Key takeaways:
- Criminology degrees analyze crime and criminal behavior through sociological, political, psychological, economic, biological, and anthropological perspectives.
- The term – criminology – was coined in 1890, referring to the study of crime and criminals from a scientific lens.
- Criminology jobs include lawyers, judges, detectives, police officers, probation officers, and FBI agents. Also, the average criminology wage in the US is $55,481.
- Students interpret and analyze the rationale, effects, and crime prevention techniques in college to succeed professionally.
- Professors in college deeply instill skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication within students
- Many perks of a bachelor’s degree in criminology include contributions to society, less career competition, challenging and exciting jobs, and enhancement in intellect.
- Famous US colleges for criminology include the University of Mississippi, the University of Texas—Dallas, the University of South Florida, Temple University, Northeastern University, Michigan State University, and the University of South Carolina.
- Gender, sexuality, crime, justice, introduction to criminal justice, principles of macroeconomics, and power, war, and peace are some examples of criminology courses.
- Temple University’s inside-out prison exchange program helps students learn about prisoners’ lives.
- Northeastern University is among the most expensive colleges for criminology, whereas the University of South Florida is the most affordable.
Criminologists play a crucial role in maintaining justice in society. Are you good at communication and problem-solving? Do you like peaceful and secure environments? If you help people and spread awareness for a safe and tranquil society, start considering US colleges to understand criminological theories and help people around you!
Fanatics of Agatha Christie novels or shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Sherlock, and The Boys must consider earning a criminology degree. High school students worry that criminology will not be as fruitful as medicine, business, or engineering. However, that is not true. Criminologists’ jobs are not just well-paid but are thrilling and exciting too!
In this blog post, we will discuss the basics of criminology, the reasons for studying criminology in college, the skills required to become a criminologist, and famous US colleges for criminology. So, let’s begin!
What is criminology?
Criminologists study the reasons and impacts of crime to discover crime prevention techniques. Criminology majors interpret criminological theories through various lenses like psychology, biology, economics, statistics, and anthropology – to name a few. After earning a degree in criminology, students pursue jobs like judges, lawyers, detectives, and police officers. Being mentally and physically fit is integral because of emergencies and the unpredictable nature of criminology jobs.
What are the reasons for choosing a criminology major in college?
The following list expands on why you must earn a bachelor’s degree in criminology:
Safety for all
Criminologists are responsible for maintaining tranquility in societies by maintaining law and order. They save the public from encountering dangerous situations by researching criminal activities, interpreting the rationale for offensive behavior, and discussing potential prevention techniques with professionals.
Through research and analysis, criminologists can understand the background of criminal activities, which impacts the psyche of criminals. Such knowledge helps them discover techniques to prevent crime from occurring, like cognitive behavior therapy. Hence, criminologists help professionals like the government comprehend the nature of criminal behavior through logic and science.
Less career competition
You must have heard that students do not usually opt for a criminology degree in college. The reason for that is a lack of knowledge and awareness. However, it is a plus point for those pursuing a college bachelor’s degree. Less competition is equivalent to more demand – resulting in higher chances for you to succeed as a criminologist. Therefore, attaining knowledge about criminological theories in college financially helps students in the long run.
Enhancement in intellect
The criminology profession is exciting because of the various kinds of criminal cases they have to deal with. Examples include identity theft, money laundering, homicide, and murder. Individuals can become Sherlock in real life with a criminology degree.
For instance, detectives and research analysts interview suspects and witnesses, study and analyze criminal cases to connect the dots, create reports, and discuss cases with relevant professionals like lawyers and the government. Research and analysis expand their intellectual capacity after learning the basics of human behavior and thinking.
Challenging and exciting jobs
Jobs like detectives and FBI agents require good physical and mental health. They must be physically fit because criminologists may encounter tough situations, like dangerous suspects. Furthermore, depending on the role, professionals do not have to sit in front of a PC for 8-9 hours. The tasks include analyzing crime scenes, conducting interviews with witnesses, suspects, and victims, discussing criminal cases with forensics, etc. Hence, if you want to avoid a boring job, study criminological theories in college!
What are the skills required for a career in criminology?
To explore careers in criminology, you must possess relevant skills, like effective communication, research, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Whether you wish to become a criminologist or explore a job in nonprofit organizations, there are some important skills you must possess. For an in-depth explanation, read the factors below:
Effective communication
The quality of good communication skills can make or break your profession. Effective communication skills are important for criminology jobs because they must discuss criminal cases with lawyers, law enforcement agencies, stakeholders, and criminals.
Moreover, communication skills are required to create reports on criminal cases through interactions with victims, witnesses, and suspects. Effective communication benefits professionals because they can find out critical matters and present them to relevant professionals. Colleges for criminology instill relevant skills and knowledge through criminological theories; hence, make sure you apply if interested!
Problem-solving
The main purpose of criminologists is to solve issues. Therefore, this is one of the most integral skills of criminologists. Since criminologists must deal with a lot of data, they must possess analytical and problem-solving skills. This helps professionals suggest crime prevention techniques, find criminals, and discover laws for safer environments.
Legal knowledge
Criminology majors learn criminological theories in college; hence, they possess knowledge about state laws and the American judicial system. Understanding such information is crucial to analyzing criminal activities and ensuring all tasks are associated with the updated legal rules and regulations, like the rights of offenders.
Qualitative and quantitative research
Strong criminal cases and reports need qualitative and quantitative research to support opinions. Research methods are instilled within students through criminology courses in college. Professors help students develop statistical and analytical skills. Professionals able to understand and critically assess data while proving the validity and credibility of sources are highly likely to succeed.
