Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

The state-of-the-art Criminology and Criminal Justice Department focuses on the causes of and societal responses to crime and deviant behavior. We prepare students to address the challenges of crime in society as criminal justice professionals, researchers, and educators.

A Growing Field

With more than 600 undergraduate majors and a highly regarded graduate program (with a nationally ranked Ph.D. program), the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is a vibrant and growing learning community dedicated to serving the needs of its students, the state of South Carolina, and society at large. Students completing the program will be prepared to continue their studies at the doctoral level or enter the field as practitioners.

Nationally Recognized Faculty

We have some of the nation’s best criminology and criminal justice researchers and teachers on our faculty. Our professors actively engage in research with criminal justice agencies in South Carolina, as well as those in other states and countries. Faculty research and teaching interests span a wide variety of topics, including policing, courts, corrections, law and policy, criminological theory, sentencing, victimization, and program evaluation. This work not only contributes to constant improvements in the justice system but also brings real-world knowledge and experience to the classroom.

Preparing Students to Lead

Courses focus on problem-solving and critical thinking, and our graduates enter careers in law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, research, and more. In addition, a degree in criminology and criminal justice is excellent preparation for graduate studies or law school. Each year, a significant number of our graduates go on for further education.

Law. Crime. Response.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.