Criminology at Benedictine College

Criminology is an interdisciplinary social science that studies the causes of crime and delinquency, analyzes crime patterns, and critically examines the origins and functions of criminal law and the criminal justice system. The criminology program at Benedictine College, contained in the Department of Sociology, provides students with a rigorous introduction to the methods and material of contemporary criminological inquiry, including classical and contemporary theories of crime and criminality, methods of theory testing and data analysis, and public policy issues related to crime prevention, control and punishment. Students who successfully complete the program requirements will be prepared well for graduate and professional school, and will have the critical thinking and communication skills necessary for post-baccalaureate training as criminal justice practitioners. Although the criminology program at Benedictine College is more aligned with the liberal arts pillar of the college than it is with training students for careers in criminal justice, direct contact and experience with criminal justice agencies is available through internship placements.