Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for SOC 236.

Course Description

Criminology studies the research and causal behaviors. Examines crime statistics, crime victims, and types of criminal offenses. Introduces the role of the police, the judicial system, and the correctional system in treatment and punishment of offenders.

General Course Purpose

To provide students with a critical understanding of the ways in which crime is defined, explained, and interpreted in the context of American society. It is expected that the student will be able to conceptualize a number of alternative interpretations of criminal behavior. Four major areas are covered: historical background, theoretical perspectives, the criminal justice system, and reporting crime (statistical and field data).