Criminology at Hofstra University

Have you ever been curious about the inner workings of the criminal justice system? If you have, a degree in criminology might be for you. To learn what it entails, the Professor visited Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Long Island.

Upon arriving, the Professor simply could not decide which world to sample first: the serene, 240-acre campus, which is an officially listed arboretum, or the excitement of New York City, less than an hour away by train. He decided to leave his leisure pursuits for later and go straight to the Department of Sociology to learn all about Hofstra’s Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology.

He found that criminology is “the study of lawmaking, lawbreaking, and law enforcement” as defined by Edwin Sutherland, an influential criminologist from the 1930s and 40s. Laws affect just about everything we do in one way or another, so this field covers a lot of bases. Aspiring criminologists need to be educated in a broad range of subjects to prepare them to look at the big picture.

Hofstra’s program prepares students to gain a deep understanding of crime, including its motivations and consequences, from several vantage points. Courses also cover the political, economic, and legal ramifications of crime and how the criminal justice system works.

Students study sociology, psychology, philosophy, political science, forensics, and linguistics. They learn to examine crime from both a legal and a social standpoint (as opposed to Hofstra’s forensic science program, a Bachelor of Science degree, which also covers a broad range of subjects but emphasizes the more scientific side of criminal investigations).

To get hands-on experience, students also participate in internships, wherein they work with professionals in law, social work, and corrections. Many student interns work in specialized courts such as youth courts, mental health courts, and drug courts. Others assist the Department of Probation and other prosecutorial units working on issues such as domestic violence.

Hofstra’s criminology graduates often go on to pursue graduate studies, and many work in fields such as law, criminal justice administration, policy development, or national security. Others work with non-profit foundations or community organizations that deal with a range of justice issues such as prison over-crowding, gun control, or community policing.

Hofstra’s 14,000 students find the university a dynamic place to research and study, with its 140 undergraduate programs, excellent library resources, and state-of-the-art classrooms. Hofstra hosts a plethora of student activities, an active athletics program, and the Hofstra Shakespeare Festival in its own replica of the Globe Theatre. The university also operates Long Island’s oldest public radio station, WRHU-FM (88.7).

After a long day of research, the Professor finally found a place to unwind, right here on the gorgeously landscaped campus. In fact, he found a place that no fine-feathered friend could resist: the Hofstra Model Bird Sanctuary, a two-acre oasis with a songbird study garden, pond, meandering boardwalk, and babbling stream.

To learn more about Hofstra University’s application requirements and deadlines for criminology and other programs, please visit www.hofstra.edu.