Criminology and Criminal Justice

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
2220 LeFrak Hall
Phone: 301-405-4699
ccjsadvising@umd.edu
http://ccjs.umd.edu

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJS) was established in 1969 and graduated its first doctoral students in 1978/79. The department has grown to be one of the most popular majors on campus, with the #1 ranked doctoral program in the United States (U.S. News and World Report, 2005, 2010, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024). CCJS also has an undergraduate program located on the campus at Shady Grove.

Chair: R. Brunson

Directors: J. Madoo (Undergraduate Director, College Park); W. Stickle (Undergraduate Director, Shady Grove campus)

Professors: R. Brame, B. Johnson (Associate Chair), J. McGloin, P. Reuter (Distinguished University Professor), M. Xie

Associate Professors: B. Bersani, W. Jacobsen (Honors Director), G. Midgette, L. Porter (Graduate Director), S. Tahamont, M. Vélez, E. Wish

Assistant Professors: R. Ellis, B. Hitchens, Z. Jelveh, D. Lewis, R. Stewart

Research Professor: J. Lynch

Associate Research Professor: T. Abt (VRC's Founding Director)

Lecturers (College Park): C. Fisher, R. Hamill, B. Lacey, A. Lehman, D. Mitchell, J. Morabito, D. O'Neill, S. Price, D. Salem (Senior Lecturer)

Lecturers (Shady Grove): T. Alexander, H. Bresee, A. Drew, R. Harris, R., C. Morlier, N. Romeiser, W. Sollod, J. Trusty, C. Woodward 

Professor Emeriti: D. Gottfredson, G. LaFree (Distinguished University Professor), J. Laub (Distinguished University Professor), S. Simpson (Distinguished University Professor), C. Wellford

Major

All majors are strongly encouraged to see an advisor at least once each semester. Advising is available on both a drop-in and appointment basis between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays in 2201 Lefrak Hall. Students must complete all course prerequisites and obtain department permission from CCJS Advising to enroll in most CCJS classes. Call 301-405-4729 or email ccjsadvising@umd.edu.

Internships

Requirements for Internship Placements

The internship must be a learning experience involving work in a criminal justice or criminological setting. Interns are expected to gain valuable information which will add to their overall understanding of the field of criminology and criminal justice. Internship positions must center on learning new material over the course of the semester and interns are expected to participate in ongoing training and development. Internships are subject to the approval of the Internship Director.

Internship Eligibility

Interns must meet the following criteria:

  • Students must be CCJS majors
  • Students must have a minimum of 56 credits
  • Students must have a minimum UMD cumulative GPA of at least 2.5
  • Student interns must work 45 hours per credit over the course of the semester
  • Students can earn a maximum of 6 internship credits per semester and a total of 12 internship degree credits
  • Internship credit is not granted for current or previously held jobs

Interns must register themselves for the internship prior to the end of the semester's schedule adjustment period. Additional information about internships can be picked up from the CCJS advising office in 2201 Lefrak Hall or the CCJS internship website.

Honors Program

The Honors Program is a four semester (12 required credit hours) sequence, which a student begins in the fall semester of their junior year. CCJS388H, the first course in the sequence, will provide an in-depth understanding of various contemporary criminological issues and the production of criminological research. CCJS388H is offered only in the fall semester. CCJS389H Independent Research is an experiential learning component, where students can complete either an independent study, research assistantship, or research-based internship of their choosing. CCJS389H can be completed during the spring semester of the junior year or anytime in the senior year. In the fall semester of the senior year, students will enroll in CCJS489H, where students start the writing process for their honors thesis. In the fall, students will solidify their honors thesis topic and begin preliminary research. In the spring semester of the senior year, students will continue CCJS489H, during which the student will complete an honors thesis and orally defend their thesis. The student with the best honors thesis from each cohort will be awarded the Laure Brooks Honors Thesis Award. Honors students may count their honors courses toward completion of the CCJS Course of Choice major curriculum requirement.

Student Societies and Professional Organizations

There are two Student Societies available for membership for CCJS majors: the Criminal Justice Student Association (CJSA) and Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society (APS).

The Criminal Justice Student Association (CJSA) is dedicated to supplementing our members' academic experience by providing extracurricular opportunities to further explore critical issues involving criminology and criminal justice. Through a regular program of speakers, agency demonstrations, and community service projects, the CJSA provides students with valuable information for making decisions about career choices, further graduate level study, and law school. The CJSA provides students with opportunities for academic and social interaction, and access to criminology and criminal justice researchers, teachers, and practitioners representing a variety of government, academic and commercial corporate and non-profit organizations. All graduate and undergraduate students, regardless of major, are eligible for membership in the CJSA. CJSA meetings and programs are held at least monthly during the fall and spring semesters. CJSA does not assess membership dues or fees.

Alpha Phi Sigma (APS) is a National Criminal Justice Honor Society founded in 1942 and membership is open to CCJS majors who have completed at least 40 total credits with at least 12 credits in CCJS courses. Applicants must have completed at least one semester at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and have an established UMD grade point average. Undergraduate applicants must have an overall GPA of at least a 3.2 and a major GPA of at least 3.2. Graduate student applicants must have a 3.4 overall GPA. To apply applicants start with completing the application available at http://alphaphisigma.org. Students must submit the completed application and the required application fee to Chapter Advisor Nicole Jackson. Applications are processed once at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. More information about the UMD Omega Iota chapter of APS is available on the CCJS undergraduate website.

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) administers all types of federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs and, in cooperation with other university offices, participates in the awarding of scholarships to deserving students. For information, visit: http://financialaid.umd.edu.

Awards and Recognition

Each semester the department selects the outstanding graduating senior for the Peter J. Lejins award.