Undergraduate Major in Criminology

Welcome to the University of Pennsylvania's Undergraduate Program in Criminology!
Under the direction of Professor William S. Laufer, the Penn Criminology Major offers students a unique education in crime and criminal justice policy. Students in the Criminology Undergraduate program will gain a broad understanding of the socio-political context of crime and the bio-psychological analysis of violent and anti-social behavior. Every major will be required to work on a faculty research project and complete a Senior Thesis. See also Undergrad Intership Opportunities
Declaring a Criminology major is easy, just use the following guidelines: See your College academic advisor to create an official worksheet on Penn in Touch Make an appointment with the Undergraduate Chair William Laufer by emailing Janel McCaffrey at janelm@sas.upenn.edu or stopping by Criminology at 483 McNeil Building. We’ll be happy to talk to you about the major. If you decide to declare, we will also help you choose a Faculty Advisor. Early in the senior year, meet with your Faculty Advisor to make sure you have taken all the Criminology courses and fulfilled the other requirements of the major. Transferring Credits Students should apply to the Undergraduate Chair for transfer credit. Applicants should provide as much information about the course as possible. A syllabus is particularly helpful, along with examinations, assignments, texts, class notes, and the grade you received for the course. Transfer credit is given at the discretion of the Department and is NOT automatic. Please bring these materials along with a Transfer Credit Application to the Criminology Department. Course Requirements: 14 Credit Units: 8 Criminology Courses, 6 Cross-departmental Courses Criminology Courses (All required, or substitutes indicated) Fall 2008 Criminology Course Timetable 2008-2009 Criminology Course Register (Course descriptions) CRIM 100 - Criminology CRIM 200 - Criminal Justice CRIM 350 - Quantitative Analysis CRIM 360 - Crime and Human Development (or PSYC 180 - Developmental Psychology) CRIM 370 - Biosocial criminology CRIM 380 - Ecological Criminology (or SOCI 140 - Sociology of Conflict) CRIM 410-412 - One 400-level Research Seminar in Criminology CRIM 450 - Senior Research Thesis Socio-Political Context of Crime Fall 2008 Course Timetable 2008-2009 Course Register (Course descriptions) SOCI 03 - Deviance and Social Control (Required) and any two of the following: CLST 130 - Ancient and Modern Prison Narratives ENGL 16 - Discipline and Punish: Crime and Criminality in Early America HIST 168 - History of American Law to 1877 HIST 169 - History of American Law since 1877 HIST 352 - Legal History: English Fundamentals PHIL 077 - Philosophy of Law PHIL 277 - Justice, Law and Morality PHIL 278 - Comparative Law PSCI 130 - Introduction to American Politics PSCI 171 - American Constitutional Law SOCI 125 - Classical Sociological Theory SOCI 135 - Law and Society SOCI 140 - Sociology of Conflict Bio-Psychological Analysis Fall 2008 Course Timetable 2008-2009 Course Register (Course descriptions) Any three of the following: BIBB 109 - Intro to Brain and Behavior PSYC 001 - Intro to Psychology PSYC 162 - Abnormal Psychology PSYC 160 - Personality PSYC 125 - Drugs, Brain and Mind PSYC 149 - Cognitive Neuroscience PSYC 170 - Social Psychology PSYC 180 - Developmental Psychology Criminology Electives Crim 400/Crim 615 - Fatal Violence in the United States back to top