Jan 03, 2025  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Criminology (BS)

Location(s): Manhattan Campus


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The Criminology program at K-State is designed to give students a broad and comprehensive understanding of academic criminology while also preparing them for careers in fields like policing, criminal investigations, victims services, prison and jail operations, criminal justice research and policy, criminal justice administration, community corrections services, and others.

Students who major in criminology should refer to the general requirements for the B.A. or B.S. degree required for the College of Arts and Sciences.

All criminology students are expected to complete foundational courses (6 credit hours), core criminology courses (13 credit hours), a job skills requirement  (1 credit hour), and classes that provide valuable social context (3 credit hours) and cover issues of social inequality (3 credit hours). Students are then required to complete twelve credit hours of criminology electives. Finally, all students are required to complete a “capstone” requirement. Students may choose between two capstone options: (1) an internship track which involves gaining field experience in a criminal justice or related agency, typically completed over a summer (6 credit hours), and (2) a scholarship track designed to prepare students for graduate studies by completing lower-level criminology or sociology graduate courses (6 hours).

Students must earn a 2.5 grade point average in courses taken within the major to graduate.  

Kansas State University Core: 34-36 Credit Hours


KBOR Statewide Transfer (SWT) Courses: https://www.kansasregents.org/academic_affairs/transfer-articulation.

English (Written Communication Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours


Communication (Oral Communication Outcomes): 3 Credit Hours


Natural & Physical Sciences (Natural & Physical Sciences Outcomes): 4-5 Credit Hours


Choose 1 subject area which must include a lab.

Social & Behavioral Sciences (Social & Behavioral Sciences Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours


At least 2 courses from 2 subjects under this area.

Arts & Humanities (Arts & Humanities Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours


At least 2 courses from 2 subjects under this area.

Free Electives (Institutionally Designated Area): 6 Credit Hours


Includes ALL 100 and 200 level courses at K-State or in Transfer. 
Note: One course may be used to satisfy more than one requirement. However, students must complete a total of 34-36 credit hours of general education courses.

For a Full Listing of K-State 100/200 level courses you may search those courses individually via the University Course Catalog.

TOTAL CREDITS: 34-36


Program Requirements


Orientation: 1 Credit Hour


Outside Concentration: 9 Credit Hours


Outside credential of at least 9 credit hours (May be from any unit, except ****, etc, OR from approved interdisciplinary credentials within the unit).

OR

Any 9 credit hours in a single prefix (except for ****) (all must be 300 level or above OR at any level with a prereq in the same prefix; up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

OR

Any 9 credit hour microcredential (up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

Overlays: [9] Credit Hours


May be filled in K-State Core, Outside Concentration, electives, or the Program itself.

  • Ethical Reasoning Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
  • Global Perspectives Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
  • US Multicultural Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]

Program


Foundation Courses: 6 Credit Hours


Skills Requirement: 1 Credit Hour


Capstone Requirement: 6 Credit Hours


Students may either take an “internship” or “scholarship” approach to fulfilling this requirement. Each requires 6 credit hours from courses within the following two tracks.

Scholarship


Students will take 6 credit hours of 600 or 700 level Criminology or Sociology Courses. Students may also take 3 credits ours of 600 or 700 level Criminology or Sociology Courses and 3 credit hours of senior thesis hours (CRIM 599).

BS Natural and Quantitative Requirements: 9 Credit Hours


One course in each of the following, with at least two courses at the 300 level or above OR at any level with a prerequisite in the same discipline.

Natural Science course Credits: 3


Quantitative course Credits: 3


Natural Science, or Quantitative, or Social Science w/MATH or STAT prereq Credits: 3


BS Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Requirements: 3 Credit Hours


3 credit hours of the following:

Fine Arts or Humanities: Any course or combination of courses Credits: 3


Free Electives: 20


In addition to K-State Core Free Electives requirement, take any course so that the total credit hours completed equals 120.

Credit Grand Total for Program of Study: 120


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