Welcome from the Chair
Welcome to the University of Delaware’s Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice, where students gain marketable analytical skills while learning how to more deeply understand the social spaces, social interactions, organizations and institutions around them as well as the criminal justice system. Whether understanding major trends and issues in criminal justice, how social interactions and institutions are organized, how inequality impacts the world around us or how societies change, we bring cutting-edge research and top-flight instructors to the development of our majors.
We are internationally recognized for our research, faculty and academic programs. Our graduate program in criminology ranks among the top programs in the nation. We invite you to visit our faculty's profiles to explore their research, scholarship and teaching interests.
Our department is affiliated with two major research centers. The Center for Drug and Health Studies researches the causes and consequences of substance abuse as well as research on AIDS and other diseases. The Disaster Research Center conducts studies of disaster preparation and responses to catastrophes such as floods and earthquakes.
Undergraduates can choose from a variety of class sizes and unique learning experiences. One example is the innovative Inside Out program, in which courses occur inside a Delaware correctional facility with students from UD and the facility. Students also receive both theoretical and practical education through in-the-field experiences with public and private agencies.
Our courses cover topics important to our lives and the functioning of our society. For instance, sociology students examine health disparities and outcomes, disasters, and race and gender. Criminal justice students analyze trends in violence, the opiate crisis, and law enforcement policies and procedures. Students build skills in critical thinking and quantitative and qualitative analysis, which are all in demand across a variety of jobs and career paths.
Our graduates go on to rewarding careers in law, the criminal justice system, social work, education, business and health care. Many also pursue graduate degrees or professional degrees in business school or law school.
—Jennifer Earl, Ph.D., Professor and Chairperson, Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice, University of Delaware
Visitor Information
The University of Delaware campus is located in Newark, Delaware, which is about 20 minutes away from Wilmington, an hour from either Philadelphia or Baltimore, two hours from Washington D.C., and two and a half hours from New York City.
Built in 1970 for the College of Arts and Science, Edward Laurence Smith Hall contains classrooms, auditoriums, conference rooms and 115 offices. Embodying popular ideas about spatial organization in the late 1960s, the interior is organized around a three-story enclosed courtyard. The architects chose a single large space over multiple corridors in order to avoid congestion between classes. The building was named for Edward Laurence Smith, a UD alumnus who became Dean of Arts and Science in 1915 and Dean of Delaware College in 1922. Smith Hall currently houses the departments of Computer and Information Sciences, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Political Science & International Relations, and Sociology, as well as a variety of university computer-related services.
Our Department's Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice values diversity, equality, inclusivity and representation in all of our campus-wide and community work with students, staff, faculty, and Delaware residents. Given the historical and structural nature of advantages for some groups and disadvantages to others, we seek to redress the barriers individuals and groups have experienced because of their age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, SES, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, culture, ideology, politics, religion, citizenship, marital status, job classification, veteran status, parental status, body size and justice-involved histories. Although these groups and others have dealt with disadvantage, our concerns lie with those who have historically experienced the greatest barriers and disadvantages. Obstacles for such groups stand in opposition to our commitment to diversity. The values of diversity, equality, inclusivity and representation are vital to us in our own individual endeavors as well as to our professional organizations and disciplines. We recognize also their importance to the lives and identities of those we serve inside and outside of the classroom, on and off campus. We celebrate and promote these values not only because they characterize our democracy, but also because they enrich all aspects of our work and personal lives. We commit, as a department, to implement best practices in the promotion of these values.
The College’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion are significant parts of the University of Delaware's College of Arts and Sciences's values and goals. The college's commitment to these values is not just evident in its student body but also its faculty, staff, and curriculum, ensuring a fully inclusive experience. Through this steadfast dedication to diversity and inclusivity, the college continues to enrich its educational offering, allowing each student to benefit from a wide array of viewpoints and experiences.
