Seven Things in Criminology to Pay Attention to

By  //  December 16, 2019

Like most ‘ologies’, criminology is the study of something. In this case, it’s the study of criminal behavior from a scientific aspect.

Like most ‘ologies’, criminology is the study of something. In this case, it’s the study of criminal behavior from a scientific aspect.

Criminology involves studying this behavior at individual, social, and natural levels which may be discussed when paper writing or when you hire someone to write my paper for me.

The overall goal is to manage, control, and ultimately prevent criminal behavior. If you are considering studying criminology or are a student of criminology, here are a few things you should pay attention to. 

1. Criminology Draws from Many Fields

Human behavior is a complex topic. Criminology, therefore, must draw from many disciplines. In addition to a basic understanding of criminal behavior, it involves elements of psychology, psychiatry, sociology, criminal law, and social anthropology. By looking deeply at each of these areas, a greater understanding of human behavior as it pertains to crime can be understood. 

2. Criminology isn’t Like CSI

Many students enter criminology aspiring to be like agents on CSI, solving crimes and earning glory. Often, criminology is the statistical and psychological side of understanding criminal behavior. It is a lot of data analysis and looking over paperwork. 

3. Don’t Save Reading for Reading Week

Criminology requires students to understand a wide range of topics. To get the core topics covered for the next week, professors often assign reading for one week and assignments in another. Of course, many students put off reading during the reading week because it is an opportunity to catch up on other classes or even travel back home to visit family. Instead, get it out of the way ahead of time so you can enjoy yourself on your off weeks. 

4. You Don’t Need to Purchase Every Textbook

Even when a book is on your required resources, it does not mean you’ll need it for the whole course. Diverse programs like criminology draw from many subjects. This means there will be a lot of resources you’ll need to read each week. When buying books, check out book lending programs through your school’s library or even Amazon. Many colleges also have a book buy-back, where they buy back books in good condition to sell to future students. 

5. Don’t Limit Your Job Positions

Have you thought about what you’ll do with your criminology degree once you graduate? Criminology can be used to gain insight into many types of jobs.

Some people may study statistics and work toward prevention, while others might work on rehabilitating criminals after being in prison.

Some other common jobs for this field include paralegal, FBI field agent, probation and parole officer, and security officer. These all rely on skills that you learn as a criminology major. 

6. Get a Greater Understanding for the Field

Criminology is a specialized field. There are many different places to look for help including:

  • Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences- The ACJS is related to the study of criminology. Becoming a member lets you access publications, as well as professional development opportunities. 
  • American Society of Criminology- The ASC offers many benefits to members including criminology-related publications and journals, opportunities for further education, annual meetings, and more. 

7. Look at Resources for Landing Your First Job

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a great place to start if you want an idea on the average pay for someone with a criminology degree. You’ll also learn about the location and availability of jobs across the United States. 

Studying criminology lets students gain an in-depth understanding of human motivation and the criminal mind. In addition to studying forensics, criminology students learn to focus on patterns and learn more about the mind.

Through identifying core individual and societal issues that contribute to criminal behaviors, preventative measures can be taken.