Key takeaways
- An undergraduate criminology degree encompasses a comprehensive study of crime and criminals in light of societal frameworks, exploring causes and preventive measures.
- Criminology focuses on understanding crime through sociological and psychological lenses, unlike criminal justice which deals with legal repercussions.
- Criminology’s interdisciplinary nature makes it a popular choice among students.
- It integrates psychology, sociology, economics, and law enforcement, among the many other disciplines that work alongside criminology.
- Criminology jobs and career opportunities are abundant in law enforcement, corrections, social services, and research sectors, with roles ranging from crime analysts to forensic scientists.
- Top institutions like the University of Maryland and Arizona State University offer esteemed undergraduate programs in criminology.
For most people, a higher education or an undergraduate degree can be life-changing. Undergraduate degrees open a bulk of career pathways, and bring about many important changes in perspectives to life. For criminology jobs, you need an esteemed criminology college degree.
Therefore, deciding which degree you will continue with is a critical decision that must be given enough thought and time. Criminology is one such degree that many people wish to consider, but only a few pursue it.
Crime is relevant globally. Where there is civilization, there will be crime. Where there is crime, there are roles and responsibilities that are created to counter the crimes happening in societies.
Therefore, a criminology degree is evergreen. It will remain relevant till there are humans and human societies. Moreover, the most impressive part about criminology is that it is correlated to several other fields like psychology, sociology undergraduate degree, economics, and law enforcement.
Resultantly, many undergraduate 4-year degree-granting colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in criminology. There are numerous criminology courses that you might wish to explore.
Before you look into criminology careers, make sure you understand the value and importance of studying criminology. Here is everything you need to know!
What is criminology?
Criminology is much more than the stereotypical picture of a police officer and law enforcement agent. Instead, it is a multidimensional field of study that is made up of rigorous research and studies.
To help you understand criminology quickly, here is a quick look at what it entails.
Defining criminology
Criminology studies crime and criminals within the boundaries of human civilizations and societies. It studies the various dimensions of crime and asks important questions as to what, why, when, and how crime happens.
Criminology vs. Criminal Justice
Often people get confused between criminology and criminal justice. In reality, the two are entirely different fields that may overlap at some point in time, but not always.
Criminal justice has to do with the repercussions of crime. It deals with getting justice to the criminal and the victim. It follows a framework of legal laws, regulations, and other intricacies. Additionally, it may work towards the rehabilitation of criminals.
However, criminology studies crime through the lens of societal dynamics and factors. It explores the crime, tries to understand it, and figures out ways to stop the crime from happening again. It connects individual psychology as well as group behaviors to crime.
Moreover, criminology might also explore the rehabilitation processes for criminals. It may look at the rehabilitation methodologies, their effectiveness, and their alternatives.
Criminology’s interdisciplinary nature
Essentially, criminology aims to stop, prevent, and understand crime before it happens again. To do that, it uses multiple approaches and incorporates many different angles to dissect a crime.
Criminology may be observed through a sociological lens or a psychological lens. So, how are these two different?
- Psychological explanation in criminology explores the psychological development of an individual that causes them to act in a certain manner. Many psychologists like Sigmund Freud have their work frequently acknowledged and used in criminology.
- Meanwhile, sociological explanation in criminology looks at external and societal factors to establish the causes of crime, and then the methods to stop them from happening. Many important American sociologists like Edwin Sutherland use sociological theories to explain crime.
In brief, if you study criminology, you will be in touch with many other disciplines throughout your degree and your criminology career. This makes it exciting, enlightening, and fulfilling for students who are particularly attracted to human behaviors in various settings.
Why should one study criminology?
Studying criminology offers several essential benefits. These could range from personal to professional growth, as well as important reasons that make any person a change-maker in their society.
For various reasons, different types of students choose to study criminology. Whether you are interested in criminology jobs such as a criminologist, or just like to study crime, here are the top reasons why to study criminology:
Understanding criminal behavior
Lawbreakers of every kind have reasons behind their actions. The reasons may not be used to justify their decisions and behaviors. However, it is a good starting point of an important conversation regarding society’s role in crime.
When you study criminology, you go through a series of research and studies, theories, and ideas that help you explain either side of crime. It changes perspective and allows you to develop your worldview.
Therefore, many people pick disciplines like criminology and rejuvenate with a fresh perspective that is more solution-minded than negative and degrading.
The ever-evolving nature of work
The best part about studying criminology and then building a criminology career is that it is forever changing. As new technologies come in, and way of life changes, so does crime. For example, cyber crimes were not a thing in the past.
Therefore, as you study and practice criminology you will find it exciting and the least monotonous. Every crime and every new addition to the list of possibilities will pose its own set of challenges that will keep you engaged.
Contributing to crime prevention
As people residing in civilizations and societies, it is crucial that we do our part and contribute something to the societies we exist in. Therefore, for many people who wish to be influential and impactful in society, it’s important that you pick such a discipline.
Criminology jobs are mostly in law enforcement agencies, rehabilitation facilities, and other such crucial and foundational institutions. Resultantly, you become part of a system that is working tirelessly towards the betterment of society.
Therefore, contributing to crime prevention or proposing better methodologies for criminal justice will contribute to society’s improvement. With a criminology degree, you have greater chances of suggesting something groundbreaking and making an international impact.
Pursuing justice and fairness
Lastly, when you study criminology, you are taught many things. One of these is the development of skills that ensure fair trials and improved criminal justice that is based on research and studies.
Criminologists are an indispensable part of the criminal justice sphere. They are extremely relevant, and have a voice for the voiceless. Even with a private, corporate job, you could be ensuring fairness in the workplace. These are very critical aspects of our life that this discipline caters to.
