Criminology

As long as people break the law, our society will need criminologists.

If you have an insatiable curiosity, a strong sense of justice, and a desire to improve social conditions, a major in criminology will build on your natural abilities to prepare you for a fulfilling career. You will study all facets of crime—from the psychological motivations of criminals to the intricacies of law enforcement, prisons and parole systems—to fully understand the American criminal justice system and explore how to improve it.

KEY CLASSES FOR YOUR SUCCESS

Substance Abuse

The abuse of alcohol and other drugs affects our society as a whole, as well as our criminal justice system. In this course, you will study addiction and addiction support groups, with an emphasis on the classification of drugs, models of addiction, and the impact of addiction on individuals, children, families, and culturally and ethnically diverse groups of people.

add

Corrections

In this course, you will be introduced to the correctional response to criminal behavior. Along with your classmates and professor, you will discuss the nature of punishment and issues involved in sentencing, incarceration, probation, parole, and capital punishment.

add

White Collar Crime

We’ve all seen news stories about executives who have embezzled funds, professionals who have committed fraud, or the abuse of power in healthcare, banking, government, insurance, or corporate industries. How does this happen, and what are the implications of corruption on a multimillion-dollar scale? In this course, you’ll explore these themes and more in an introduction to white collar crime.

add

100% Online

You can earn your bachelor’s in criminology on your time and wherever you want!

Learn more

Coker student studying at a table in a restaurant (decorative)

One Degree That Opens All These Doors

$59,190
Border Patrol Agent
$47,340
Paralegal
$45,220
Law Clerk
$51,233
Police Officer
$38,382
Child Welfare Specialist
$40,309
Correctional Counselor
$39,072
Corrections Officer
$41,986
Criminologist
$44,830
Deputy Sheriff
$38,599
Evidence Technician
$64,609
FBI Agent
$83,328
Lawyer
$41,830
Probation Officer
$45,471
Social Worker

CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNER’S

Gold & Blue Scholarships

Coker offers the Corporate and Community Partners Gold Graduate Scholarship (25% off tuition) to employees of five local organizations:

Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center
Duke Energy
McLeod Health
North Industrial Machine
Sonoco Products Company
Coker offers the Corporate and Community Partners Blue Graduate Scholarship (10% off tuition) to employees of three local technical colleges:

Florence-Darlington Technical College
Midlands Technical College
Northeastern Technical College

Learn more here

Two Students in a Coker classroom (decorative)

Michael L. Siegfried

Professor of Criminology and Sociology

Currently Serving as Coordinator of the Criminology program Areas of expertise Criminology Criminological Theory Violent Crime White Collar Crime Organized Crime Sociology Sociology of Occupations and…

View Michael’s profile

Kirsten A. Piatak

Assistant Professor of Criminology; Coordinator of Criminology Program

Office Location SB 405 Areas of Interest Sexual Violence and Greek Affiliation Intimate Partner Violence Violent Crime and Societal Response Racial and Gender Disparities in the Criminal Justice…

View Kirsten A.’s profile

Criminology

Criminology

As long as people break the law, our society will need criminologists.

KEY CLASSES FOR YOUR SUCCESS

Substance Abuse

Corrections

White Collar Crime

100% Online

One Degree That Opens All These Doors

$59,190

$47,340

$45,220

$51,233

$38,382

$40,309

$39,072

$41,986

$44,830

$38,599

$64,609

$83,328

$41,830

$45,471

CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNER’S

Gold & Blue Scholarships

Meet Your Mentors

Michael L. Siegfried

Professor of Criminology and Sociology

Kirsten A. Piatak

Assistant Professor of Criminology; Coordinator of Criminology Program

Be part of our community, as we work together to learn, lead, and inspire.