Courses & Curriculum
The Chatham criminology major is based on social justice principles and draws on social work, sociology, psychology, political science, legal studies, history, and criminal justice to provide a comprehensive program. Explore this page's sample courses and curriculum, and come back soon for a more detailed example degree progression.
Sample Courses & Curriculum
Criminalization of Mental Illness
This course explores the intersection of the criminal justice and mental health systems. Areas of focus include: the impact of governmental policies, law changes, prevalence of mental illness among offender populations, the biopsychosocial status of offenders, and interventions that assist offenders transitioning back into society.
What is Evil?
This course utilizes an interdisciplinary framework (criminology, sociology, psychology, history, political science) to examine definitions of “evil,” motivations to commit “evil” actions, social reactions to “evil,” and control of “evil.” This understanding is then applied to the examination of case studies which may include genocide, cults, terrorism, and mass shooters.
History of Crime and Punishment
This course provides an introduction to the historical study of crime and punishment. Specifically, the course examines definitions of crime, goals of punishment, and how these forms of crime and punishment reflect the structure of that society within that specific historical context.