URI to offer criminology, criminal justice major

SOUTH KINGSTOWN — A growing desire among students for careers in law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole has prompted the University of Rhode Island to establish a new interdisciplinary major in criminology and criminal justice. The new major will be offered beginning this fall.

The new degree will combine courses from psychology, chemistry, sociology, political science, gender and women’s studies and economics.

“These departments will offer courses in sociology, law and the legal system, behavioral psychology, human trafficking, and forensics/criminalistics to help students tailor their major to their areas of interest,” the university said in announcing the new program.

Over the last decade, according to the school, “hundreds of URI students have earned bachelor’s degrees in applied sociology with a focus on criminology and criminal justice.” And demand continues to grow.

Associate Professor of Sociology Jill K. Doerner, interim director of the new program, said: “We have 300 majors in the applied sociology track right now. We have offered the courses for many years in several departments, but there was a push by faculty and students for a named major.”

Freshmen this fall will be able to enroll directly in the new major, while those already at URI can finish their bachelor’s degree studies in applied sociology — or switch into the new program, the school said.

“An interdisciplinary program makes so much sense,” Doerner said. “If you look at the entirety of the criminal justice system, there are distinct parts like law enforcement, the judiciary, corrections, social work, victims’ assistance, prosecution and defense and yet they all must work together.

“So, yes we want the student who is interested in becoming a police officer or FBI agent, but we also want the student who is interested in victims’ advocacy, counseling and rehabilitation, prison literacy programs, prison sentencing and support systems for those released from correctional systems.”

Sociology Professor Leo Carroll, who specializes in policing and corrections and criminal justice, began planning the new program in 2014.

“We developed the applied sociology program 10 years ago because such a large number of our sociology students were interested in criminology and criminal justice,” Carroll said.

“The aim of that program was to capitalize on their interests to provide them with a solid and well-rounded liberal arts education that will prepare them for any number of career opportunities both within and outside the criminal justice system. The new program retains that goal and will actually be more interdisciplinary than its predecessor.”

The new bachelor of arts degree in criminology and criminal justice was approved last summer by the state Board of Education.

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