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.
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.
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.
100% Online
You can earn your bachelor’s in criminology on your time and wherever you want!
One Degree That Opens All These Doors
Border Patrol Agent
$59,190
Paralegal
$47,340
Law Clerk
$45,220
Police Officer
$51,233
Child Welfare Specialist
$38,382
Correctional Counselor
$40,309
Corrections Officer
$39,072
Criminologist
$41,986
Deputy Sheriff
$44,830
Evidence Technician
$38,599
FBI Agent
$64,609
Lawyer
$83,328
Probation Officer
$41,830
Social Worker
$45,471
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
Meet Your Mentors

Kirsten A. Piatak
Assistant Professor of Criminology; Coordinator of Criminology Program
View Kirsten A.’s ProfileOffice Location SB 405 Areas of Interest Sexual Violence and Greek Affiliation Intimate Partner Violence Violent Crime and Societal…

Michael L. Siegfried
Professor of Criminology and Sociology
View Michael’s ProfileCurrently Serving as Coordinator of the Criminology program Areas of expertise Criminology Criminological Theory Violent Crime White Collar Crime Organized…