Criminology
Criminology students benefit from hands on learning, networking, and skill building within criminal justice settings, which are predicted to expand in the next several decades.
About Our Criminology Degree
At Valpo, students are encouraged think critically about crime, law, and justice.
Students with a criminology concentration will complete coursework in subjects such as juvenile delinquency, criminological theory, policing and society, and the sociology of law.
The major requirements for a bachelor’s in criminology ensure students have a thorough grounding in criminology and sociology concepts.
Criminology Concentration
| Major Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
| SOC 102 | Introductory Professional Development in Sociology | 1.5 Cr. |
| SOC 110 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 275 | Inequality in America | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 302 | Advanced Professional Development in Sociology | 1.5 Cr. |
| SOC 310 | Development of Sociological Theory | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 319 | Research Methods I: Quantitative Survey Analysis | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 320 | Research Methods II: Data Analysis | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 493 | Senior Seminar | 3 Cr. |
| Total: | 21 Cr. |
Free Electives (Note 1): The credit count for free electives varies based on 3 or 4 credit classes chosen in General Education requirements. Students must reach 124 Cr. to graduate.
| One Course From the Following Options: | ||
|---|---|---|
| SOC 270 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 280 | Media and Crime | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 350 | Police in Society | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 360 | Penology | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 370 | Sociology of Law | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 391 | Issues in Criminology | 3 Cr. |
| One additional sociology course at 200-level or higher | 3 Cr. |
Additional Sociology Courses
| Major Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
| SOC 130 | 3 Cr. | |
| SOC 311 | 3 Cr. | |
| SOC 386 | 3 Cr. |
Total: 27 Cr.
Grand Total: 124 Cr.
Our goal of the criminology minor is to help students critically analyze the world they inhabit and to provide them with an understanding of the complex causes and consequences of social behavior.
Classes in sociology and criminology range from those covering social institutions such as the criminal justice system and the family to those that make the daily headlines. Recent special topics have tackled issues such as racial profiling and the sociology of pandemics.
| Minor Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
| SOC 130 | The Criminal Justice System | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 275 | Inequality in America | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 311 | Criminological Theory | 3 Cr. |
| 3 courses from the following options: | ||
| SOC 270 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 280 | Media and Crime | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 286 | Criminal Justice in Norway | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 291 | Topics in Criminology | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 350 | Police in Society | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 360 | Penology | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 370 | Sociology of Law | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 386 | Internship in Sociology/Criminology | 3 Cr. |
| SOC 391 | Issues in Criminology | 3 Cr. |
| Total: | 18 Cr. |
- Jasmine Blassingame ’21, 2nd Lieutenant and Logistics Readiness Officer in the U.S. Air Force in Aviano, Italy
- Natalie Kasberger ’21, enlisting in Navy as Intelligence Specialist
- Emily O’Leary ’21, joining Lawrence Hall serving youth and families who have suffered severe trauma
- Macy Mullins ’18, U.S. Probation Officer, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services
- Abby Wichlinski ’18, U.S. Probation Officer, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services
- Hannah Chapman ’17, Case Manager, Porter County PACT
- Corrina Qualls ’16, Upward Bound, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth
- Kelly Chavez ’15, Assistant Director of Civic Engagement, University of Chicago
- Tanysha Gardner ’15, Lead Teacher, Teach for America
- Erica Gilbert ’15, Forensic Scientist IV, Indiana State Police crime lab
- Carmyn Hamblen ’15, Trooper, Indiana State Police
- Andy Burns ’14, Deputy Sheriff, McLean County Sheriff’s Department, IL
- Natalie Zibolski ’13, Victim’s Service Specialist, State of Wisconsin’s Department of Justice
- Matt Aberman ’21, MEd in School Counseling at DePaul University
- Nell Riordan ’21, JD at Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech
- Lexi Rudolph ’21, JD at Florida Coastal School of Law
- Jas Carter ’20, MBA in Business Administration at DePaul University
- Glenndon Bone ’20, MA in Criminal Justice at Arizona State University
- Samantha Burgett ’20, Master of Social Work (MSW) at IUPUI
- Connor Martin ’20, MPH in Epidemiology and Social Behavioral Sciences at IUPUI’s Fairbanks School of Public Health
- Samyra Leonard ’19, Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Megan Gilliam ’19, School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University
- Kelly Chavez ’15, MA in the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago
College of Arts and Sciences
Program Rankings & Highlights
Hear From Our Students
“The criminology program offered a lot of hands on experience, teaching us that human struggle cannot just be learned in the classroom and rather we have to listen to those experiencing this injustice.”
–Recent Graduate
College of Arts and Sciences
Meet Our Faculty
Professors. Mentors. Friends. At Valparaiso University, you will work on real-life problems alongside faculty leaders with decades of business experience and a true desire to do what’s best for you.
College of Arts and Sciences
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