Cameron University’s Department of Social Sciences will explore degree plans, career options and more during “CU in Sociology and Criminal Justice,” a virtual workshop scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 29. To register and receive a secure link, to the Zoom presentation, go to https://www.cameron.edu/social-sciences/events.
Sociology and criminal justice faculty members will join students who are majoring in either discipline for an interactive exploration of what it means to major in these fields and the many career advantages and opportunities available to program graduates.
“I’m not sure many people really understand what a solid foundation that sociology and criminal justice offers to graduates,” says Dr. Lance Janda, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences. “Most of us typically associate criminal justice (CJ) with law enforcement, and sociology with academia or social work. While it’s true that many CJ students pursue careers as police officers or corrections officers and a good percentage of sociology graduates go into government services or social work, a great many do not. Degree holders in both disciplines do all sorts of things. They go to law school or graduate school, start businesses, enter the public or private sector, or become consultants or counselors. Both degree programs emphasize critical thinking and are excellent preparation for a wide array of careers.”
Cameron’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree plan includes introductory survey courses in sociology and social work, plus a broad selection of required and elective classes. These include race and ethnic relations, demography, popular culture, research methods, theory, family violence, and social stratification, among others. The degree program also features a specialized track in human services.
“Studying sociology is the best way to understand how and why society functions the way it does,” says Janda. “That’s why it’s such great preparation for so many career fields.”
Criminal justice majors at Cameron complete broad introductory courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement, then move on to required classes in theory, juvenile justice, research and writing, criminal law, and American courts. Electives include coursework in cybercrime, homeland security, and the death penalty, among others.
“Our CJ majors have a great track record of success in the military, law school, and law enforcement,” says Janda. “Many have gone into government service or the private sector and used the tools we taught them in those fields as well. CJ is a much broader field of study than folks realize.”
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