Criminology and Criminal Justice

Chair: G. LaFree (Prof, Chair, Distinguished Scholar Teacher)

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

Professors: D. Gottfredson, J. Laub (Distinguished University Professor), J. Lynch, J. McGloin, P. Reuter, L. Sherman (Distinguished University Professor), S. Simpson

Associate Professors: L. Dugan, B. Johnson, E. Wish, M. Xie (Graduate Director)

Assistant Professors: W. Jacobsen, D. Maimon (Honors Director), G. Midgette, L. Porter, S. Tahamont

Lecturers (College Park): C. Fisher, R. Hamill, A. Lehman, J. Madoo, T. Mauriello (Senior Lecturer), D. Mitchell, C. Roberts White, D. Salem (Senior Lecturer), K. Zafft

Lecturers (Shady Grove): T. Alexander, J. Conroy, A. Drew, S. Eastman, T. Jordan, L. Korossy, C. Morlier, S. Phelps, N. Romeiser

Professor Emeriti: C. Wellford

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 around gaining new material over the course of the semester and are expected to involve some degree of ongoing training/learning for the intern. Internship placements are subject to the approval of the Internship Director.

Internship Eligibility

Interns must meet the following criteria:

Interns must be CCJS majors
Interns must have completed a minimum of 56 credits at the time of application
Interns must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 at the time of application
Interns must work 45 hours per credit over the course of the semester
A maximum of 6 internship credits per semester and a total of 12 internship credits overall will be permitted
Internship credit will not be approved for current or previously held jobs

Interns must register themselves for the internship prior to the end of the semester's schedule adjustment period. Obtaining Departmental approval for the internship does NOT register the student for the class. Additional information about internships can be picked up from the CCJS advising office in 2201 Lefrak Hall or online.

Honors Program

The Honors Program is a three-semester (9 required credit hours) sequence, which a student begins in the fall semester of his or her 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 will only be offered in the fall semester. In the spring semester of the junior year, students will complete CCJS389H, where students will solidify their honors thesis topic and begin preliminary research. In the fall semester of the senior year, students will complete CCJS489H, a writing intensive course, during which the student will complete an honors thesis. At the end of the semester, each student must orally defend his or her honors thesis. 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, community service projects and career fairs, 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 1942 and membership is open to CCJS majors who have completed at least 40 total credits with at least 12 credits in CCJS courses. Undergraduate Applicants must have an overall GPA of at least a 3.2 and a major GPA of at least 3.4. Graduate student applicants must have a 3.4 overall GPA. Applicants must fill out and print the application available at http://www.alphaphisigma.org/applications-1.html Choose Student Member Application (US chapters), submit an official or unofficial transcript, and a check (personal is fine) made out to Alpha Phi Sigma for $55 ($50 of which goes to the National fee and $5 goes to the local chapter). The CCJS degree is a Bachelor of Arts. The name of the local chapter is Omega Iota. Put the completed application, check, and transcript in Nicole Jackson's mailbox inside 2220 Lefrak Hall. Applications are processed once at the beginning of the Fall semester and once at the beginning of the Spring semester each year, and it generally takes a few months to get official acceptance. Ms. Jackson will notify you when your certificate and pin have been received.

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: www.financialaid.umd.edu.

Awards and Recognition

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