The program provides students the opportunity to develop the
necessary analytic and methodological skills and ethical
sensibility to contribute to the understanding and improvement of
society.
The program will produce graduates who:
Demonstrate an understanding of both
fundamental criminological concepts and current developments in the
major areas within the field.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the definitions of crime, different
forms of crime and mechanisms of social control.
- Apply theoretical principles to the study of crime and
justice.
- Demonstrate understanding of the principles of qualitative and
quantitative analysis.
Demonstrate methodological and analytical
skills critical to effective criminological research.
- Apply fundamental techniques for statistical analysis.
- Demonstrate understanding of how theories conceptualize and
explain central issues in criminology.
- Plan research designs, including Institutional Research Board
(IRB) protocols.
- Effectively interpret quantitative measures, including
statistical significance and descriptive statistics (mean, median,
mode) as well as basic inferential statistical concepts
(correlation, regression).
Demonstrate core competencies in the field
of criminology.
- Communicate criminological knowledge effectively in both
written and oral formats.
- Produce figures, tables, graphs and charts for use in written
reports and professional presentations.
- Write papers on substantive topics adhering to academic journal
standards.
- Search social science data bases.
- Cite sources in appropriate format.
Critically and reflexively evaluate issues
of ethical behavior in social science.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the goals and function of the
Institutional Research Board (IRB) process.
- Formulate an Informed Consent form that meets Human Subjects
standards.
- Identify the nature, range and scope of ethical considerations
and legal ramifications of a public policy decision related to
crime and justice and propose a course of action.
- Describe situations that are ethically ambiguous and propose a
course of action.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the needs of special populations
including children, the mentally impaired and prisoners.
Demonstrate the ability to participate in
society not just as a well informed citizen (the level that one
would expect of persons with bachelor’s degrees) but as an expertly
informed citizen in the areas of crime and justice.
- Apply criminological theories to public policy questions.
- Recognize major societal issues in order to be in a position to
contribute to the resolution of future challenges.