BS in Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Justice

SOC 1001 - Introduction to Sociology is the required preparatory course for the sociology of law, criminology, and justice (sociology LCJ) BA and BS majors. It serves as an introduction to the discipline and is the recommended prerequisite for many upper-division (3xxx-5xxx level) SOC courses.
 
The sociology LCJ BS major requires MATH 1142-Short Calculus, or MATH 1271-Calculus I. Depending on your math skills and background, you may need to take prerequisite math courses before you can take MATH 1142 or MATH 1271.

A grade of C- or better is required in all major courses.

See the University Catalog for all courses in the major.

Remember, when using Transferology to plan courses for the major, look for courses that transfer as direct equivalents to University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMTC) major courses. In Transferology, a direct equivalent shows as the UMTC course number. For example, COMM 1101 is a direct equivalent, while COMM 1T*** is not.

In CLA, each department has a process to declare their major(s). This is a necessary step for the major to be added to the student record. New transfer students do not declare their majors until after they attend orientation.

To declare the sociology LCJ major (BA or BS), you must either complete an online information session and then meet with a sociology departmental advisor or peer adviser, or attend an in-person information and declaration session.

Before declaring sociology LCJ as a major, completion of SOC 1001 or an equivalent transfer course is recommended.

Declaring the major is an important step. While most upper division major courses are open to all students, the department does reserve some seats for declared majors in the core classes: SOC 3701, SOC 3801, and SOC 3811.

We recommend that you meet with the sociology advising staff during your first semester in CLA to discuss your interests and the declaration process. This meeting allows the departmental advisor to help you stay on track in the major and to tell you about opportunities within the major, which include research, scholarships, and service-learning options.

Lower-division coursework

SOC 1001 and SOC 1101 are the only lower-division (1xxx-level) courses that can count towards the sociology LCJ BA or BS majors.  

Major residency requirement 

At least six SOC upper-division courses must be completed at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMTC). This means that you may be allowed to apply up to three upper-division transfer courses to satisfy the sociology LCJ BA or BS major requirements. The sociology LCJ BS sub-plan requires a minimum of two of the four courses in the sub-plan be completed with UMTC courses.

Criminal justice transfer courses and some lower division or introductory sociology courses that have a focus on criminal justice or law enforcement are often not accepted for use towards the sociology LCJ major requirements.

Students interested in law enforcement should remember that sociology LCJ major is not the same as a criminal justice major and should talk with sociology departmental advising staff prior to official transfer

Transfer courses are evaluated by the department for use towards the major. Check Transferology to see if an evaluation already exists for the courses you would like to use toward the major.  If you find a course that has not been evaluated you can submit the course for review. A copy of the course syllabus is required.

The Department of Sociology website provides information on all sociology programs, including the sociology minors, and the public health minor.

Planning for a BA or a BS with a Sociology LCJ major

If you are planning to complete a BA degree, consider completing or starting your second language before you transfer to CLA.  Be sure to talk with a CLA transfer advisor about any questions you have about completing the CLA second language requirement.

If you are planning to complete a BS sociology LCJ major, completing a MATH 1142 or MATH 1271 equivalent before you transfer to CLA is recommended.

Transfer students are strongly encouraged to plan to complete the majority of the sociology LCJ major courses at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. By taking the majority of courses here, you have the opportunity to make the most of the faculty and courses offered through our top-ranked, world-renowned program.

Choosing a Sub-Plan

The BS major includes a required sub-plan chosen from Health Care and Careers; Organization, Business, or Nonprofit; Policy Analysis; or Quantitative Emphasis. If you are considering the BS, take time to review the sub-plan information on the department website and in the University Catalog.  Please note that all sub-plan courses are upper-division (3xxx-level or higher).    

Courses or Minors to Consider in Other Disciplines

Many students majoring in sociology LCJ take courses or minor in psychology, political science, communication studies, geography, and family social science (offered by the College of Education and Human Development). These are only some of the many interesting options on campus.