Department of Sociology and Social Work

Your favorite movies are all legal dramas, and you can’t get enough of CSI. Does that mean you were meant to study criminal justice? If you are interested in the law, in the psychology of crime, and in helping society, criminal justice may be an ideal focus for you. Because crime takes place in the context of a given society, studying criminal justice along with sociology can help broaden your knowledge and prepare you for a career in the field of criminal justice.

Overview

Point Loma offers a minor in criminal justice through the Department of Sociology and Social Work and a concentration in criminal justice as part of a major in sociology. The criminal justice minor can be effectively paired with a variety of majors. Sociology is foundational for the understanding of human society and social behavior. If you major in sociology, you will be equipped for many human service positions and prepared for post-graduate study, which can lead to positions in higher education, research, business, and law. The concentration in criminal justice builds upon the core sociology curriculum and prepares you for positions in all components of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections. You will also be prepared for postgraduate study in criminal justice, sociology, law, and other fields.

Special Features:

• Criminal justice internship opportunities
• Criminal justice minor can be paired with many majors
• Concentration in criminal justice available for sociology majors
• Excellent job placement and graduate school acceptance record

Career Opportunities:

With a minor in criminal justice or a major in sociology and a concentration in criminal justice, you can pursue a career in: probation and criminal justice, law, corrections, research design, human services, social work, social welfare, counseling, and many other rewarding fields. Our graduates are currently: law enforcement officers, corrections officers, social workers, counselors, center directors, and teachers.

Many graduates continue their education at the post-graduate level in criminal justice, sociology, social work, and law. Students have entered schools such as the University of California, Berkeley, University of Chicago, University of Colorado, Duke University, University of Southern California, San Diego State University, and California Western School of Law.