Detail-oriented
Since criminal cases can be convoluted, criminologists must have an eagle’s eye. Paying heed to minute details assists professionals in detecting issues and finding offenders. Moreover, minuscule information can help in advantageous info and connect the dots between victims and suspects. Being detail-oriented and a critical observer is beneficial for root cause analysis too!
List of famous US colleges for the analysis of criminological theories
If you are still reading this blog, it means your interest has been piqued by criminology. Showing interest is the first step, the next is attending colleges with a criminology degree. To make your life easy, we have compiled some of the most popular US colleges for criminology below:
University of Mississippi
The bachelor’s degree in criminology at the University of Mississippi delves into the rationale and effects of crime. Their renowned professors help students comprehend how crime impacts people and surroundings and the ways to reduce criminal activities in society. Students will learn the kinds of crimes and trends to compare and contrast to previous years at the University of Mississippi.
Moreover, courses like victimology, media, crime, and justice, and power, war, and peace will broaden students’ perspectives on crime data analysis, comprehension of criminological theories, and assessment of policies. They focus on polishing communication and critical thinking skills so students can succeed professionally. Graduates from the college have become judges, detectives, and social service managers.
University of Texas—Dallas
Do you live in Dallas? If so, the University of Texas must be on your list to apply for criminology! The faculty members help students become acquainted with the tasks of criminologists, the state’s role, reasons for crime, and how to tackle them. Students learn about criminological theories through various lenses like psychology, law, sociology, political science, etc.
Furthermore, their career center guides students and helps them find careers. Courses such as introduction to criminal justice, introduction to crime and criminology, and principles of macroeconomics discuss details of crime control policies, the role of the American society of criminology, and the responsibilities of criminologists. Alumni of the University of Texas have gotten criminology jobs like federal agents, crime data analyst investigations, and corrections officers.
University of South Florida
At the University of South Florida, criminology majors attain in-depth knowledge concerning the criminal justice system, reasons, and effects of crime. Their professors help students critically think and analyze criminal activities through several branches like sociology, anthropology, biology, economics, etc.
Examples of criminology courses are violence, serial killers, and applied statistics in crime. Their criminology department also imparts knowledge about cybercrime, digital forensics, and practical implementation of learned info. Plus, they have special workshops and programs concerning crime for students interested in creating a safe environment for all!
Temple University
If you want to pursue criminology at Temple University, that’s a great idea! Criminology majors attain info about the benefits of the criminal justice system and how it impacts educational institutions and healthcare. Their courses like the nature of crime, introduction to criminal justice, and introduction to criminal law help students learn about policing, sentencing, and victims’ rights.
Temple University’s bachelor’s degree in criminology is renowned internationally, especially its inside-out prison exchange program. Do you want to comprehend how prisoners live? Make sure you apply to Temple University because you will attain theoretical knowledge and practical experience too!
Northeastern University
The professors at Northeastern University discuss the complications of crime and ways to eliminate criminal activities in society. They instill skills in students like problem-solving and critical thinking to help students succeed as professionals. The death penalty, human trafficking, corruption, integrity, and accountability are examples of criminology courses.
Moreover, students can learn criminological theories through their experiential learning model. This assists students with the implementation of theoretical knowledge, preparing criminology majors for criminology jobs. They can also partake in exchange programs, research projects, and directed studies to grow personally and professionally!
Michigan State University
The undergraduate criminology program at Michigan State University provides students with relevant skills and knowledge regarding the reasons, impacts, and solutions for crime. Students are prepared for criminal justice agencies by helping them analyze offenders and criminal activities.
Criminology courses at MSU are gender, sexuality, crime, and justice, violence against women, and criminology and public policy. Their renowned faculty members deeply embed knowledge about the ongoings of the criminal justice system to help them become police officers, detectives, and FBI agents.
University of South Carolina
Lastly, the University of South Carolina’s criminology department helps students tackle crime and maintain peace. Through courses like the American criminal justice system, research methods in criminology and criminal justice, and ethics in criminal justice – students develop critical thinking, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, students study crime through sociological, economic, and psychological concepts to broaden their perspectives. If you are worried about financial assistance, do not worry! They have multiple types of financial aid like grants, loans, scholarships, and student employment opportunities.
Fees of US colleges with a criminology degree
Before applying to colleges, it is crucial to research the tuition fees and financial aid. The table below provides financial information about renowned colleges for criminology in the United States:
| Colleges | Average cost after aid | Average cost before aid |
| University of Mississippi | $13,504 | $27,910 |
| University of Texas—Dallas | $16,987 | $31,078 |
| University of South Florida | $9,203 | $24,652 |
| Temple University | $23,742 | $42,810 |
| Northeastern University | $19,469 | $81,422 |
| Michigan State University | $19,449 | $30,990 |
| University of South Carolina | $21,044 | $29,939 |
Enroll in popular US colleges to learn about criminological theories!
In conclusion, a bachelor’s degree in criminology equips students with problem-solving, communication, analytical, and critical thinking skills. Criminological theories in courses expound on the rationale, effects, and crime prevention techniques to help students grow personally and professionally.
Isn’t a degree in criminology informative and intriguing? Do you want to reduce crime for a healthier environment? If so, apply to US colleges for criminology right away! Some popular colleges for criminology in the US are the University of Mississippi, Northeastern University, and Michigan State University. Also, do not forget to consider tuition fees and financial aid before shortlisting colleges!