Criminology & Criminal Justice
Turn a passion for criminal justice into a career that makes a difference.
Why Study Criminology & Criminal Justice at Randolph?
The criminology/criminal justice major is a social behavioral science that explores all aspects of crime and its impact on society, including crime patterns and criminal behavior, how societies work to prevent and control crime, as well as how they punish offenders.
Students will explore topics such as law enforcement, racial profiling, poverty, the human condition, cybercrime, the prison system, and the death penalty.
Randolph’s criminology/criminal justice major prepares students for careers in a broad range of fields, including local, state, and federal law enforcement, corrections, probate, forensic science, public service, forensic accounting, and private investigation, to name a few.
The major is also exceptional preparation for graduate study in the social sciences and law.
Through a challenging and interdisciplinary curriculum, students will develop sought-after skills in critical thinking, writing, and evidence-based decision-making while also examining their own assumptions about crime and its impact on society.
Internships and other real-world experiences will add to a student’s overall educational foundation.
Degrees offered
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology/Criminal Justice
Minor in Criminology/Criminal Justice
Related Programs
Data Science
History
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
The Randolph Experience
Faculty Mentorship
From your first day on campus, you will work closely with your faculty advisor to identify and shape your academic interests and vision into your own personal Randolph Plan.
Together, you will create an experience that allows you to develop your skills, challenge yourself, explore your interests and achieve your goals.
This includes both curricular and co-curricular experiences.
A Community of Scholars
Small Classes
Randolph classes are full of engagement and interaction. Students get the full attention of their professors and develop camaraderie with their classmates.
The Honor Code
Randolph students live by our Honor Code and act with the highest integrity in both academic and social life.
Intercultural Competence
All Randolph students learn global citizenship with the capability to accurately understand and adapt to cultural differences and find commonality.
Unique Opportunities
An emphasis on “learning by doing” is one reason Randolph students graduate with skills that prepare them for life and work.
Internships
Randolph students put classroom learning into practice by participating in internships.
With help from the Career Development Center, majors can experience government at work during internships in federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, judicial offices and courts, and social service and advocacy organizations.
Recent internships include the U.S. Marshal’s Service, Lynchburg Public Defender’s Office, Moms Demand Action, and more.
Research
Participation in real world research and creative work is one of the hallmarks of a Randolph College education.
The Center for Student Research helps students at Randolph College engage in meaningful research that enhances their education and their preparation for careers, graduate studies, and other opportunities after college.
They will even help you secure funding.
Randolph’s Innovative Student Experience (RISE) awards up to $2,000 to support research, creative works, and other scholarly activities to students, who may apply at any time to use a grant for projects beginning in their second year.
Summer Research Program
Spend the summer working closely with a professor and focused on a specific aspect of comparative thought.
Randolph’s intensive eight-week Summer Research Program enables students to work with professors on a research of their own design; live in a residence hall on campus, participate in on-campus summer events, attend special seminars with guest speakers; and share the progress and results of their research.
Symposium of Artists and Scholars
Modeled after a traditional academic conference, the SAS brings together students of all disciplines to share the results and highlights of the best work being produced at the College – oral presentations, readings of creative works, performances, exhibitions of student artwork, and poster presentations.
Internships
Randolph students put classroom learning into practice by participating in internships.
With help from the Career Development Center, majors can experience government at work during internships in federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, judicial offices and courts, and social service and advocacy organizations.
Recent internships include the U.S. Marshal’s Service, Lynchburg Public Defender’s Office, Moms Demand Action, and more.
Small Classes
Randolph classes are full of engagement and interaction. Students get the full attention of their professors and develop camaraderie with their classmates.
The Honor Code
Randolph students live by our Honor Code and act with the highest integrity in both academic and social life.
Intercultural Competence
All Randolph students learn global citizenship with the capability to accurately understand and adapt to cultural differences and find commonality.
Study Abroad
Opportunities for study elsewhere, such as in the Washington Semester Programs at the American University in Washington, D.C., as well as study-abroad programs, are available.
Research
Randolph College students conduct advanced research projects in their majors with help from the. Center for Student Research. They present their findings at the annual Symposium of Artists and Scholars.Special Interdisciplinary Curriculum
From your first year through your senior year, you will have opportunities to take courses as part of our honors curriculum.
During your first session of classes, you will take an honors section of Randolph’s first-year seminar, Life More Abundant, with other members of your cohort of honors scholars.
After the first-year seminar, you will take additional courses from across the curriculum that will deepen your learning experience and make meaningful interdisciplinary connections.
Enhanced Faculty Mentorship
You will work closely with faculty advisors and the honors program director to plan a Randolph experience that meets your needs and will help you achieve your goals.
This includes both curricular and co-curricular experiences.
Unique Opportunities
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Alumni Collegii Ranulphi participes erunt actuosae suae educationis. Cum investigationibus et facultatibus ductus eruditionem coniungentes, discipuli ad suum personale et intellectuale incrementum conferent.
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Ranulphus Collegium consulto ac facto suum Honoris Codicis et Honoris System in programmata paedagogica et communitaria incorporabit.
