Does crime excites you and you want to analyze its complex dynamics? Here are some courses in criminology to aid you in your quest of becoming a criminologist.

Criminology Courses

"If he has a conscience he will suffer for his mistake. That will be punishment-as well as the prison." If only Fyodor Dostoevsky’s lines were true for all criminals, but alas this isn’t the case. Criminal behavior is a complex topic of study, and why one takes to crime, an intriguing question. If crime fascinates you beyond the superficiality of a crime novel, if you are appalled by the very nature of it, but still curious as to how people can indulge in such monstrosity without remorse or regret, then criminology is an area of study that might just perfectly fit the bill. Criminology is the science that deals with the scientific study of the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society. It deals largely with behavioral sciences and is an extremely challenging course. Crime regulation through appropriate laws by the government also comes into the purview of criminology. If you think a career in criminology is your calling then read on to know about the courses in criminology.

Courses In Criminology

Eligibility
Undergraduate courses (B.A/B.Sc) as well as post graduate courses (M.A/M.Sc) courses are available in criminology. For the undergraduate course the candidate should have passed his 10+2 exams (twelfth standard/PUC) with either a science or arts background. For the masters program the individual should have completed a graduation course in either science or arts background. Diploma courses that last for about 3-6 months can also be availed in criminology. On completion of the course students are allowed use Dip.crim MOC after their name. They can extend the course up to one year. Criminology at the undergraduate level is usually taken in as a joint honors course i.e. B.A LLB (hons) criminology.

Details Of The Course

The Undergraduate Courses Include The Following Topics As The Area Of Study:

Introduction to the social sciences as they apply to the study of crime
law and order
exploration of the criminal justice process
Equal Opportunities in Criminal Justice
Evidence and Procedure
Critical Issues in Criminal Investigation
Criminal Law in Context
Dissertation
Critical Issues in Criminal Justice and Penology
Crime, Risk and Community Safety
Leadership and Management of the Investigative Process or Comparative Criminal Justice and Victimology

Optional Subjects Include:

Youth and Crime
Public Order
Terrorism
The History of Crime and Punishment
Alcohol and Drugs
Crime and Media Culture
Landmark cases.

The Masters Program In Criminolgy Include The Following Areas Of Study:

Research Design and Statistics I
Research Design and Statistics 2
Race and Crime
Advanced Criminology
Law and Society
Correctional Institutions
Criminal Law
Prevention and Control of Crime
Homeland Security and Computer Crime

Specialization
Criminology as such is also a specialization subject. Criminology at the undergraduate level is usually taken in as a joint honors course i.e. B.A LLB (hons) criminology. It is also taken as a specialization along with B.A in sociology. The specialization in criminology explores a range of sociological theories and research about law making, law breaking, law enforcement and the consequences of law enforcement.

Career Prospects
Job prospects for a criminologist are very bright. They can find jobs as police officers, state medicals officers, crime intelligence analysts, law reform researchers, community corrections coordinators, Regional crime prevention coordinators, drug policy advisors, consumer advocates and environment protection analysts. Some of them also become crime scene investigators. However, for this you need to have an additional course in forensics and need to be very physically fit. In addition to this, a crime scene investigator must be able to pass a background check, be eligible to carry a firearm and make arrests. They must also have a valid driver's license to perform their duties.

Some Of The Best Institutes Offering Courses In Criminology

University of Maryland,College Park, USA
University of Albany,Suny-NY, USA
University of Cincinati, Ohio, USA
Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, Delhi, India
Punjab University, Chandigarh, India
Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai, India
University of Madras, Chepauk, Chennai, India
University of Jammu, Jammu Tawi, India

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