Effort, Struggle, and Success: The Development of a Criminology Major

• In Event: Rethinking Traditional Notions to Improving Practices in Criminal Justice Education

Abstract

In June 2015 the University of Wisconsin-River Falls was given permission to begin offering a criminology major. The existing Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice Department began planning this major more than five years before it was implemented. We learned a great deal through the process and our final proposal was one that the department felt would be manageable given our diminishing resources. As often as possible, our decisions were guided by the best practices described by the American Sociological Association Task Force on Sociology and Criminology Programs (American Sociological Society 2010). The criminology major was set up using two broad sub-areas, one focusing on different forms and patterns of criminal behavior, and the other focusing on the components of the criminal justice system. A strong focus on research, which mirrored the research core of our existing sociology major, culminates in students completing a senior research project. The sequencing of courses is meant to flow in such a way that research and theoretical skills are learned sequentially and reinforced throughout the curriculum. The goal of this paper is to help other small departments in developing their own majors, learning from our efforts, our struggles, and ultimately our successes.

Authors

• Rich Wallace, University of Wisconsin - River Falls

• Desiree Wiesen-Martin, University of Wisconsin - River Falls