Criminology jobs and career pathways
Now that you have seen the importance of criminology and how it is one of the most crucial fields in our societies, let’s dig a little deeper. Behind every student who is finding a suitable discipline to pursue, is a drive to get good jobs and earn well for themselves.
So, one of the many reasons why one may study criminology, is you also should consider the pleasing career opportunities.
Criminology careers are packed with a diverse range of jobs, responsibilities, and roles. More importantly, the jobs are offered by various types of employers, mostly in nonprofit and government organizations. Regardless, criminology students always have a variety of career options at their fingertips.
Besides, criminology courses also overlap with other disciplines. This gives you an excellent chance to explore other fields and make the shift whenever you feel so right. Additionally, knowing other disciplines also helps you stay more aware of what career path suits you best.
What are the most common criminology jobs?
Criminology teaches many important skills that can be used in your sociology career, as well as some HR jobs related to compliance.
Here are the most common criminology jobs that you may be interested in:
- Civil service administrator
- Community development worker
- Corrections officer
- Crime analysts
- Crime scene investigator
- Criminologist
- Detective
- Forensic science technician
- Loss prevention specialist
- Police officer
- Prison officer
- Probation and community control office
- Social scientists
- Social worker
- Youth worker
Additional pieces of training, experiences and higher education such as a master’s or doctoral degree can also lead to job roles like:
- College professor
- Correctional Officer Supervisor
- Criminal Profiler
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Forensic Investigator
- Forensic Psychologist
- Police and Detective Supervisor
- Policy Analyst
- Researcher
- Secret Service Agent
- Victim Advocate
Some of the most common employers of criminology graduates are:
- Law enforcement agencies
- Corrections and rehabilitation facilities
- Government agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
- Private security firms
- Legal and judicial system
- Research institutions and academia
- Social services agencies
- Private sector
- Forensic science laboratories
What skills can I develop through a criminology bachelor’s degree?
A bachelor’s degree in criminology equips you with a range of important skills that are valuable in professional spheres, as well as for personal development. These skills are crucial for particularly those professions that are related to criminal justice, law enforcement, policy analysis, and social services. Some of the most common skills you develop when you study criminology include:
Research and data analysis
Criminology relies heavily on research to understand crime patterns, causes of criminal behavior, and the impact of different policies and interventions. Not only that, but the interdisciplinary aspect is also heavily dependent on psychological and social research and their findings.
Therefore, your time studying criminology courses will be spent mostly on these research projects and dissecting the findings. Consequently, you will graduate with a tough and thorough understanding of research, data analysis, and data management. This skill is also more than indispensable for many criminology jobs.
Critical thinking
Furthermore, criminology requires a keen eye for details. It encourages you to think deeply and critically of such a serious matter at hand. Therefore, critical thinking is another skill you develop with this degree. This skill involves evaluating information objectively, considering different perspectives, and making reasoned judgments.
Moreover, in criminology, critical thinking is crucial for assessing the validity of theories, understanding the root causes of crime, and evaluating the effectiveness of criminal justice policies.
Communication and interpersonal skills
Criminologists often need to communicate complex information to diverse audiences, including policymakers, law enforcement professionals, community members, and other stakeholders. For this communication to be successful, you must possess the necessary communication and interpersonal skills.
Luckily, a degree in criminology will prepare you well enough to face, meet, and collaborate with a range of professionals on one project. Communication skills must be great in person as well as on paper.
Ethical reasoning
Criminologists frequently encounter ethical dilemmas. These may be related to research methods, privacy concerns, and the fair treatment of individuals within the criminal justice system. However, during these times, ethical reasoning is crucial.
During your bachelor’s degree in criminology, you may have to work on several projects individually or with groups of other students. Resultantly, you will develop ethical reasoning for times when you need it the most.
Additionally, ethical reasoning also comes into play when you are dealing with crime reports and criminal justice. Developing ethical reasoning skills helps you navigate these challenges responsibly.
Best colleges for criminology bachelor degree
If you wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminology, here are some of the best colleges known for their comprehensive undergraduate criminology programs:
University of Maryland–College Park
Maryland is perhaps one of the best states to pursue a higher education. However, if you are in search of the best college that offers an undergraduate degree in criminology, choose the University of Maryland. Firstly, it is a public institute founded in 1856 and is today’s top college in the US.
It is home to one of the most vibrant student lives, with over 107+ sports teams and an extremely diverse student body. Its graduation rate is 74%.
Western Kentucky University
There are more than 30 public, private, and nonprofit colleges in Kentucky that offer 4-year bachelor’s degrees. However, Western Kentucky University stands out and shines the brightest when it comes to finding the right college for a degree in criminology. It is easy to find admission in since it has a higher acceptance rate of 97%. Its graduation rate is 40%.
Arizona State University
The criminology degree requirements at Arizona State University are minimal. This makes it the ideal college for students residing in Arizona, or coming from neighboring states. Additionally, the criminology courses offered at ASU are well-balanced with disciplines like psychology, economics, and sociology degree in Arizona. Consequently, you learn everything in detail with a holistic view.
George Mason University
George Mason University or GMU has the highest number of social scene enrollments, as compared to its other programs. The criminology program at this college is going to be worth it. The college has a high acceptance rate of 90%, and has an average GPA requirement of 3.7. It has more than 100 sports teams and several student clubs and organizations.
Bottom line
In summary, we can now agree that a degree in criminology is definitely a good choice for more than one reason. From its ever-evolving nature that never gets monotonous, to the impactful work criminologists can do, it is an excellent career choice.
However, criminology is not for everyone. People with change-making passion and a thrill for exploring the depth of human societies would really enjoy this degree and a criminology career path.
Overall, a criminology bachelor’s degree prepares you to critically analyze crime-related issues, conduct rigorous research, and communicate findings effectively. These skills are valuable for your career, while also benefiting your personal growth.