Major in Sociology, Criminology and Criminal Justice Concentration

Students who concentrate in Criminology and Criminal Justice learn to view issues of crime, victimization, and justice at multiple levels—from individuals to communities and institutions. A sociological perspective on these issues focuses our attention to the social aspects of crime, law, and deviance including understanding societal factors that contribute to crime, effective and innovative programmatic approaches to prevent or control crime, the unintended consequences of our system for marginalized communities, and the role of research in creating effective policy.

Our faculty teach courses that address issues like forms of punishment in the U.S. and global context, how gender shapes people’s experiences with crime, environmental and state crime, as well as evidence-based policing practices. Moreover, our undergraduate program provides students with a strong theoretical foundation in sociology, research methods, data collection, and analysis. These are all essential skills for a wide variety of careers including those associated with law, justice, or advocacy.

Our unique mentoring program models how to transfer students’ sociological skill sets to meaningful employment after graduation. We can’t wait to guide you through a life-changing major!   

The Criminology and Criminal Justice concentration is also offered through CSU Online.

Visit the department website for details. To change your major to Sociology, you can either call the College of Liberal Arts Academic Advising Center at 970-491-3117, or send them an email. 

Effective Fall 2026

Each course used to satisfy requirements of the concentration requires a minimum grade of C (2.000), i.e. all SOC courses, STAT 2XX, and each course taken to satisfy the Social and Behavioral Sciences electives or the Criminology and Criminal Justice electives.

Social and Behavioral Sciences Electives - 21 credits (a minimum of 3 credits must be Upper Division)

  Criminology and Criminal Justice Electives - 15 credits

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Select STAT 201 General Statistics (GT-MA1) or any Statistics course 200-level or above.

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A statistics course is required if STAT 201 or STAT 204 was not taken to satisfy the AUCC 1B requirement. SOC 210 is recommended

³

No courses used to satisfy AUCC requirements may be used to satisfy the Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement.

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For students interested in working in the criminal justice system it is recommended that they enroll in SOC 354, SOC 358, and SOC 455.

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Select enough elective credits to bring program total to 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Each course used to satisfy requirements of the concentration requires a minimum grade of C (2.000), i.e. all SOC courses, STAT 2XX, and each course taken to satisfy the Social and Behavioral Sciences electives or the Criminology and Criminal Justice electives.