Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies (BA)

Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies provides majors with a sociological perspective and research-based techniques for examining and responding to important questions about the causes and consequences of crime and the workings of the criminal justice system. Students are exposed to the dimensions of the crime problem, explanations of the prevalence of various types of crime and the various agencies and programs designed to prevent and control crime and delinquency.

The Department of Sociology provides individual guidance from a personal academic advisor, opportunities to interact with our renowned faculty both inside and outside of the classroom and hands-on experience through a required internship or faculty-directed undergraduate research.

Academic Advisors

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(614) 292-6961
Call for the following:
• Exploring and/or declaring a major
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Shannon Phlegar

phlegar.3@osu.edu
(614) 292-1175
141 Townsend Hall
1885 Neil Ave.

David Martinez

martinez.83@osu.edu
(614) 292-1175
141 Townshend Hall
1885 Neil Ave.

Susan Van Pelt

vanpelt.2@osu.edu
(614) 292-1175
141 Townshend Hall
1885 Neil Ave.

Affiliated Departments & Centers

Associated Facilities

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Criminology is the sociology-based study of crime and the criminal justice system. The criminology and criminal justice studies major exposes students to the dimensions of the crime problem, explanations of the prevalence of various types of crime, and the various agencies and programs designed to prevent and control crime and delinquency.

Department of Sociology website More Criminology and Criminal Justices courses

An undergraduate major in criminology and criminal justice studies provides an excellent liberal arts foundation, and graduates are able to apply their skills and knowledge across a wide variety of occupations and professions and for graduate or professional education. Some graduates enter directly into the labor force in law enforcement, delinquency prevention and control services, crime prevention, corrections, probation or parole, criminal justice administration, and research.

courses you might take:

SOCIOL 4508: Violence

Students learn to define behavioral acts that constitute violence; to understand theories of violence; to use these theories to interpret causal effects and to think critically about the influence of society on violent attitudes, beliefs, communication and relationships.

SOCIOL 3315: Sociology of Terrorism

This course provides a broad review of the definitions, histories, types, and theories of terrorism, with a special focus on sociological approaches. Consequences of terrorism are discussed in terms of social responses to terrorism, their economic and political costs and terrorism prevention.

SOCIOL 4506: Juvenile Delinquency

This course uses a sociological perspective to critically examine why people use drugs, why some substances are criminalized while others are not, how race and class influence the adoption and enforcement of drug laws and how the proliferation of drug laws have influenced a range of social institutions.

SOCIOL 2211S: Corrections: An Inside Out Course

This course offers a transformative approach to learning by bringing college students to Southeastern Correctional Complex to study criminal justice in a class with incarcerated individuals. By learning with “inside” students, “outside” students gain a richer understanding of US corrections system, classical and contemporary and their impact on individual lives.

Beyond the Classroom

Sociology and Criminology Club

The Sociology and Criminology Club is an academic and social club for all students interested in sociology or criminology.

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AKD Sociology Honorary

Alpha Kappa Delta acknowledges and promotes excellence in scholarship in the study of sociology, the research of social problems and other social and intellectual activities that lead to improvement in the human condition.

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Warsaw Summer School

Students earn 12 credit hours in this summer program taught by Ohio State faculty in Warsaw, Poland: SOC 3549: Statistics in Sociology; SOC 4699: Undergraduate Research in Sociology; and SOC 5503: Social Change in Central and Eastern Europe. 

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Undergraduate Research

There are many ways to directly experience the excitement of conducting research in Criminology and Sociology at Ohio State, including participating in an Independent Study with a faculty member, writing an Honors thesis (open to non-Honors students), or enrolling in the department's Service Learning Business Collaborative course (SOC 4000S/E).

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Sociology Internship Program

The Sociology Internship Program promotes hands-on career-related experiences in a variety of work environments. In addition to receiving course credit for an approved internship, students receive one-on-one mentoring and career preparation from our internship staff. 

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Next Steps

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