Gain valuable skills and new perspective through the lens of society, crime and justice
Our undergraduate degree programs will challenge you to think critically about why things in our society occur, what are the forces that shape how people and groups interact around social issues, and how to create a more just society.
The department has developed four special programs for undergraduates. One focuses on writing skills, another on strengthening international aspects of course work. A third program involves internships in the criminal justice and human services areas, in which you'll earn course credit while gaining work experience. Finally, the major's capstone course will help you prepare to transition from college to work, graduate school, or law school.
Explore undergraduate programs
Undergraduate student spotlight
Nathan Albano
Why Did You Choose Sociology/Criminology: My path to choosing sociology wasn't easy. I came into college originally majored in Business Admin and Political Science, and I quickly found myself struggling to keep up with classes and stay motivated for college. After a leave of absence, I came back to school and decided that I wasn't willing to put time into something I wasn't interested in, that I needed to enjoy my work. Luckily, I'd taken a sociology class in high school that I really enjoyed, so I knew there had to be something about it that I liked. My intrigue quickly became a passion for the field, and every sociology class I've taken since has reaffirmed that fondness.
Cassandra Calkins
Why Did You Choose Sociology/Criminology: I chose to study Criminology because of overall interest in the field and because I think it is a beneficial major for a number of careers, especially if you couple it with sociology or psychology courses.
Marissa Good
Why Did You Choose Sociology/Criminology: I am very interested in learning about how structures function and how they can be analyzed to address inequities.
Nicholas Hove
Why Did You Choose Sociology/Criminology: I entered the University of Iowa without a declared major, but soon found interest in this area of study after taking an introductory course. Learning about the operation of various processes within the criminal justice system along with their flaws is what drew me into this major, which continues to motivate me to ultimately end up in a position to contribute to and improve the state of such processes. I also thoroughly enjoy learning about the theoretical explanations for delinquency.
Dia Paudyal
Why Did You Choose Sociology/Criminology: I wanted to learn more about the criminal justice system in order to bring about future reforms and address current issues regarding mass incarceration. I also really enjoy learning theory about critical criminology.