Criminology

What you'll learn studying Criminology at UW-Platteville

Rooted in sociological and psychological perspectives, the study of criminology is an interdisciplinary field that extends to nearly all social sciences. The criminology minor degree at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will provide you with a basic overview of criminology and related fields, focusing on theory, inequalities, and human behaviors.

Criminology involves the scientific study of crime, punishment, criminal behavior, criminal justice institutions, and recidivism. Studying criminology will help you understand the underlying societal and economic factors that can contribute to criminal behavior.

The criminology program allows you to tailor your education to your interests, choosing from courses covering sociology; race, gender, and class in the U.S.; ethnic studies; women’s and gender studies; deviance, crime, and social control; victimology and restorative justice; environmental and wildlife crime; and other elective coursework directly applicable to contemporary issues.

Criminology studies can complement a major in criminal justice, political science, forensic investigation, sociology, and other related fields. Whether you complete a single criminology course or decide to pursue a minor in the field, you will come away with a deeper understanding of the correlation between crime and society.

Careers in Criminology

Studying criminology prepares graduates to work in a variety of professional roles. You will learn how to understand and interact with people convicted of criminal behavior. The most successful criminology professionals are those who can observe, analyze, and interpret data, communicate and listen effectively, and think critically. In this evolving field, attention to detail, technological proficiency, and integrity can all improve job prospects.

Some of the most popular careers for professionals with criminology degrees include:

• Bailiff
• Correctional officer 
• Crime analyst
• Criminal profiler
• Criminology teacher
• Financial investigator
• Forensic psychologist
• Forensic science technician
• Jury consultant
• Loss prevention officer
• Police detective
• Police officer 
• Private investigator
• Probation officer
• Social scientist
• Social worker
• Surveillance officer 

If you choose to pursue a career in this field, you might work for a government agency, police department, correctional facility, or in a classroom setting. Regardless of the environment in which you work, you will have the skills needed to make a positive impact on society. The outlook for criminology professionals is generally positive, with continued demand anticipated in coming years.