Key takeaways
- Some reputable colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology include Hofstra University, University at Buffalo, and SUNY College at Old Westbury.
- St. Bonaventure University possesses 80+ clubs and organizations for students.
- Criminology courses comprise data analysis in criminal justice, literature and culture, family violence, and juvenile justice.
- The SUNY College at Old Westbury is among the most affordable US colleges for criminology with a tuition fee of $24,358 before financial aid.
- Employers seek problem-solving skills, good communication, and ethical reasoning from criminology graduates stepping into the professional world.
- Some high-paying criminology jobs are attorneys, FBI specialists, and judges. However, individuals must pass relevant tests and possess sufficient experience for it.
Do you know that approximately every 1 in 3 people has committed a crime in the US? Have you ever wondered what drives people to carry out such atrocities? And how do civilians and professionals react to them? If you want to explore the rationale and impacts of criminal activities, consider applying to colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology.
Moreover, criminology majors learn to analyze crime through several lenses, such as anthropology, psychology, economics, politics, biology, and sociology. Experienced criminology professors, in New York City colleges, impart theoretical and practical knowledge, resulting in students finding successful careers in law enforcement agencies, education, and the government.
Furthermore, as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be nearly 65,000 job opportunities for detectives and police officers yearly in the upcoming years. Additionally, the field is expected to grow by 3% by 2032.
Therefore, read this blog to become familiar with an undergraduate criminology degree. We will explore criminology course descriptions, advantages of a criminology degree, profitable career options, skills required by employers, and renowned colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology. So, let’s begin!
Which courses are offered in colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology?
Checking criminology course catalogs on college websites is an ideal way to learn about a bachelor’s degree in criminology. Students become aware of whether their interest lies in this field by reading course descriptions.
Here are some common criminology courses offered in colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology:
Introduction to Criminal Justice
This course highlights how people respond to crime and the relevance of the US criminal justice system. Some topics include organizations that are part of the criminal justice system, like judges, prosecutors, corrections officials, police, and attorneys and holistically studying people.
Moreover, criminology majors learn to critically analyze the efficiency of the criminal justice system’s policies, functions of the juvenile justice system, and relationships between stakeholders and criminal justice professionals.
Police and society
Criminology majors become familiar with police operations in society and the relationship between the public and police officers. Additionally, professors engage students in intriguing discussions concerning social impacts on law, the dynamic between people and police officers, and police legitimacy.
By the end of this course, students will know how to assess the functions of the police and ethical notions of policing in the US. For instance, police subcultures, technological developments, and the use of force.
Data analysis in criminal justice
Experienced criminology professors, in good colleges for criminology, enlighten students with knowledge about qualitative and quantitative research methods utilized by criminal justice professionals. Additionally, they learned to effectively use data by comprehending research material.
Students in data analysis learn to differentiate among the categories of variables, test hypotheses using several methods, elaborate research designs, and comprehend measures.
Criminal justice: ethical and philosophical foundations
In this course, students learn to ethically and philosophically analyze criminal justice systems. For instance, professors delve into ethics and research, utilitarianism and deontology, police and ethics, and state control.
Furthermore, criminology majors learn to analyze ethical issues faced by criminal justice professionals, theories about ethics, and the relevance of stakeholders in the US criminal justice system.
Which skills do employers seek from students from colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology?
Students must possess effective communication, problem-solving, and research skills to find successful criminology jobs. Attending colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology enhances the skills and knowledge of students in various ways.
Some of the commonplace skills, employers look for, are mentioned below:
Communication
Effective communication skills are integral in understanding criminal behavior because professionals must speak to victims, witnesses, inspectors, criminals, and the accused. Additionally, communication skills are required for research purposes concerning investigations, cases, and difficult conversations during interviews.
Problem-solving
Criminology professionals must notice small details to understand and solve cases effectively. Problem-solving is crucial in root cause analysis concerning offenders’ thinking patterns. That is because professionals have to work with a lot of data. Hence, strong problem-solving skills assist criminology professionals with investigations and judicial processes.
Ethics
Maintaining confidentiality is essential to a criminology professional. Additionally, staying considerate, empathetic, and impartial is important while dealing with offenders. Therefore, professionals must not let their opinions about race, gender, class, and religion overrule their decisions.
What are the job options after joining colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology?
Criminology professionals have personally and professionally rewarding careers because they spread awareness concerning criminal activities, their causes, and their impacts. Additionally, they come up with crime prevention techniques for a safer society.
Furthermore, criminology graduates earn more than $100,000 by becoming judges, attorneys, and FBI specialists. However, they must pass relevant tests and possess sufficient experience for it. The following table highlights some lucrative criminology degree jobs after joining good colleges for criminology:
| Professions | Median yearly salary |
| Judge and hearing officers | $128,710 |
| Corrections manager | $44,880 |
| FBI specialist | $100,000 |
| Financial examiner | $81,410 |
| Forensic science technician | $61,930 |
| Forensic psychologist | $72,285 |
| Security manager | $71,922 |
| Immigration or customs enforcement agent | $59,789 |
| Police officer | $66,020 |
| Criminologist | $92,910 |
| Transit and railroad police | $64,930 |
| Criminal justice professor | $64,600 |
| Fire investigator | $63,080 |
| Fish and Game Warden | $60,730 |
| Probation officer | $60,250 |
| Intelligence analyst | $72,429 |
| Private investigator | $59,380 |
| United States postal inspector | $64,964 |
| FBI agent | $93,970 |
| Attorney/lawyer | $127,990 |
Which US colleges offer an online criminology degree?
Some students cannot attend on-campus classes due to busy schedules like frequent traveling. They can explore online colleges with a criminology degree for convenience. Some esteemed online US colleges with a degree in criminology are mentioned below:
- Arizona State University
- University of Florida
- Arkansas State University
- University of Nebraska Omaha
- University of Missouri – St. Louis
What are the options for colleges in New York with a degree in criminology?
Colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge concerning criminology. They acquire knowledge about crime through, several aspects like ethics, gender, race, class, and religion. Moreover, students’ skills are developed in classes, like problem-solving and interpersonal.
To learn about US colleges for criminology in detail, read the below:
Hofstra University
A bachelor’s degree in criminology from Hofstra University helps students learn the rationale and effect of criminal activities. They learn about crime through several lenses, like philosophy, sociology, forensics, psychology, and political science. Their experienced professors embed methodological, critical thinking, and analytical skills within students.
Moreover, criminology majors take informative courses like Introduction to Criminology, Research Methods in Sociology, and Terrorism in World Politics. Such courses assist students in understanding concepts like the death penalty, political violence, terrorist decision-making, and data collection techniques, through laboratory sessions and assignments.
To join Hofstra University, students require a GPA of 3.74 and a mixture of As and Bs; their acceptance rate is 69.3%.
Niagara University
Niagara University’s bachelor in criminology and criminal justice provides students with top-notch learning and lucrative job opportunities post-graduation. Their reputable professors help criminology majors with research, victim services, and law. Additionally, the instructors encourage students to avail study abroad and internship opportunities for professional growth.
Furthermore, students opt for courses like American Criminal Courts and Urban Crime to become familiar with the role of court actors, like juries, and street offenders, and the impacts of unique and harsh punishments. For admission to Niagara University, high-school students require a GPA of 3.63. Their acceptance rate is 89.5%.
University at Buffalo
Criminology majors at the University at Buffalo learn to critically analyze criminological theories regarding law, society, stereotypes, the criminal justice system, race, and ethnicity. Through this degree, criminology graduates can explore careers in security, law enforcement, and public safety.
Moreover, intriguing courses, like Juvenile Justice, Drugs and Society, and Race, Crime, & Criminal Justice, help students with knowledge about drug legislation in the US, international drug control policies, racial discrimination in crime, and youth corrections in the community. Additionally, the college has more than 400 student organizations and clubs for personal and professional growth.
To join the University at Buffalo, students need a GPA of 3.8 and above-average grades. Their acceptance rate is 67.7%.
Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College’s bachelor’s in criminology assists students with crime analysis, law ethics, identifying suspects, and defending innocent souls. With the help of informative courses, criminology majors learn to dissect criminological theories through biology, anthropology, and psychology. Additionally, their professors engage students in discussions concerning criminal offending and victimization theories through scientific methods.
Furthermore, criminology majors take interesting criminology courses, such as:
- Introduction to Philosophy
- Literature and Culture
- Research Methods
- Victimology
- Criminological Theory
- Family Violence
For admission, high-school students need an SAT score of 1130-1290 and their acceptance rate is 78%.
SUNY College at Old Westbury
The criminology professors, at the SUNY College at Old Westbury, enlighten students with criminological knowledge relevant to sociology. They assist students with critical thinking and analysis, with the help of cultural, sociological, and structural ideologies. To acquire such information, students take courses like Sociology of Violence, Gender, Crime & Justice, and Issues in Criminology.
Moreover, the SUNY College at Old Westbury has several societies, organizations, and events, like LGBTQ+ programs. They promote wellness and health by spreading awareness and providing treatment to students. Additionally, they offer scholarships, grants, loans, and alternative financing. To join this university, students need a GPA of 3.0, letters of recommendation, and an essay. Their acceptance rate is 77%.
Saint John Fisher College
The criminology and criminal justice program, at St. John Fisher College, helps criminology professionals comprehend criminal minds and tackling with illicit activities. Criminology majors can explore careers in cybercrime, law enforcement, crime analysis, and institutional corrections post-graduation.
Furthermore, their experienced professors teach Criminological Theory, Prison Nation, and Women and Crime courses. They discuss theories about crimes, like mass incarceration, functions of confinement facilities, and women as offenders. High-school students need a GPA of 3.51 and average grades; their acceptance rate is 73%.
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University’s criminology program’s faculty helps students with analytical and critical thinking skills. The criminological theories concern psychology, economics, political science, and socioeconomic factors for holistic learning.
Moreover, criminology majors become aware of qualitative and quantitative research methods for data collection, the role of criminal justice systems, and the rationale for crime. For personal and professional growth, the college has 80+ organizations and societies. To join St. Bonaventure University, students must possess a GPA of 3.47 and average grades. Their acceptance rate is 81.1%.
What are the tuition fees for colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology?
High-school students must research data and trends, such as tuition fees and types of financial aid, before shortlisting colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology. Additionally, they must consider the campus life, and expenses, like accommodation, food, and conveyance, for undergraduate college planning.
The following table portrays the tuition fees, before and after aid, for colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology:
| Colleges | Average cost before aid | Average cost after aid |
| Hofstra University | $73,548 | $28,867 |
| Niagara University | $52,490 | $12,255 |
| University at Buffalo | $31,266 | $19,592 |
| Le Moyne College | $55,190 | $15,315 |
| SUNY College at Old Westbury | $24,358 | $11,639 |
| Saint John Fisher College | $53,914 | $18,168 |
| St. Bonaventure University | $55,420 | $13,802 |
Pursue colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology for professional success and growth!
In conclusion, colleges in New York State with a degree in criminology, like Niagara University and Le Moyne College, provide students with holistic knowledge concerning the rationale and effects of crime. Their experienced professors instill critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills within students. Hence, students can explore lucrative jobs like FBI specialists and probation officers.
Furthermore, students with busy schedules can explore online US colleges for criminology like the University of Florida and Arizona State University. To learn more about criminology colleges in the US, students can check the following: