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Sociology & Criminology: Criminology

The Criminology Concentration (18-19 credit hours) is recommended for students interested in crime, forensics, law, police work and justice. Internships are available to seniors in their spring semester and students will be matched to an internship site based upon their career interest. Participation in an internship requires a 2.75 GPA. An additional 300/400 level course can be used by permission of the Chair, if unable to complete an internship. 

The Criminology Concentration consists of five tiers of course work. All tiers must be completed to fulfill the requirements of this Concentration.

Tier I: Introductory Criminology Courses
SELECT ONE:

  • SC 220 Criminal Justice Systems (3 cr.)
  • SC 240 Criminology (3 cr.)

Tier II: Special Topics in Criminology
SELECT ONE:

  • SC 265 Victims of Crime (3 cr.)
  • SC 275 Family Violence (3 cr.)

Tier III: Diversity, Culture, and Inclusion
SELECT ONE:

  • SC 235 African American Experience (3 cr.)
  • SC 255 Prejudice and Discrimination (3 cr.)
  • SC 257 Social Inequalities in Society (3 cr.)
  • SC 325 Sex and Gender (3 cr.)

Tier IV: Advanced Topics in Criminology
SELECT ONE:

  • SC 340 Juvenile Delinquency (3 cr.)
  • SC 343 Drugs and Crime (3 cr.)
  • SC 345 Corrections (3 cr.)
  • SC 388 Forensic Science in Criminal Justice (3 cr.)

Tier V: Summary Courses in Criminology
SELECT TWO:

  • SC 435 Law, Ethics, and Criminal Justice Politics(3 cr.)
  • SC 440 Violence and Society (3 cr.)
  • SC 494 Internship and Seminar in Criminology (4 cr.)
  • Cleveland Forensic Unit
  • Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office
  • Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court
  • Cuyahoga County Drug Court
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Harbor Light Halfway House
  • Lake County Juvenile Court
  • Office of Federal Pre-trial Services
  • Salvation Army
  • Shaker Heights Probation Office
  • U.S. Marshal’s Office
  • Witness Victim Service Center
  • Women’s Pre-release Center
students in classroom

Internship Sites

Our students have completed internships in over 80 nonprofit and governmental agencies throughout the Cleveland metropolitan area. Internships are available to seniors in their spring semester, and students are matched to an internship site based upon their career interests. It is not uncommon for our students to be offered employment by the agency where they interned.

Sites include:

  • Achievement Center for Children
  • AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland
  • Alzheimer’s Association – Cleveland
  • American Red Cross
  • Arrupe House
  • Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland
  • Business Volunteers Unlimited
  • Care Alliance Health Center
  • Catholic Charities
  • Center for Reducing Health Disparities
  • Children’s Rehabilitation Hospitals of the Cleveland Clinic
  • Cleveland International Program
  • Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland
  • The Gathering Place
  • Legal Aid Society
  • Light of Hearts Villa
  • Make a Wish Foundation
  • New Avenues to Independence
  • Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless
  • Organize Ohio!
  • Recovery Resources
  • Salvation Army
  • Senior Citizen’s Resources
  • Shaker Heights Youth Center
  • United Way
  • University Hospitals of Cleveland
  • University Settlement House
  • Witness Victim Service Center
young girl reading in class

Small Class Sizes

Our small class sizes of usually 25 or less allows individual attention to each student while encouraging greater interaction with their professors and classmates.