Overview - Sociology & Criminology
The objectives of the Department of Sociology & Criminology are as follows:
- to help students acquire an in-depth comprehension of the social order through study of major concepts and theories found within the discipline
- to develop knowledge of scientific sociology through practical experience in theory construction, methodology and field study
- to prepare students for graduate and professional schools with a view toward research, teaching, and public service
- to prepares students for careers in applied social science, social administration, and public social services
The Sociology Program at Benedictine College, founded in 1922, offers students a number of opportunities for research and broad intellectual development. In keeping with the mission of the college, the Sociology Program “is ordered to the goal of wisdom lived out in responsible awareness of oneself, God and nature, family and society.” The mission of our program is to equip all students with “the sociological imagination” in order that they can better understand the social world in context and become active agents of Benedictine College’s commitment to service.
The sociology program at Benedictine College is dedicated to the pursuit of truth in a uniquely Benedictine and Catholic environment. Students are encouraged to question, critique and engage the social world using Catholic principles as the guiding foundation. Every year our students present original research projects through Benedictine College’s Discovery Program and they have also presented and won awards at the Annual meeting of The Midwest Sociological Society.
In addition to outstanding scholarship, sociology students at Benedictine College take leadership roles in discipline-related lectures and service projects to the community through their participation in The Sociology Club.
Sociological inquiry in an atmosphere of faith and scholarship has helped our students become leaders in social services, the criminal justice system, business, healthcare, gerontology and education.
Criminology is an interdisciplinary social science that studies the causes of crime and delinquency, analyzes crime patterns, and critically examines the origins and functions of criminal law and the criminal justice system. The criminology program at Benedictine College, contained in the Department of Sociology, provides students with a rigorous introduction to the methods and material of contemporary criminological inquiry, including classical and contemporary theories of crime and criminality, methods of theory testing and data analysis, and public policy issues related to crime prevention, control and punishment. Students who successfully complete the program requirements will be prepared well for graduate and professional school, and will have the critical thinking and communication skills necessary for post-baccalaureate training as criminal justice practitioners. Although the criminology program at Benedictine College is more aligned with the liberal arts pillar of the college than it is with training students for careers in criminal justice, direct contact and experience with criminal justice agencies is available through internship placements.
