Criminology
The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers the largest interdisciplinary degree program at UF. Students seeking a degree in criminology will study the complexities of relationships among the legal, social, political, historical, and psychological influences affecting law processes and crime and justice.
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About this Program
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Department Information
The Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law has over 1,000 undergraduate majors and 100 graduate students. The department’s faculty are internationally known for their research in the areas of families, gender, and sexualities; health, aging, and the life course; environmental and resource sociology; race and ethnicity; criminology and criminal justice; and psychology and law.
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CONTACT
352.294.7164 (tel) | 352.392.6568 (fax)
P.O. Box 117330
3219 TURLINGTON HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-7330
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Curriculum
- Combination Degrees
- Criminology
- Criminology UF Online
- Sociology
- Sociology Minor
- Sociology Minor UF Online
- Sociology of Social Justice and Policy Minor
- Sociology UF Online
Courses focus on explanations for the development of law within society, why people break laws, and how society reacts to law-breaking. Interdisciplinary breadth in the study of criminology is essential for those majoring in criminology. Majors may enroll in relevant courses offered outside the department to help satisfy tracking requirements (listed below under Foundation Coursework).
After obtaining a BA in Criminology, students can seek careers as professionals working within the criminal or juvenile justice systems (i.e., courts, law enforcement, corrections). Many students also attend law school, while others attend graduate school where they may conduct research on criminological issues.
Coursework for the Major
The major requires 34 credits. At least 22 of the 34 must be taken at UF in courses offered by the department with prefixes of CCJ, CJC, CJE, CJJ, or CJL. Students may apply no more than 6 credits of 1000/2000-level coursework to the major.
A maximum of 12 credits of criminology courses can be transferred toward the major. Students who transfer six credits of 1000/2000-level (lower-division) credits into the major should not take CJL 2000. There are restrictions on which lower-division courses will transfer to the major. Lower-division courses that transfer into the major include introductory courses on criminology, criminal justice and criminal law/procedure. Students who wish to take interdisciplinary courses and transfer credits from another institution need to be careful about the 22-credit residency requirement.
Minimum grades of C must be earned in courses that count toward the major. The only exception is CCJ 4940 , which requires a grade of S.
These courses are the basis for meeting the student learning outcomes in the major’s academic learning compact, therefore they must be taken at UF.
Students should take this course only if they have not already completed six credits of 1000/2000-level criminology courses.
Majors may choose from any course offered in the department not used to meet this requirement.
These approved interdisciplinary courses may also apply to the CLAS electives requirement. These courses do not apply toward the 22-credit residency requirement.
Students may apply only 3 credits of CCJ 4940 or 3 credits of CCJ 4911 (if taken as S/U) to the 34 credits for the major. CCJ 4940 is automatically graded S/U. CCJ 4911 may be taken as either a letter grade or S/U, but the student must submit an application to the registrar’s office for this course to be taken as an S/U grade.
Exit Exam Requirement
To complete the major students must pass a department exit examination regarding crime, criminal justice, law and society, and criminological theory, administered online.
Recommended Coursework
Students who meet CLAS honors criteria (3.5 upper-division GPA) may take up to six credits in CCJ 4970 or enroll in up to two graduate seminars as honors courses, depending on instructor permission and course availability. However, students should keep in mind the tuition differences between undergraduate and graduate credits.
Combination Degree Programs
The opportunity to get an early start on graduate work by enrolling in graduate credits exists in a combination BA/MA program. Interested students must apply and be accepted to the undergraduate phase (so that graduate credits can count toward the major to earn the BA degree). Independently, they also must apply for admission to the graduate phase and compete with all other applicants for admission to a limited number of openings each Fall.
Overseas Studies
The major has no affiliated overseas programs. Criminology majors, however, frequently study abroad and can often transfer credits to the major.
Placement
CCJ 3024 is a prerequisite or corequisite for most of the other courses in the major. During advanced registration, there may be restrictions placed on lower-division students for registration in many upper-division courses to make sure juniors and seniors get the credits they need to graduate on time.
Research
Majors may pursue original research through the upper-division honors program in the major, especially via senior thesis credits ( CCJ 4970 ). Others pursue independent research through Undergraduate Research in Criminology ( CCJ 4911 ). The major also offers a research internship ( CCJ 4940 ), which enables students to work in ongoing research projects.
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete 1 criminology-related foundation course (criminology-related foundation courses include introductory criminal justice and criminology courses. CCJ, CJL, or CJE prefixes, such as CCJ 3024 , CJL 2000 , CJL 3038 , or related courses: AMH 2010 , AMH 2020 , ANT 2000 , ANT 2410 , ECO 2013 , ECO 2023 , PHI 2010 , PHI 2630 , POS 2041 , POS 2112 , PSY 2012 , SYG 2000 , SYG 2010 ).
- 2.3 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional criminology-related foundation course
- 2.5 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional criminology-related foundation course with 2.65 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.65 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete STA 2023 with a 2.75 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.8 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete CCJ 3024 (if not previously taken) and maintain 2.75 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.80 UF GPA required
Semester 6
- Complete at least 2 additional core criminology courses: CJL 3038 , CCJ 4014 , CCJ 3701 with minimum grades of C
- Or 1 core criminology course and 1 law-based course: CJL 2000 , CJL 4050 , CJL 4110 , CJL 4410 with minimum grades of C
Semester 7
- Complete at least 1 additional core criminology course with minimum grades of C
- Complete 3 additional criminology electives
Semester 8
- Complete the last core criminology course, if needed, with a minimum grade of C
- Complete the law-based requirement, if needed: CJL 2000 , CJL 4050 , CJL 4410 , or CJL 4410 with a minimum grade of C
- Complete the 2 remaining criminology electives
- Pass the criminology exit exam
Students are expected to complete the Writing Requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the General Education International (GE-N) and Diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S).
