Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice is home to both sociology and criminal justice majors at Saint Joseph's University. Our faculty are leaders in their fields and are excellent resources for students of both majors.
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice provides students with opportunities for intellectual growth both inside and outside of the classroom. Our major curriculum is designed to ensure that sociology and criminal justice students are prepared to immediately take their place in the world of work and service as soon as they graduate.
We have faculty and students conducting sociological and criminal justice-related research on a wide range of topics, from educational experiences among first-generation college students to intimate partner violence, from the social reality and health-related outcomes of food programs in Philadelphia to police interrogation. Our dedicated faculty also studies place-based social phenomena in Philadelphia neighborhoods, court processing and sentencing in Pennsylvania, and religion in Mexico. We undertake all of these initiatives and more in an effort to better understand the social world around us and, in the spirit of Jesuit education, to teach students that they can make a difference by being people "with and for others."
Explore Our Department
Explore Our Department
Our Degree Programs
Our Degree Programs
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice offers several programs in sociology and criminal justice.
Our Faculty
Our Faculty
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice prides itself on excellence in teaching and on individual faculty members bringing their research interests and expertise into the classroom.
Department Internships
Department Internships
Information regarding spring, summer and fall internship requirements, internship credits, grading requirements and FAQs.
Alumni Spotlight
![Ryan Huester]()
Every professor sets a very high standard while maintaining a close relationship with each student. The relationships I built in the department led to unique experiences such as the Inside Out Prison Exchange Course, an internship with the Pennsylvania Prison Society, and the Washington Center's weeklong Inside Washington Seminar in DC. These experiences...led me to be well prepared, with a position-in-waiting upon graduation."
![Asia Whittenberger]()
My sociology degree gave me the critical thinking skills and cultural competence that today’s workforce prizes as the standard for professional excellence. And because our professors invested into us, it was made clear how I wanted to channel my education to advance economic mobility for others. They poured into me so I could pour into the world."
![anthony fattizzi]()
At Saint Joseph's University, I obtained the strong research and analytical skills I employ in my day-to-day work. Between my undergraduate and graduate education, I graduated with a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice field."
