Criminology Minor

The criminology minor offers students majoring in other fields a foundation in core areas of criminology which are grounded in social theory and use scientific research methods to explore criminal behavior as well as the criminal justice system. Students examine current scholarship on social inequality and criminal behavior. Students will also consider innovative means to alleviate disparate justice outcomes in diverse communities. A total of 18 credit hours in approved coursework is required to complete the minor.

Mission Statement

Consistent with the sociology program’s mission at Coastal Carolina University, the mission of the criminology minor is to provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to scientifically investigate questions important to the discipline of criminology. Integral to our criminology minor is a focus on social inequality as it relates to crime and social control. We emphasize critical thinking and communication skills in a collaborative environment. In addition, we strive to foster the personal and professional growth of our students by offering extensive and varied opportunities for integrative experiential learning, including faculty/student collaborative research and community-based internships.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will develop critical thinking skills by applying theoretical constructs to contemporary criminological phenomena.
2. Students will describe the major research methodologies used by criminologists and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the methodologies.
3. Students will be required to demonstrate how race, class, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality can affect individual life processes as related to criminological phenomena.

Minor Requirements

The criminology minor requires at least 18 credit hours of coursework in the following categories. Students must earn a ‘C’ or better in each course in order to complete the minor. Students who are also completing the criminology concentration within the sociology major must take unique courses to fulfill both sets of requirements.

Prerequisites

• SOC 101  or SOC 102  earning a grade of ‘C’ or better.

Additional prerequisites may be necessary for some courses, consult the University Catalog for details. None of these prerequisites will count toward completion of the minor.