industry or has earned a degree in criminology. If you can’t find someone with a criminology degree in particular, anybody with a sociology undergraduate degree, psychology, or humanities degree may be a good source of knowledge.
Lastly, go through the list of colleges for criminology. Explore their coursework, and make sure they offer something interesting for you. Additionally, check out the college alumni and see what they are up to. If possible, connect with the alumni to learn more about the colleges for criminology.
Types of degree
These are the types of criminology degrees:
Bachelor of Arts
A 4-year degree that allows students to freely choose topics and subjects that interest them, without any inflexible requirements.
Bachelor of Science
A 4-year degree that focuses on the core of the discipline, criminology in this case. It has core subjects, and some set of required criminology courses that may or may not be focused on individual student needs and interests, rather subject-focused.
Associates degree
A 2-year degree in criminology from a degree-granting college, such as community colleges.
Master’s degree
A graduate-level program, anywhere between 1 to 2 years, focused on criminology and areas of specialization. This type of degree may combine theory and practical both. It requires a bachelor’s degree in the same or relevant discipline.
Why study criminology?
Different people select different bachelor’s degrees and majors for different reasons. For choosing criminology, the reasons are unique. A criminology degree is not for everyone, as it’s a more specialized, focused, and extremely volatile industry.
So, here are some reasons why one may study criminology:
Fast-paced and evolving nature of work
Young people tend to prefer careers where the work is not monotonous and repetitive. This is one of the biggest reasons why one may wish to study criminology and build a criminology career. The industry is fast-paced and ever-evolving.
It requires frequent research and constant learning, since crime is also an ever-evolving aspect of society. As time and technology change, so does the criminology landscape.
Impactful contribution to society
If you are going to pursue a college degree, better do it in a field that has an impact on society. A Criminology college degree is one of the most impactful and influential disciplines. It aims to prepare students for the betterment and improvement of society.
Moreover, it teaches you skills like research and problem-solving, which are indispensable and truly change-making.
Pursuing criminal justice
Lastly, a simple reason for pursuing a criminology degree is that it is focused largely on pursuing criminal justice. It impacts and influences criminal justice one way or the other. Anybody who feels strongly driven towards criminal justice can choose a criminology degree and do their part.
Explore the most suitable criminology colleges in the USA
Here are the most renowned and valued colleges for criminology in the USA:
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland is one of the most popular and well-known colleges in the state of Maryland, where colleges are available in abundance. The college was founded in 1856 and has been offering more than 100 undergraduate majors ever since.
The college is known for its excellent student life where you get to participate in more than 107 sports teams, 29 sororities, and 800+ student clubs and organizations. Most importantly, it has an extremely well-maintained broad range of housing options that make it accessible for all types of student needs.
The criminology program at UMD offers a range of opportunities. If you wish to gain practical experience while studying at college, then UMD ensures esteemed internships and other opportunities for its students in criminology. Moreover, you can pursue a higher degree as well in continuation once the bachelors in criminology is done.
The college has an acceptance rate of 44% and an average GPA requirement of 3.8. It is located in College Park, MD.
George Mason University
George Mason University, better known as GMU, is home to some of the most honorable and diverse range of undergraduate programs. Likewise, its BA in criminology offers excellent opportunities for the students.
Since it is a bachelor of arts, students at GMU can choose to study criminology in combination with other related fields and subjects to diversify their opportunities. The coursework focuses on social factors and encourages students to critically look into the betterment of society.
Furthermore, the college offers a vibrant student life with its 110 sports teams, 22 sororities, and several student clubs. It has a diverse student body, with 57% of the students coming from ethnic minorities.
Lastly, GMU has an acceptance rate of 90%, with an average GPA requirement of 3.7. It is located in Fairfax, VA.
University of South Florida
If you are searching for the most prestigious college for criminology, don’t forget to check out the offerings of the University of South Florida. The college has a relatively lower acceptance rate of just 44%, with an average GPA requirement of 3.8.
However, it offers academic excellence like no other. Firstly, it has over 111 sports teams, with many teams playing in national level sports. Moreover, it has many student clubs and organizations. Thirdly, the college has a diverse student body, with 42% being ethnic minorities.
In addition to this, the college boasts a good graduation rate of 66%, which is higher than most public schools. If you wish to stay on campus, the college has an exciting range of options that cater to the varying needs of different types of students.
Keiser University
Florida is home to some of the best higher education colleges for criminology. It is a state known for its high-quality education that is also accessible to most. Speaking of accessibility, Keiser University has an exceptionally high acceptance rate of 97% with an average GPA requirement of 3.0.
KU is home to multiple programs, associate degrees, undergraduate programs, and graduate programs in the field of crime and criminal justice. Therefore, people who have a keen interest in this discipline will particularly enjoy the wealth of options available here.
Furthermore, the college has a relatively low student-to-faculty ratio of just 15:1, along with a graduation rate of 54%. Its student body is made up of 52% ethnic minorities.
Florida State University
Florida State University, also popularly known as FSU, is a public college founded in 1851. It is an example of academic excellence, offering more than 100 undergraduate programs that each offer unique advantages.
Even though the college has a low acceptance rate of 25%, it does have a high graduation rate of 74%. Therefore, it is undoubtedly an excellent college for criminology with good future prospects for students.
The best part about FSU as one of the top colleges for criminology is that its an online criminology degree. Therefore, even if you are residing far from the state or the campus location, you can still enjoy the quality of education at FSU.
Most importantly, the online feasibility is great for students who are also full-time workers at important jobs. Overall, FSU offers opportunities to a variety of students and their unique needs.
University of Wyoming
For students who are particularly inclined towards pursuing a career in criminal justice, criminal law, and legal enforcement, University of Wyoming has the best program. It is a leading name amongst the long list of colleges for criminology.
Firstly, the college offers a bachelors of arts in criminology. Resultantly, students pick and choose subjects and core courses that align better with their interests. Secondly, the program is made for everyone. It is an on-site program, as well as available for online or virtual learners as well.
Moreover, we highly recommend this program to students who wish to pursue a career in criminal law, and wish to continue higher education in law, such as a masters or doctoral program.
Furthermore, the college has a generous acceptance rate of 97%, with an average GPA requirement of 3.5. Therefore, it is fairly easy to get into this college.
Lastly, it is located in Laramie, WY, and has a good student life with 84+ sports teams and several housing options. The student-to-faculty ratio at U of W is 13:1.
Enroll in colleges for criminology today!
In conclusion, pursuing a criminology degree can be a pivotal step towards a rewarding career in law enforcement, social justice, or forensic science. Choosing the right college is crucial, and institutions like the University of Maryland, George Mason University, University of South Florida, each offer great features.
Other colleges for criminology mentioned on the list offer exceptional programs that cater to a range of needs of different types of students. Whether you’re attracted to criminology programs that are focused on practical experiences or colleges for criminology that have a vibrant student, there is something for everyone.
You can also explore other alternative degrees and colleges for a career in criminology. For example, there are many sociology colleges in various states. These include:
- Sociology degrees in New York
- Sociology degrees in California
- Sociology degrees in Florida
- Sociology degrees in Alabama
By choosing the most suitable colleges for a degree in criminology, begin your journey towards making a meaningful impact in society by exploring criminology and criminal justice