Welcome to the Graduate Program in Criminology, Law & Society

With a curriculum that stresses criminological theory, the social construction of law, and social justice, the graduate program in Criminology, Law and Society takes the broader view that the criminal justice system is just one of several institutions relevant for crime and justice. Special emphasis is placed on using rigorous research methods to examine the role of social institutions (e.g. communities, jobs, schools, and families) in the occurrence of crime and the effectiveness of crime control.

The graduate program in Criminology, Law and Society helps students develop a critical understanding of the social context in which the criminal justice system operates. The program examines the causes of crime, the nature of social control, and the sociological implications of current criminal justice policy. Students in the program are exposed to the crime control systems of other countries, suggesting that existing arrangements in the U.S. are not inevitable and that viable alternatives exist.

Students gain an appreciation for the social justice issues that are revealed in the operation of the criminal justice system as well. They wrestle with difficult questions about, for example, the relationship between racial and economic privilege and justice outcomes. Classes are small, but include students from varying backgrounds, providing an exceptional learning environment with personal one-on-one attention from faculty who are experts in the field.

Faculty Mentors

The program includes several nationally-known faculty publishing in the top academic journals and university presses. Our full-time faculty have diverse research and teaching interests including: criminological theory, law and gender, policing, poverty and violence, prisons and punishment, racism and criminal stereotypes, research methods, social justice, victimology, and white-collar crime.  Faculty and graduate students collaborate on cutting-edge research, and graduate students have presented their research findings at national conferences. Additionally, funding for graduate students to work with faculty on teaching and research is available in the form of graduate assistantships and tuition scholarships.

Career Paths

Our students pursue a range of activities after graduation, including further graduate studies at the Ph.D. level and careers in law, academia, research (both government and private firms), federal law enforcement, and federally-funded crime prevention initiatives.