CRIMINOLOGY

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Junior standing or ( SOC/LEGAL ST 131 , SOC 181 , C&E SOC/SOC 210 , or 211 ) Course Designation: Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science Breadth - Social Science Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Critically analyze key criminological theories, including classical, control, differential association, social disorganization, and life-course theories, and apply them to real-world cases. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Assess methods and measures used in criminological research, evaluating the strengths and limitations of official and self-reported data, and identifying methodological principles such as causality and sampling. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Evaluate the relationship between crime and social structures such as race, class, gender, neighborhood context, and social capital influence patterns of criminal behavior and victimization. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Interpret and critique empirical criminological studies, assessing peer-reviewed and policy-oriented criminological research, identifying research questions, methods, findings, and the validity of conclusions. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Articulate and defend evidence-based arguments supported by criminological theory and empirical evidence. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Analyze the social impacts of criminal justice policies using sociological concepts and data. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Critically analyze key criminological theories, including classical, control, differential association, social disorganization, and life-course theories, and apply them to real-world cases. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Assess methods and measures used in criminological research, evaluating the strengths and limitations of official and self-reported data, and identifying methodological principles such as causality and sampling. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Evaluate the relationship between crime and social structures such as race, class, gender, neighborhood context, and social capital influence patterns of criminal behavior and victimization. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Interpret and critique empirical criminological studies, assessing peer-reviewed and policy-oriented criminological research, identifying research questions, methods, findings, and the validity of conclusions. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Articulate and defend evidence-based arguments supported by criminological theory and empirical evidence. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Analyze the social impacts of criminal justice policies using sociological concepts and data. Audience: Undergraduate