University of South Carolina Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Welcome to the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina. Criminology and criminal justice focus on the causes of and societal responses to crime and deviance. Our graduates enter careers in law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, research, and more. In addition, a degree in criminology and criminal justice is excellent preparation for graduate studies or law school. Each year, a significant number of our graduates go on for further education. We have some of the nation’s best criminology and criminal justice researchers and teachers on our faculty. Our professors actively engage in research with criminal justice agencies in South Carolina, as well as those in other states and countries. This work not only contributes to constant improvements in the justice system but also brings real-world knowledge and experience to the classroom.

With more than 600 undergraduate majors, a highly regarded M.A. degree, and a nationally-ranked Ph.D. program, the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is a vibrant and growing learning community dedicated to serving the needs of its students, the State of South Carolina, and society at large.