Sociology & Criminal Justice
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Thomas W. Cole, Jr., Research Center for Science and Technology, Room 2003
Telephone: (404) 880-6659
Overview
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice was formed in 2001 by consolidating the W. E. B. DuBois Department of Sociology and the Department of Criminal Justice. The Department currently offers the Master of Arts Degree in Sociology and Master of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice. These degree programs use an interdisciplinary approach to the study of social, legal, organizational, and behavioral frameworks. A combination of traditional and non-traditional courses with supervised qualitative and quantitative research and fieldwork provides students with a comprehensive educational experience. Graduates of these degree programs are represented both at the national and international levels in teaching as well as practitioner positions. Graduates also hold executive positions in law enforcement agencies and in social services organizations.
The Department is committed to locating and recruiting those students interested in sociology and criminal justice regardless of their previous academic training – social science, engineering, police science, sociology and criminology. In every area of sociology and criminal justice, there is a need for students who are committed to making positive social changes within African American society and society in general.
The Department is also committed to providing graduate students with the knowledge, academic skills, and values that are essential to becoming successful and responsible practitioners and leaders in the criminal justice system and related areas. Both sociology and criminal justice prepare students to be useful, productive, and knowledgeable citizens in an increasingly complex society.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice is to prepare students with knowledge, skills, and values to become proficient in the use of major theoretical and practical perspectives on society in general, and the criminal justice system in particular, that positively impact global issues.
Vision
The vision of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice is to train students with cutting-edge innovative social and protective programs of study that resolve societal problems and garner graduates with academic achievement to successfully compete and serve globally.