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Alumni Ranulphi Collegium scientiam disciplinarum acquirent quae honorem et integritatem in studiis humanis illustrant. Vitam experientur in communitate honorata, dum discunt quaestiones latas sociales ad resolvendum. Demum agnoscentur indeclinabilem operam academicae et personae integritati.
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Randolphus Collegium discipulos praeparat ad mundum criticum et creativo confligendum, honeste vivendum et operandum, vitam abundanter experiendam.
Outcomes
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Wanda WildCat ’12, biology major
Mascot and Icon, Randolph College, Lyncbburg, Virginia
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Opportunities
Top Ranked Professors
Randolph College’s faculty are consistently recognized as among the best in the nation. The Princeton Review ranked the College in #12 for most accessible professors in the 2023 edition of its flagship college guide, The Best 388 Colleges.
Randolph has been ranked in the top 20 for most accessible professors for six consecutive years.
Faculty
Abigail C. Moore
Assistant Professor of Criminology/Criminal Justice and Sociology
Read More... Abigail C. MooreTeresa Angell
Cello Instructor
Leigh Berkeley
Clarinet and Saxophone Instructor
J. Mark Campbell
Trumpet Instructor
Kevin Chiarizzio
Trombone and Low Brass Instructor
Jacob Dishman
Staff Accompanist
Christopher Fosnaugh
Percussion and Drumset Instructor
Kyle Greaney
Clarinet and Saxophone Instructor
Hermina Hendricks
Senior Lecturer in Music
Alycia Hugo
Flute Instructor
Hope Maddox
Costume Shop Supervisor
Nora Moore
Voice Instructor
Kathryn Munson
Adjunct Instructor of Dance
Bill Parrish
Oboe Instructor
Kay Rooney
Violin and Viola Instructor
Rafael Scarfullery
Guitar Instructor
Curtis Smith
Piano and Organ Instructor; College Organist
Current Season
Wildcat Weekend Arts Showcase
September 17, 2022
Fall Music Showcase
October 6, 2022
The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus
by Christopher Marlowe
October 26-30, 2022
Candlelight Concert
December 8, 2022
Performing Arts Cabaret
February 23-25, 2023
Winter Music Showcase
March 4, 2023
A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L’Engle
Adapted by Morgan Gould
May 5-7, 2023
Spring Concert
May 6, 2023
Only at Randolph
Randolph students can take advantage of unique programs which give them a more enriching education than can be found anywhere else.
The Randolph Innovative Student Experience (RISE) program provides every student a $2,000 grant to fund research, creative work, experiential learning or other scholarly pursuits.
Randolph graduates learn to think critically, solve problems and work well with others. They are prepared to succeed in all aspects of life.
Randolph students work with faculty mentors to explore a broad range of disciplines as they chart their academic path.
Two courses per half-mester means you get to focus in and dig deep into your coursework while still having time for the rest of the college experience. Two classes. Seven weeks. Repeat.
Department News
Q&A with new faculty: Abigail Moore
Moore joined the Randolph faculty as an assistant professor of criminology/criminal justice and sociology.
Read MoreRandolph students intern with Lynchburg’s Office of the Public Defender
Jacqueline Clardy-Josephs ’23 and Stephanie Messi ’22 took advantage of the new opportunity for local students, designed to show them the inner-workings of a public defender’s office.
Read MoreSummer research project studying how different generations describe, interpret sexual violence
This story is part of an ongoing series featuring the work of faculty and students participating in Randolph’s Summer Research Program. […]
Read MoreA virtual experience: Randolph alumnae and alumni offer students internships during pandemic
This fall, a group of alumnae, alumni, and even parents who responded to a request by Randolph’s Career Development Center (CDC) for opportunities to connect students whose internships had been canceled with new ones
Read MoreProtecting the protectors of the law: Agnes Reyes Merced ’21 interns with U.S. Marshals Service
This summer, Agnes Reyes Merced ’21 is helping one of the nation’s most esteemed law enforcement agencies manage its employee […]
Read MoreQ&A with new faculty: Abigail Moore
Moore joined the Randolph faculty as an assistant professor of criminology/criminal justice and sociology.
Read MoreRandolph students intern with Lynchburg’s Office of the Public Defender
Jacqueline Clardy-Josephs ’23 and Stephanie Messi ’22 took advantage of the new opportunity for local students, designed to show them the inner-workings of a public defender’s office.
Read MoreSummer research project studying how different generations describe, interpret sexual violence
This story is part of an ongoing series featuring the work of faculty and students participating in Randolph’s Summer Research Program. […]
Read MoreA virtual experience: Randolph alumnae and alumni offer students internships during pandemic
This fall, a group of alumnae, alumni, and even parents who responded to a request by Randolph’s Career Development Center (CDC) for opportunities to connect students whose internships had been canceled with new ones
Read MoreProtecting the protectors of the law: Agnes Reyes Merced ’21 interns with U.S. Marshals Service
This summer, Agnes Reyes Merced ’21 is helping one of the nation’s most esteemed law enforcement agencies manage its employee […]
Read More