Aerial view of campus with Williamsport, the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

Criminal Justice and Criminology Learning Goals

Students who major in criminal justice and/or criminology can expect to achieve the following:

  • Understand of the role, function, and central components of the criminal justice system.
  • Identify theories that explain the causes of crime or victimization and the evidence-based policies and practices that address crime or victimization.
  • Determine the role of research in criminal justice and the various quantitative and qualitative methodologies used to study issues in the field.
  • Argue a position on a criminal justice issue and support this position with empirical evidence, and synthesize and summarize existing literature to support the argument.
  • Understand how race, class, and gender intersects with criminal justice decision-making and the disparities that can result.
  • Understand the role and function of law as well as its capacity and limits in solving crime problems.
  • Create and deliver a professional presentation that applies acquired knowledge to a contemporary justice issue.
  • Hone effective speaking, writing, and critical thinking skills.