2000-2001 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Criminology

Dennis M. Giever, Chairperson; Agozino, Austin, Claus, Gibbs, Gido, Hanrahan, J. Martin, R. Martin, McCauley, McNabb, Merlo, Mutchnick, Myers, Roberts, Scott, Smith, J. Thomas, Wilson, Zimmerman; and professor emerita Moyer

The Department of Criminology offers students seeking careers in criminology a broad liberal arts education supported by a professional education program. The degree offered is the Bachelor of Arts with a major in Criminology; students may also minor in Criminology. Through the Graduate School the department offers graduate work at the master’s and doctoral level.

The program in Criminology has a five-fold objective:

1. The education of students for employment and leadership in the expanding field of criminology and criminal justice
2. The education of presently employed criminal justice personnel who recognize a need for furthering their education
3. The instruction of students who wish to acquire an understanding of the processes of criminal justice as a cultural part of their higher education
4. The instruction of students who wish to prepare for graduate study and/or research in criminology
5. A curriculum that provides an excellent foundation for students preparing for a career in law

Nearly every level of government offers opportunities for professional careers in criminology. Employment opportunities normally exist in more than fifty federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Inspectors; Drug Enforcement Agency; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; National Security Agency; U.S. Marshals; the Internal Revenue Service; and military investigative branches. Graduates will find employment in local and state law enforcement, probation, parole, and the custody and treatment of adult and youthful offenders. There are also a wide variety of opportunities in the expanding fields of private, commercial, and industrial security. In addition, many governmental agencies have specialized units dealing with juveniles, community relations, training, education, and research.

Career opportunities are available also in research and teaching at the college and university levels and in research divisions of various agencies.

Students who wish to change their major or minor to Criminology or Criminology/Pre-Law track must have an overall GPA of 2.5 to declare the major or minor and to be accepted formally by the department.