According to the University of Denver, criminology majors receive a broad liberal arts-based education that involves subjects such as law, politics, crime and the justice system. Courses teach students about the American justice system, the reasons for crime, different types of crime and the psychology behind crime. Students also learn about local, state and federal agencies that work against crime, such as the FBI or police departments, as well as prisons, juvenile delinquency and the parole system.
Although each criminology major differs by school, they all will likely be centered around sociology courses. Sociology studies the structure of societies and patterns of human behavior. Sociology courses help students understand how crime factors into society and why people commit crimes. Besides basic sociology courses, students may also take courses that study sociology related to juvenile crime and the law.
Besides the core required courses, there are usually many electives from which to choose. The "Princeton Review" website lists possible courses such as Theories of Crime, Drug Addiction and Alcoholism, Juvenile Justice and Criminal Justice Policy. The University of Denver website also lists possible elective courses, such as Kids and Courts, Discipline and Punishment, Women and the Law and Wrongful Conviction.
Although there are usually a few core courses every school requires criminology majors to take, a number of elective choices remain up to the student. If you don't know exactly what you want to do with the major for your career, take a wide variety of electives to discover your interests. If you're interested in a subject, such as women or children and the law, try to tailor your elective choices to learn more about these issues.
Besides lecture courses, many criminology programs require students to complete an internship. Look for internships in areas that interest you, such as in a law office or for a law enforcement agency. An internship is like a test drive for your career and gives you a chance to try out a job without committing to it full-time. Internships are also great learning experiences and allow students to shadow and learn from professionals in the field.