Earn Your Criminology Degree on the Coast of Maine

Are you committed to promoting social equality in law enforcement and criminal justice reform? Curious about how the criminal legal system operates in society as an agent of control? An interdisciplinary major grounded in the liberal arts, Criminology at UNE focuses on the study of the social construction of crime and criminals, theories of illegal and deviant behavior, social reaction to crime, and the effectiveness of anti-crime policies. You emerge prepared, through hands-on classroom learning and real-world research and professional experiences, for a variety of rewarding careers in this dynamic field.

Two students sitting in a Criminology lecture
A student reading a book amongst library stacks

Why UNE for Your B.A. in Criminology

Criminology is an exciting field in which to work – and, at UNE, it’s an exciting one to study as well. With student engagement as a top priority, we offer hands-on classroom experiences, research opportunities, and internships that make for an incredible student experience as well as an impressive resume for potential employers or graduate/professional schools.

  • Emphasis on engaging internships and capstone experience
  • Development of in-demand liberal arts skills
  • Travel abroad opportunities
  • Strong job and graduate school placement rates
     
Headshot of U N E student Jeremiah Martinez

Jeremiah Martinez ’23

Political Science

Why UNE

[When I visited] I just loved [UNE] right away. I just knew it was for me. I was like, ‘yeah I want to come here.’ I loved the campus — it’s right on the water and beautiful. And everybody that I met was just so welcoming. It actually felt like it was going to be a home here with a community vibe.

You are not going to be wasting your time by coming here. You are immediately going to fall in love with this place your freshman year. Beautiful campus, beautiful people. Everyone’s welcoming and happy.

The classes that I’m taking are putting me in the right spot [for my ideal career] — they are setting me up for a good future. I’m learning more and more every day and I enjoy it all the time.

Beyond the Classroom

I am the co-leader of the Storming to Change group. And I’m also a leader of the Brothers of Color.

Brothers of Color group is like a safe space for people of color in our community where we can meet on campus. The majority of our campus is white so we want to make sure that everyone is given a safe place, especially because these people are targeted in everyday life all the time.

Storming to Change touches on diversity, equity, and inclusion within the athletics community instead of just the normal general student life. The goal is to make sure everyone feels included — even the athletes. We’re trying to integrate the general public into it too, we are meeting with the president this week to see how we could bring everyone in — he’s very involved.

The classes that I’m taking at UNE are setting me up for a good future.

Political Science

What Will You Study? Criminology Degree Curriculum Overview

B.A. in Criminology Courses

The following are examples of the exciting courses that you may take as a Criminology major at UNE:

  • Deviance and Crime
  • The Criminal Legal System
  • Theories of Race and Racism
  • Crime, Media, Culture
  • Human Trafficking
  • Juvenile Delinquency
Three U N E students study together a table next to windows with a view of the ocean

Career Paths for Criminology Majors

Criminology professionals may work in a variety of environments, including police stations, courts, prisons, government agencies, and a variety of non-profits, including victim advocacy groups. A degree in Criminology will position you well for careers such as:

  • Jury Consultant
  • Probation Officer
  • Forensic Psychologist
  • Criminal Attorney
  • Clinical Social Worker
  • Criminology Professor
  • Criminal Policy Analyst

Career Advising for B.A. in Criminology Students

Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.

Experiential Learning in the Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology Program

Our Criminology major’s emphasis on hands-on learning engages you in problem-solving and provides opportunities for experiential learning via student research and professional experiences.

Internships for Criminology Majors

Our database of more than 900 internship sites allows you to gain valuable professional experience as an undergraduate student. You may intern with law offices, legal service organizations, social justice non-profits, government agencies, and other community organizations.

Senior Capstone Experience

You will choose a capstone experience to widen the scope of your expertise. We offer three options:

  • Study abroad with a focused concentration in your coursework
  • Complete an additional internship (This 360-hour experience often leads to a job offer after graduation)
  • Write a senior thesis (with the goal of publishing a professional article)
     

Bachelor of Arts in Criminology FAQ