Criminology Major: What You Need to Know

Criminology Major: What You Need to Know

Whether it’s been a lifelong interest or you love the thrill of determining which guilty culprit ate your leftovers in the fridge, you might find criminology as the field that sparks your passion.

As a college major, criminology combines multiple disciplines to study all things crime. This dense field covers everything from legal systems to criminal psychology, leaving most criminology students to specialize in a particular subfield—which often translates into a stable career.

Put on your favorite detective hat and investigate our comprehensive guide to pursuing a bachelor’s degree in this subject.

What is Criminology?

Before you commit to criminology as your major, it’s important to ask—just what is criminology?

Criminology is a branch of sociology that studies all nonlegal aspects of crime, including its causes, solutions, and prevention, according to Thomas J. Bernard and Hermann Mannheim, writing for Encyclopedia Britannica. Essentially, it covers the “how,” “when,” and “why” behind crime. As you can imagine, this encompasses a broad range of topics. Modern criminology uses a multidisciplinary approach, adopting academic lenses from:

• Biology
• Psychology
• Economics
• Sociology
• Mathematics and statics
• Anthropology
• History

Are Criminology and Criminal Justice the Same?

When researching majors, many prospective students confuse criminology with criminal justice. Although similar, these two fields are distinctly separate areas of study. 

As a sociology branch, criminology researches the root causes of criminal behavior; it’s a more analytical and research-based approach to studying crime. In comparison, criminal justice examines the legal systems that address and prevent crime—basically, how to apply criminology to real-life situations.

What is Required to Major in Criminology?

Uncovering a passion for criminology is the first step. Then, you’ll need to apply, enroll in, and complete a bachelor’s degree in the field. Fortunately, this path resembles most other bachelor’s degrees, so you won’t have to concern yourself with meeting extra or more difficult requirements.

Still, choosing to major in criminology—or any field—is no easy decision. Between the application process and required coursework, a bachelor’s degree in criminology requires about four years of your dedication. So, let’s break down the prerequisites and criminology requirements you must complete on your way to earning this diploma. 

Criminology Major Prerequisites

The early stages of pursuing a criminology major have very little to do with the subject. As with comparable fields, you must enter a four-year bachelor’s program—which requires a college application.

Every college or university has its own academic standards for undergraduate admission. However, most institutions request the same application materials. For many colleges and universities, aspiring criminology majors (and all other bachelor’s applicants) must provide the following to apply to the program:

• Transcript – No matter the school, every college will require its prospective students to have a high school diploma (or equivalent). A transcript verifies that you've completed the necessary education before enrollment and provides documentation of your performance with previous courses and grades. Though this may not always be the case, many higher education institutions will ask their applicants to have completed standard high school courses to apply (four years of English, three years of math, etc.)

• Minimum GPA – Your Grade Point Average is far from the only evaluation criteria. However, every college will take your past academic performance into account. Ranking from 0 to 4, the GPA scale creates a composite score for your grades each year or semester. For most (or some) bachelor’s programs, many colleges and universities prefer applicants to hold a minimum 2.5 GPA in high school.

• Admissions essay – So, when applying to criminology programs, you might think about how you can showcase a variety of strengths--like liberal arts or creative skills, particularly through the admission essay. Many schools collect admissions essays through the Common Application, which allows students to apply to multiple schools at once. If writing is your strong suit, you may also submit examples of your written work.

• Standardized test scores – Some colleges and universities recognize that standardized tests are just a narrow component of a student’s capabilities. While high SAT or ACT scores can support your application, some schools will allow you to choose a testing-optional version. However, this is only advised for students with good academic standing outside of standardized tests. 

• Letters of recommendation – While not all institutions require one, a letter of recommendation can significantly boost your application. Your teachers, mentors, or coaches can help improve your chances of admission by vouching for your academic and personal strengths.

Most importantly, you should have an interest in criminology. Whether you’re a budding forensic scientist or simply fascinated by criminal psychology, it’s important to enter any major with a little passion. Otherwise, your coursework might feel a little less exciting to learn about!

Criminology Major Requirements & Curriculum

You got into your dream school. You’re ready to hit the books. But before you sign up for any criminology courses, it’s important to know what this major includes.

All bachelor’s degrees require students to earn a certain number of credits and passing grades in required courses. As a criminology major, you may need to complete the following curriculum requirements (or similar) to receive your degree:

• Core credits – Every bachelor’s degree will require core credits in topics foundational to the field. A criminology major may complete courses like: Introduction to Criminology, Intersections of Crime, Social Inquiry I: Quantitative, Crime, Law and Society, Pathways in Sociology, and Criminal Justice System.

• Elective credits – Many majors also require elective credit hours. Criminology elective courses give students the opportunity to specialize their interest in criminology, with some schools offering course options like Power Based Personal Violence, Policing and Corrections, and Community Psychology.

• Capstone credits – Once criminology majors reach their third or fourth year, their school’s program may require that they include capstone credits in their coursework. At some schools, students may be able to pick either an internship or senior thesis related to their studies. 
• Foreign language – Having the ability to speak a foreign language can be a boost to all kinds of careers. For some bachelor’s programs, students must have an elementary competence in at least one foreign language.