College of Arts and Sciences
Degree BA, Criminology
Department Chair and Program Director Christopher Stevens, PhD
Faculty
Stacy M. Wittrock, Assistant Professor of Criminology, BA, MA The University of Iowa
The mission of the Bachelor of Arts program in Criminology is to enhance students’ understanding of how crime is defined, analyzed, and addressed in theory and practice. The Criminology program at Misericordia University aims to enable students to become knowledgeable, compassionate, and ethical criminal justice professionals whose service to the community reflects our shared values of mercy, justice, and hospitality. The Criminology major is interdisciplinary in nature and draws upon a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to engage in broad questions about crime and justice through a supportive and inclusive exchange of perspectives. With a deep understanding of the social, political, and ethical issues surrounding our system of criminal justice, a solid grounding in criminological knowledge and skills, and a creative and critical approach to solving problems related to crime and the criminal justice system, graduates of the program will be equipped to become future leaders in criminal justice.
Program & Student Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcome #1: Develop knowledge of crime, criminal justice, and criminology
Student Learning Outcome:
a. Describe the history, operations, and contemporary problems of the inter-related institutions and processes of the U.S. criminal justice system.
b. Explain inequities and differential impacts of race/ethnicity, social class, gender, region, and age on crime and criminal justice processes.
c. Define important concepts, policies, and theories of the field of criminology.
Program Learning Outcome #2: Evaluate and employ concepts, policies, theories, and legal perspectives of criminology and criminal justice
Student Learning Outcome:
a. Evaluate the major concepts, policies, and theories used to explain and address crime and criminal behavior
b. Apply concepts, policies, theories, and legal perspectives to field-relevant case studies and support the application with appropriate evidence.
Program Learning Outcome #3: Develop and employ research skills
Student Learning Outcome:
a. Explain the process, methods, research design, data analysis, and ethical issues in criminology research.
b. Analyze qualitative or quantitative data in a field of criminology.
c. Formulate an original research question in light of criminology scholarship, develop theoretically generated hypotheses, and design a research paper that addresses the question.
Program Learning Outcome #4: Develop communication skills (written and oral)
Student Learning Outcome:
Develop well structured, well sourced, convincing, and coherent arguments
Requirements:
In addition to the Core curriculum of 48-49 credits, students are required to complete 27 credits of required courses in the Criminology major (nine of which will meet core requirements) and 18 credits of electives in Criminology for a total of 45 credits in the major (up to 14 of which may also meet core requirements). A minimum of 36 credits of free electives are required for degree requirements, with the potential for as many as 50 credits of free electives necessary if all 14 credits of electives that could be double-counted with core requirements are taken.
Required Courses:
- CRM 101 Introduction to Criminology
- MTH 115 Basic Statistics
- PSY 123 Introduction to Psychology
- SOC 101 Comparative Sociology
- POL 210 Introduction to the American Legal System
- POL 223 The American Homeland Security System
- CRM 301 Research Methods in Criminology
- POL 410 American Constitutional Law
- CRM 401 Capstone in Criminology
In addition to the required courses above, students must also complete 18 credits of Criminology electives, selecting from the following courses with the consultation of their advisor:
- CHM 116/116L Forensic Chemistry
- SOC 122 Social Problems
- SOC 221 Cultural Minorities
- POL 211 The Trial in American Life
- POL 332 U.S. Homeland Security Issues
- POL 411 Constitutional Encounters
- PSY 290 Psychopathology
- PSY 336 Forensic Psychology
- CRM 450 Internship in Criminology (3-6 credits; maximum 6 credits in total)
- CRM 480 Independent Study in Criminology (maximum 3 credits)
- CRM 485 Special Topics in Criminology
SEQUENCE OF REQUIRED COURSES
First Year, First Semester
- CRM 101 Introduction to Criminology 3 credits
- MTH 120 (Math Ways of Knowing) 3 credits
- WRT 101 University Writing Seminar 3 credits
- PSY 123 Introduction to Psychology or SOC 101 Comparative Sociology (Behavioral/Social Science Ways of Knowing)3 credits
- RLS 121 or PHL 100 (Religious Studies or Philosophy Core) 3 credits
Total Credits 15
First Year, Second Semester
- PSY 123 Introduction to Psychology or SOC 101 Comparative Sociology (Core Elective 1) 3 credits
- RLS 121 or PHL 100 (Religious Studies or Philosophy Core) 3 credits
- Core course in FA, ENG, HIS, or NAT SCIENCE (Arts, Film & Music, English, History, or Natural Science w/ Lab Core) 3-4 credits
- Core course in FA, ENG, HIS, or NAT SCIENCE (Arts, Film & Music, English, History, or Natural Science w/ Lab Core) 3-4 credits
- Core course in FA, ENG, HIS, or NAT SCIENCE (Arts, Film & Music, English, History, or Natural Science w/ Lab Core) 3-4 credits
Total Credits 15-16
Sophomore Year, First Semester
- POL 210 Introduction to the American Legal System 3 credits
- MTH 115 Basic Statistics (Core PLO #3) 3 credits
- Core course in FA, ENG, HIS, or NAT SCIENCE (Arts, Film & Music, English, History, or Natural Science w/ Lab Core) 3-4 credits
- Core Elective PLO #1, #2, or #4 3 credits
- Core Elective PLO #1, #2, or #4 3 credits
Total Credits 15-16
Sophomore Year, Second Semester
- Core Elective PLO #1, #2, or #4 3 credits
- Free Core Elective (Any Core PLO) 3 credits
- Criminology Elective 3 credits (1)
- Criminology Elective 3 credits (2)
- Free Core Elective 3 credits
Total Credits 15
Junior Year, First Semester
- CRM 301 Research Methods in Criminology 3 credits
- CORE 300 Capstone: The Liberal Arts in Context (PLO #5) 3 credits
- Criminology Elective 3 credits (3)
- Free Elective 3 credits
- Free Elective 3 credits
Total Credits 15
Junior Year, Second Semester
- POL 223 The U.S. Homeland Security System 3 credits
- Criminology Elective 3 credits (4)
- Free Elective 3 credits
- Free Elective 3 credits
- Free Elective 3 credits
Total Credits 15
Senior Year, First Semester
- POL 410 American Constitutional Law 3 credits
- Criminology Elective 3 credits (5)
- Free Elective 3 credits
- Free Elective 3 credits
- Free Elective 3 credits
Total Credits 15
Senior Year, Second Semester
- CRM 401 Capstone in Criminology 3 credits
- Criminology 3 credits (6)
- Free Elective 3 credits
- Free Elective 3 credits
- Free Elective 3 credits
Total Credits 15
MINIMUM CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION IS 120.
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