Up to 9 credits of approved Criminology electives outside of the Criminology department may also count towards the 3000 level or above electives outside of the major.
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
Plan of Study Grid | Semester One | Credits |
|---|
| State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences | 3 |
| State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 |
| Criminology-related course (Critical Tracking) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 4-5 |
| Credits | 13-14 |
| Semester Two |
|---|
| CCJ 3024 | Advanced Principles of Criminal Justice ( Critical Tracking; recommended; or other criminology-related course ) | 3 |
| Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) | 3 |
| State Core Gen Ed Mathematics | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Elective | 4 |
| Credits | 16-18 |
| Semester Three |
|---|
| Quest 2 (Gen Ed Biological or Physical Science) | 3 |
| STA 2023 | Introduction to Statistics 1 ( Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics ) | 3 |
| Criminology-related course (Critical Tracking) | 3 |
| State Core Gen Ed Humanities | 3 |
| Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Semester Four |
|---|
| Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences (area NOT taken in semester 1) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Humanities | 3 |
| Science Laboratory (Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences) | 1 |
| State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences (if needed; several criminology-related courses meet this requirement) | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Credits | 16 |
| Semester Five |
|---|
| CCJ 3024 | Advanced Principles of Criminal Justice ( Critical Tracking; if not taken previously; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences ) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Biological Sciences or Physical Science (area not taken for Quest 2 course in Semester 3) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 |
| Approved Criminology elective; Critical Tracking | 3 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Semester Six |
|---|
| Criminology core courses; Critical Tracking | 6-7 |
| Approved Criminology electives; Critical Tracking | 6 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 |
| Credits | 15-16 |
| Semester Seven |
|---|
| Criminology core course; Critical Tracking | 3-4 |
| Approved Criminology elective; Critical Tracking | 3 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 9 |
| Credits | 15-16 |
| Semester Eight |
|---|
| Criminology core course; Critical Tracking | 3 |
| Approved Criminology electives; Critical Tracking | 6 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Total Credits | 120 |
Select any CCJ, CJE, CJL, or CJJ elective and up to 9 credits from these approved interdisciplinary courses.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
|---|
| AEB 4085 | Agricultural Risk Management and the Law | 3 |
| AMH 3551 | Constitutional History of the United States to 1877 | 3 |
| AMH 3552 | Constitutional History of the United States Since 1877 | 3 |
| AMH 3558 | United States Legal History | 3 |
| AMH 4316 | Violence and Social Conflict in American History | 3 |
| AMH 4319 | Crime and Punishment in American History | 3 |
| AMH 4550 | Origins of the US Constitution | 3 |
| ANT 3451 | Race and Racism | 3 |
| ANT 3520 | Skeleton Keys: Forensic Identification | 3 |
| ANT 4273 | Anthropology of Law | 3 |
| ANT 4740 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
| BUL 4310 | The Legal Environment of Business | 4 |
| ECP 4451 | Law and Economics | 4 |
| EEX 4520 | Disabilities: Legal Aspects and Policies | 3 |
| ENC 3464 | Writing in the Social Sciences | 3 |
| ENC 3465 | Writing in the Law | 3 |
| LEI 4800 | Legal Aspects of Tourism, Events and Recreation | 3 |
| MDU 4031 | Medicine and the Law | 3 |
| MMC 4200 | Law of Mass Communication | 3 |
| PAD 3003 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| POS 3603 | American Constitutional Law | 3 |
| POS 3606 | American Civil Liberties | 3 |
| POS 4624 | Race, Law and the Constitution | 3 |
| SPM 4723 | Legal Issues in Sport | 3 |
| STA 3024 | Introduction to Statistics 2 | 3 |
| STA 4222 | Sample Survey Design | 3 |
| SYP 3510 | Deviance | 3 |
| URP 4882 | Defensible Space and CPTED in Urban Design | 3 |
The Bachelor of Arts in Criminology (both the on campus and the online degree programs) introduces students to the study of criminal behavior, criminal justice systems from a multidisciplinary, liberal arts perspective. It enables students to understand crime, how society reacts to it (especially through the criminal justice system), and the interrelationships between features of society and law. It includes learning about the theories of crime and methods for studying crime, law, and society.
Before Graduating Students Must
- Pass a department exit examination regarding crime, criminal justice, law, and society and criminological theory.
- Complete a research paper for CCJ 3701 demonstrating the ability to research and to interpret research in criminology, law, and society.
- Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree as determined by faculty.
Students in the Major Will Learn to
Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs
Content
- Define and describe the criminal justice system, the interrelationships among its components, and their fit with society.
- Define and describe the legal institutions, the law, and their interaction in society.
Critical Thinking
- Analyze theories of crime and their implications for programs and policies to reduce crime.
- Interpret and evaluate research in criminology, law and society and exhibit proficiency in the techniques used to conduct such research.
Communication
- Communicate ideas clearly and effectively in an accepted style of presentation.
Curriculum Map
I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed
Academic Learning Compact 5 | Courses | SLO 1 | SLO 2 | SLO 3 | SLO 4 | SLO 5 |
|---|
| CCJ 3024 | I, R, A |
| CCJ 3038 | I, R, A |
| CCJ 3701 | I, R, A | I, R, A |
| CCJ 4014 | I, R, A |
