This certificate provides undergraduate-level sociology students with a greater understanding of an array of aspects of the criminal justice system, highlighting the impact of law and society, corrections systems, and structures of deviance in the social order.

This certificate is beneficial for enhancing future career options with law enforcement, state, and community action, and social service organizations. It is also beneficial for students who are applying to law schools, social work programs, and graduate programs.

Dr. Michèle Companion (mcompani@uccs.edu) is the coordinator of the Undergraduate Certificate in Criminology and Justice Studies.

Specific skills covered include:

• Critical thinking: problem-solving, practical analysis, and theoretical application
• Critical writing
• Team-based research, including communication and oral presentation skills
• Research methodologies that apply to these broader settings

General Requirements:

• Required core courses: SOC 3410 Law and Society and SOC 3400 Criminology.
• Students must also take two additional elective courses for a total of 12 credit hours. 
  • Suggested electives include:
    • SOC 4190 Deviant Behavior
    • SOC 4960 Juvenile Delinquency
    • SOC 4110 Sociology of Homelessness
    • SOC 3490 Youth Gangs
    • SOC 3360 Drugs and Addiction
• A minimum grade of 3.3 is required for each course applied to the certificate.
• All courses must be upper-division (3000+ level) in Sociology. Independent studies may not be applied.
• A 5-page self-statement paper discussing the impact of the certificate of studies on personal perceptions, careers goals, theoretical, and methodological orientations. Students should also discuss the impact of specific courses taken toward the completion of this certificate. 

For details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Once admitted to UCCS, students choosing to pursue a certificate must submit a Certificate Declaration Form.

After completing the program requirements, the student must submit the Certificate Completion Form with all supporting documents uploaded where indicated on the form. Students planning to pursue multiple certificates will need to submit separate declaration and completion forms for each certificate.

To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

Additional resources for Admissions:

• Tuition Rate
• Cost of Tuition Estimator
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships