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.
Nutrition at Boston University
Diet and health care are topics are in the news and on everyone’s mind these days, so what better time to pursue a degree in Nutritional Science? After visiting Boston University, the Professor cannot think of a better place to study nutrition.
With 33,000 students, a top-ranking medical school, and a reputation for strong academic research, BU is both a world unto itself and an integral part of beautiful Boston. Many campus buildings, including student housing units, are located right on the city’s bustling Commonwealth Avenue, and BU is within walking distance of some of the city’s cultural highlights, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the nightlife of Landsdowne Street, and Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Students can easily board the “T,” Boston’s rail system, to access the rest of this compact metropolis.
For over a century, BU has been a place for students who want to be at the top of their game. BU has graduated seven Nobel Laureates, 35 Pulitzer Prize winners, six Academy Award winners, and a list of Emmy and Tony award winners, not to mention the MacArthur, Sloan, and Guggenheim fellowship holders and members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and National Academy of Sciences.
The Professor learned that the Nutritional Science department is positively thriving, which is why many future dieticians and nutritionists get their starts here. Students earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Science from the College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. The Nutritional Science department is a small program within this large research university, which affords students some real advantages. Small classes allow for lively discussions, a close-knit community, and a lot of individual attention. Students also have access to BU’s enormous libraries, extensive career resources, elective courses from 10 different colleges within the university, and access to seminars and conferences within greater Boston’s medical community.
Nutritional Science students also have many opportunities for further learning. They participate in faculty research projects and can join on-campus nutrition and health groups. Among these groups are the Sargent Choice Nutrition Center, which develops nutrition and physical activity programs for the BU community and the public, and Health Leads, a nonprofit that helps low-income families live healthy lives. Nutritional Science students also have access to real-world learning experiences that are uniquely Bostonian. As part of their studies, they visit a diverse range of the city’s facilities, from hospitals to the Sam Adams Brewery.
The public’s enthusiastic interest in food and health makes for an ample range of career tracks for graduates. In fact, the career outlook for Nutritional Science students has never been better. Many of the program’s graduates work in the medical field, biomedical sciences, the food industry, education, public health, and private practice. Others apply to medical, dental, or veterinary school or to graduate-level programs in public health.
To learn more about Boston University’s application requirements and deadlines for Nutritional Science and other programs, please visit www.bu.edu.
