Bachelor of Arts in Criminology

West Virginia University

Criminology focuses on the social roots and implications of criminal behavior and the operation of the criminal justice system. You will learn to apply the theoretical and methodological tools of sociology to make sense of crime and social control in modern society, while selecting from a variety of course topics. Its sociological approach to crime distinguishes criminology from the related field of criminal justice, which emphasizes the procedural activities of criminal justice agencies. Criminology treats crime as the product of complex social forces, seeking to understand why laws are made in the first place, how and why these laws are violated and how society responds when laws are broken. This holistic societal perspective prepares you to pursue a broad range of careers or graduate study/professional training.

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences