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Criminology major

Criminology majors study crime and its causes, and assess social policies and programs designed to address it.

These are complex issues, but we make sure you have the criminology expertise and broad range of learning opportunities to prepare you to make essential contributions to the field and to society.

Our criminology courses balance theory with practice — classes like Policing in American Society and Criminalization of Mental Illness, will encourage you to think critically while providing a historical background. Your coursework will provide a comprehensive understanding of the social causes of crime and insights into our criminal justice system.

Top Reasons to choose Criminology major at florida southern college

Learning from Field Experts

Your professors will not only share with you the insights they’ve gained from their many years of scholarship and practical experience, but they will also connect you with practitioners in the field. You’ll have the chance to hear from representatives from the Secret Service, DEA, and U.S. Marshals Service.

Learning Community

To develop camaraderie with other criminology majors, we place our students in Learning Communities, which are designed to help them persist in their studies and are focused on problem-based, integrative, and collaborative learning. The idea is that students start together in an immersive experience to feel a sense of what it means to be part of a community of like-minded learners and form networks for success.

Collaborative Research

We offer plenty of collaborative criminology research opportunities with faculty. Through classes such as Judicial Processes, Methods of Social Research, and Criminalization of Mental Illness, your coursework covers all aspects of the field.

Practical Experience

Our students are passionate about what they do and whether it’s through classroom activities or campus clubs and organizations, they are gaining real-world experience as early as their first year. You’ll have the opportunity to go on ride-alongs with local law enforcement agents, getting firsthand experience so that you can better understand what is involved in patrol work.

Research Opportunities

Through our Research Methods course, professors will run you through the scientific method for criminology where you will investigate a topic of interest. Students also get to present their project results in a department poster session at the end of each term. Oftentimes, students also take that knowledge and publish their findings in prestigious publications.

Study Abroad

Our criminology majors have special study-abroad opportunities, such as traveling to

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Meet our Mocs

Lucas Blackwell

Lucas Blackwell

During the second semester of my freshman year, I took the 'Corrections and Rehabilitation' class which provided the chance to tour a local jail and a prison. It was an engaging opportunity that went beyond just learning material in class. It was a very fascinating experience and I definitely learned a lot about our justice system.

Sierra Laatsch

I love when we have guest speakers come in from different places to speak about what their job is and answer any questions that we may have regarding that field.

Madison Wristen

Florida Southern sold me on their small class sizes and the engaged learning. FSC also offered me the best scholarship and I was able to visualize myself here. The second I stepped on campus during scholar's weekend, I immediately felt at home.

Criminology Research and Student Travel

students standing under a tiki hut
Criminology students in the First-Year Experience Learning Community traveled to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum in Clewiston, Florida. At this museum, students learned about the Seminole Indian Tribe and how race, ethnic group, and culture can influence interactions and outcomes within the criminal justice system.
students kneeling for a photo in the netherlands
The Criminology Department hosted a Junior Journey to The Netherlands and Brussels. FSC students are pictured in front of the town gates in Bruges, Brussels.
students presenting their research
Criminology students in CRM 4420: Research Methods, present their project results in a department poster session at the end of each term.
students presenting their research
FSC Criminology majors present their research at the Southwestern Social Science Association’s (SSSA) annual meeting. The SSSA is the longest-running social science conference in the United States.

Investigate Your Passions

In CRM 3350 Policing in American Society, you'll understand the principles and processes of the police force as a part of the criminal justice decision network. You'll explore the value conflicts which are inherent in police decisions and issues related to crime control in democratic society.

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Schedule a campus tour or take our video tour of one of the nation’s most beautiful campuses. Participate in our daily online Admission Info Session or a MocTalk webinar to learn more about Florida Southern.

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Featured Criminology Faculty

Dr. Lisa Carter
- Criminology Department Chair

My goal is to illuminate a path that my students will follow during the course of their college career and when they enter the workforce. Along this path I hope my students will encounter and collect the following attributes: knowledge, enthusiasm, and critical thought. The college experience should offer students the opportunity to become open to new ideas, experiences, and beliefs regarding their chosen field of study.

Read More about Dr. Lisa CarterMeet Our Faculty

Program Details

Available in: 

  • BA
  • BS
  • Minor

First-Years

All freshman applicants to Florida Southern Colleges full-time degree programs must submit the following information:

Transfers

Applying to Florida Southern as a transfer student is easy.

If transferring less than 24 credits, we also need your:

  • Official high school transcript
  • SAT and/or ACT scores

In the News

There is always something interesting happening at Florida Southern.

Criminology major Program Contact

Dr. Lisa Carter

Chair of Criminology and Sociology
863.680.4307

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