In addition to a research and analysis emphasis, course work is directed toward the investigation of the etiology of offending and victimization in violent and property crimes, using a variety of theoretical frameworks structuring the research process. Courses examine the major correlates of crime, delinquency, and deviance, including an analysis of the effects of gender, age, race/ethnicity, and social class in explaining variation in offending and victimization rates at various levels of analysis (e.g. individuals, within neighborhoods, among counties, and across countries).

Students are exposed to historical and contemporary macro and micro level theories of offending and victimization, and they are challenged to think about how prior and current research in the field of Criminology can be used to inform social and public policies. Several courses provide students with the opportunity to examine the institutions that have evolved to respond to crime and delinquency in our society. These courses provide insights and perspectives into punishment and correction systems, penology, criminal law, rehabilitation and recidivism. At the end of the program, students must complete a criminological research project in the format of a peer-reviewed journal article and pass an oral examination.?