Dartmouth University

What you'll study

The programme is organised around core social‑science foundations, applied topics in crime and justice, and methodological training. You will take introductory modules that establish key theories and institutional frameworks, followed by more specialised courses and a capstone research or practicum project.

• Core topics: Introduction to Criminology, Theories of Crime, Criminal Law and Procedure, and Comparative Criminal Justice.
• Social‑science methods: Research Methods in the Social Sciences, Quantitative Analysis, Qualitative Methods (interviewing, ethnography), and Data Analysis for Crime Studies.
• Applied areas: Policing and Community Safety, Corrections and Penology, Juvenile Justice, Victimology, Substance misuse and crime, and Restorative Justice.
• Interdisciplinary options: courses drawn from Sociology, Government, Psychology, Anthropology and Economics covering topics such as public policy, race and the law, forensic psychology and social inequality.
• Capstone and practical learning: a senior thesis or supervised practicum/internship with criminal justice agencies, NGOs or research centres to develop real‑world skills in investigation, policy analysis or programme evaluation.

Entry requirements

Admission looks for strong overall academic performance in secondary education with evidence of aptitude in social studies, humanities or quantitative subjects. Applicants are expected to demonstrate critical reading and writing skills and an interest in empirical research and public affairs.

• Secondary school completion or equivalent from an accredited system.
• Competitive academic record in relevant subjects such as history, government, sociology, psychology or mathematics; institutions may consider portfolios, essays or writing samples that show analytical ability.
• Letters of recommendation that speak to academic potential and readiness for rigorous undergraduate study; admissions interviews may be used.
• International applicants must demonstrate equivalent qualifications and proficiency in English where required.

Career prospects

Graduates from criminology programmes typically move into roles across the criminal justice and public policy ecosystem or continue to postgraduate study. The degree provides analytic, research and communication skills valued in many settings.

• Operational roles: policing, probation and parole services, corrections and youth justice work (often combined with additional professional training or certification).
• Policy and analysis: policy analyst, crime analyst, research assistant in government departments, think tanks or non‑governmental organisations.
• Support and advocacy: victim support services, community outreach, rehabilitation and social work (may require further professional qualification).
• Legal and academic pathways: many graduates progress to law school, postgraduate criminology, public policy or social science research degrees.
• Private‑sector options: compliance, risk analysis, consultancy and security management roles that value understanding of regulation, ethics and social dynamics.

Why study at Dartmouth University

Students benefit from a strongly undergraduate‑focused teaching environment with small seminars, close faculty mentoring and opportunities to shape interdisciplinary study across departments. The programme emphasises hands‑on research and fieldwork, enabling students to complete substantive capstone projects with faculty supervision or placements in criminal justice settings.

• Close faculty access and small class sizes that support discussion‑based learning and independent projects.
• Interdepartmental collaboration across sociology, government, psychology and related fields, giving flexible course choices and methodological breadth.
• Support for experiential learning, including internships, community partnerships and guidance from career services for routes into public service, NGOs or graduate study.