The Associate of Arts Degree in Criminology prepares students for a rewarding position in the Criminology field such as police officer, state trooper, correctional officer, or private security. It also prepares students for the Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with the Area of Emphasis in Criminology. The interconnected programs in the Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology contribute together to the mission of the College of Arts and Letters and encourage collaboration with other departments and programs within the College. The Department focuses on research, practice, and service to the community. The community plays a pivotal role in the life of individuals and serves as a platform from which to study health and illness, diversity and social hierarchies, and criminal justice. The focus on community enables us to showcase the usefulness of Sociology for understanding society; to create a niche for Social Work, particularly in the areas of child welfare, gerontology, and sexual diversity; and to find a pivotal role for Criminology through emphasizing rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into the community. The agenda of the DHHS Healthy People 2020 serves as a foundation for conducting qualitative and quantitative research, theory building, and securing external funding.The Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology offers courses leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a Criminology Concentration, the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, the Associate of Arts in Criminology, and also the Sociology minor and the interdisciplinary Gender and Sexuality Studies minor.