About this Program
Criminology is the study of crime and society's response to crime. The criminology program focuses on crime as a social phenomenon and the causes of criminal behavior. The major provides an overview of institutions, issues, and causes of crime, and social control; it also offers a strong foundation in liberal arts, a basic knowledge of behavioral sciences, and a strong professional growth potential for those pursuing a career in criminology or the criminal justice system.
- UMD offers a degree in Criminology as opposed to Criminal Justice, Deviance, or the Sociology of Law. Our focus is on the critical examination of crime in the U.S. and other countries, and on the mechanisms of crime control in society.
- Students have great opportunities to apply their critical and analytical learning to the practical world. All majors are required to complete an internship with agencies in the community. Internships provide the opportunity to network in the field of criminology or social services and gain real-world experience.
- Our Criminology program is housed in an interdisciplinary department allowing for cross-over in terms of courses offered and faculty who may teach in multiple disciplines including forensic psychology, anthropology, sociology.
Acquired Skills
Our program is not technical training for criminal justice careers but teaches fundamental skills necessary to those careers. These include, analytical skills, critical thinking skills, ability to consume and synthesize information (in a variety of forms), ability to communicate both orally and in writing, a broad understanding of the world/society in which one resides/works and the impact of social factors on crime and criminal justice in that world/society. These are the kind of skills that employers consistently rank as important when selecting job candidates.
Career Possibilities
Graduates from UMD's criminology program pursue a variety of careers in criminology or the criminal justice system such as law enforcement (federal, state, and local) or corrections (probation, parole). Criminology majors also go on to advanced education such as law school or graduate school.
Admissions and Scholarships
The department offers three scholarships to criminology students:
• Walter Baeumler Award in Criminology: $500. Awarded to an outstanding student in criminology. (Graduating seniors AND returning students are eligible.)
• James L. Otto Memorial Scholarship: $500. Awarded to a student planning to pursue a career in law enforcement. Preference given to students with financial need.
• Arthur Pulford Scholarship in Criminology: one or more awards, ranging from $2,000 to $3,000. The purpose of the Pulford Scholarship is to provide payments to full-time undergraduate students in Criminology at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
CAHSS is proud to be able to offer over 90 alumni and donor funded scholarships to our students each year. In total over $190,000 is awarded out to CAHSS majors and some minors as well. Each department facilitates the process for their specific scholarships and students are also encouraged to apply for CAHSS-wide scholarships offered to students in any field.
Student Clubs
Criminology Club is a student run organization with a faculty sponsor.
Faculty Highlights
Our faculty engage in timely, scholarly research that is relevant to students and the broader community. Faculty background and research areas include:
- A Forensic Clinical Psychologist who does a lot of work with the courts and police in the area. Training law enforcement on how to work with people with severe mental illness and doing competency and sanity evaluations for the courts.
- Cybercrime, cyber bullying, and fear of crime.
- Media and crime.
- College students’ use/misuse of drugs such as prescription stimulants and opioids.