Roughly one in every three people in the United States has a criminal record. But what causes someone to commit a crime? What impact can crime have throughout a neighborhood? How does the criminal justice system reinforce racism?

Criminology majors will ask tough questions about a topic that affects nearly every aspect of society, from health and housing to education and the environment. And then they'll learn where to find the clues to help answer them.

Here, students will take a critical, research-based look at criminology as they explore subjects such as:

• The relationship between crime, deviance and delinquency. • Theories of crime. • How we measure crime. • Systems of power and how law contributes to inequality. • Misconceptions and stereotypes. • Disparities in the justice system related to race, ethnicity and gender. • Experiences of incarcerated people. • How behavior shapes policy (and vice versa).