Bachelor's in Criminology

West Virginia University (WVU) has evolved into a prominent research university, offering a diverse array of academic programs and fostering a vibrant campus life. WVU provides a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across various fields, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, business, and STEM disciplines. The university's strong ties to its Appalachian heritage and dedication to community engagement are notable features, as seen through its initiatives to address regional challenges and contribute to the economic development of the state. With a combination of rigorous academic offerings, a vibrant campus atmosphere, and a strong sense of community, West Virginia University continues to provide students with a comprehensive educational experience and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

The criminology major focuses on the social roots and implications of criminal behavior and the operation of the criminal justice system. Students 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 substantive course topics. These include but are not limited to: juvenile delinquency, street crime and gangs, corporate and white collar crime, hate crime, terrorism, drug use and abuse, media and crime, the culture of police work, and punishment and social control. The 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 graduates to pursue a broad range of careers such as policing, security, corrections, law, social services, and business. The major also prepares students for graduate studies in the social sciences in pursuit of academic or applied research careers or for professional training in law, public administration, social work, and related fields.