Department of Sociology
430 Park HallNorth Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-4670
Dr. Robert Adelman
Department Chair
Dr. Kristen Schultz Lee
Director of Undergraduate Studies
kslee4@buffalo.edu
Why study Criminology BA at UB?
The major in Criminology focuses on the nature and causes of crime, criminal behavior and how society reacts to crime and criminals. Career fields such as law enforcement, surveillance and reconnaissance, and data protection/security are growth areas for post-graduation employment. Consequently, the Criminology BA is ideal for students who plan to work in settings which require a strong background in crime or law, with skills associated with analyzing and interpreting data. It is also an appropriate area of concentrated study for students whose plans include graduate training in sociology, criminology, criminal justice, or law, or who are interested in pursuing advanced training in any of the wide range of crime, law, or justice professions.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Criminology BA, students should be able to:
- Identify the major research methods used by sociologists, compare and contrast the utility and relevance of a range of methods to the study of different social issues, and apply some basic research methods to the analysis of social issues;
- Obtain knowledge of basic social science statistical methods and be able to conduct basic statistical analyses;
- Think critically and sociologically about crime and criminality;
- Identify and understand the theories, methods, and findings of key research conducted by criminologists;
- Understand causal theories of crime, deviance, and/or juvenile delinquency, and the issues related to defining, measuring, and explaining crime, deviance, and/or delinquency;
- Identify and challenge popular misconceptions about crime and understand how and why they are perpetuated;
- Understand how social inequality, including class, race, and gender inequalities, relate to crime and criminality;
- Understand how criminological theories are applied in everyday social life, especially in law and social policy;
- Know how to acquire and evaluate data associated with crime and justice issues, and acquire the skills needed to assess the validity and reliability of such data.
The Learning Environment
We offer courses from across the main subfields in sociology. Our course offerings range from small discussion-based classes to larger lectures and remote courses. Our department encourages the development of research skills among our undergraduate students both in the classroom, through our research-intensive course offerings, and outside the classroom, through faculty-student research collaborations.
About Our Facilities
The Sociology Department is housed in Park Hall. The department holds classes in centrally scheduled space throughout the campus, which includes traditional classrooms and lecture halls.
About Our Faculty
The Sociology Department has an intellectually diverse and research-productive faculty that deliver high quality graduate and undergraduate mentoring and training, engage in extensive professional service, and publish research in top general and specialty journals. More than half of the Department faculty actively seek grants, and several faculty members have received awards over the years for outstanding teaching. We also have 3 Teaching Assistants and 4-5 adjuncts who teach our undergraduate courses.
Faculty List Directory
Please visit the Sociology department website for additional information about our faculty.
Career Outlook
The major in Criminology will provide students with both depth and breadth of knowledge in the social sciences that creates a strong foundation to gain employment in any aspect of federal, state, and local criminal justice, security, law, public policy, and social work. The Criminology BA also provides an appropriate intellectual foundation for advanced training in a range of professional and graduate programs of study, including law, public policy, sociology and other social sciences.
Academic Advising
Students may contact the Sociology department (716-645-2417) for information on advising, or contact the CAS Advisement Office (716-645-6883).
Academic Advising Contact Information
Darren Portis advises Criminology students with a last name beginning with A-L, and Eric Streeter is the adviser for students with last names M-Z. The CAS Advisement Office can be reached at (716-645-6883).
Scholarships and Financial Support
The Nathaniel Cantor Scholarship Fund is an annual scholarship for sociology or anthropology undergraduate students who plan to enter social work, vocational rehabilitation or anthropology.
The Sociology Scholarship for Study Abroad is awarded annually to students in our undergraduate programs who require financial assistance to fund participation in a study abroad program. Awards are granted on a competitive basis to defray the expense of airfare for the program.
The Department of Sociology also offers several scholarships to eligible UB undergraduate students in our programs who decide to extend their studies after receiving the Bachelor's degree, by pursuing a Master's degree in Sociology at UB.
Students in our programs may also qualify for scholarships and financial support from a number of other sources, including: Nationally Competitive Fellowships and Scholarships and UB College of Arts and Sciences Scholarships and Awards.