Minor in Criminology

With a minor in criminology, you will learn about crime and its causes, as you gain the tools to understand, prevent and combat crime through a social justice approach.

Why Earn Your Minor in Criminology at Sacred Heart?

With a minor in criminology, students gain a more theoretical understanding of the causes of, the reactions to and the function of crime in society. This program empowers students to think critically about the relationship between the individual and society. Instead of focusing only on the institutions of the criminal justice system, students will also explore the role of other important aspects, such as the offender, the victim, race, gender and more.

Is a Minor in Criminology Right for Me?

Students will learn how people’s actions are strongly influenced by the conditions and situations in which they live. They will study how social structures and institutions affect and drive decisions. Given criminologists study the relationship between crime and existing social problems, they play an important role in supporting social justice. This program is rooted in a social justice-based, well-rounded approach to the criminal justice system. Students are encouraged to approach their work with critical thinking and a broader sense of every person’s role in the criminal justice system.

View Degree Requirements

Learning Outcomes

Students in Sacred Heart’s minor in criminology will be able to:

• Examine and explain how demographic, socioeconomic and other social factors contribute to criminal activity and behavior.
• Describe how theories of crime and criminal behavior relate to criminal justice practice.
• Describe and analyze how explanations of crime relate to social policy.
• Describe and critique social policies and crime prevention strategies that address existing inequities.

Who Can Earn a Minor in Criminology?

While the criminology minor is open to all majors, it is especially useful for those considering graduate programs and careers in applied research.

Post-Graduation Outcomes

Graduates will have the tools, knowledge and expertise to analyze, report on and establish policy related to the causes of crime causation and its prevention. The curriculum benefits those seeking to bring a more social justice approach to their work in this field. It also provides a strong foundation for those students pursuing more sociologically and psychologically based graduate school programs. This approach to understanding and combatting crime opens the door to a broader scope of employment opportunities, such as working with victims and offenders, in federal, state or local agencies and institutions, as well as nonprofit organizations or research institutes.