Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology

Criminal Justice

208 Arts and Sciences Building,
(307) 766-2988
Web site: www.uwyo.edu/cj
Department Head: Eric Wodahl

Professor:

ADRIENNE FRENG, B.A. Black Hills State University 1995; M.A. University of Nebraska 1997; Ph.D. 2001; Professor of Criminal Justice 2007, 2001.

Associate Professor:

JAMIE SNYDER, B.S. Northern Kentucky University 2005; M.S. University of Cincinnati 2007; Ph.D. 2011; Associate Professor of Crinimal Justice 2018.

ERIC J. WODAHL, A.A. Eastern Wyoming College 1992; B.A. Chadron State College 1994; M.P.A. University of Wyoming 2003; Ph.D. University of Nebraska at Omaha 2007; Associate Professor of Criminal Justice 2012, 2008.

Assistant Professor:

KATELYN GOLLADAY, B.B.A. Pacific Lutheran University 2012; M.S. Arizona State University 2014; Ph.D. 2018; Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice 2018.

LAUREN McLANE, B.S. Radford University 2002; J.D. Seattle University School of Law 2008; Assistant Professor of Law 2018.

KIMBERLY SCHWEITZER, B.S. University of North Dakota 2010; M.S. University of Wyoming 2013; Ph.D. 2016; Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice 2016.

CLAIR WHITE, B.A. Colorado State University 2009; Ph.D. Arizona State University 2015; Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice 2018.

Assistant Lecturer:

DANIEL FETSCO, B.A. University of Wyoming 1995; J.D. University of Denver 1998; M.A. Arizona State University 2013; Assistant Lecturer of Criminal Justice 2017.

Adjunct Professor:

(See Catalog section following name for academic credentials.)

Robert A. Schuhmann, political science

Students majoring in criminal justice will be involved in a critical examination of the sources of criminal behavior and the social and political institutions and processes designed to control criminal behavior. Criminal Justice majors are offered at the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie, as well as through Distance Education.

We expect that our graduating students will have (1) acquired an accurate knowledge base relating to crime in modem society to include the elements of major crime, the extent of crime, and its distribution in society; (2) will possess a broad historical and contemporary understanding of the institutions that make up our criminal justice system, the interconnectedness of these institutions, and the related issues of diversity and discrimination; (3) will have developed an understanding of the major legal principles that serve as the foundation for criminal law and the processing of individuals through the justice system, as well as the difficult situations and ethical dilemmas they will face in the criminal justice field; (4) will understand and apply basic concepts and theoretical perspectives in criminology and criminal justice; (5) will possess the ability to access, comprehend, and critically examine research and policy relevant to the field of criminal justice and criminology, including understanding basic research methodology.

Graduate Study

A criminal justice concentration within the master of public administration program is offered by the Criminal Justice program.

Program Specific Admission Requirements

Master of Public Administration Plan B (non-thesis)

Students wishing to enroll in the M.P.A. with criminal justice concentration must first be admitted into the M.P.A. program. See M.P.A. program admission requirements for specific details.

Sociology

208 Arts & Sciences, (307) 766-2988
Web site: www.uwyo.edu/Sociology
Department Head: Eric Wodahl

Professors:

MALCOLM D. HOLMES, B.A. University of Texas at El Paso 1974; M.A. 1976; Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin 1982; Professor of Sociology 1999, 1991.

Assistant Professor:

DANIEL AUERBACH, B.S. St. Lawrence University 2008; M.S. North Carolina State University 2012; Ph.D. University of Utah 2020; Assistant Professor of Sociology 2020.

JENNIFER TABLER, B.A. University of California Los Angeles 2010; M.S. University of Utah 2013; Ph.D. 2016; Assistant Professor of Sociology 2018.

Professors Emeriti:

David Ashley, Audie Blevins, Gary Hampe, Quee-Young Kim, Richard Machalek

Sociology is the scientific study of group life and the investigation of the social causes and consequences of human behavior. This discipline occupies a central position in the social sciences and covers the full scope of social behaviors from intimate interactions between individuals to relationships among entire societies. Most importantly, sociology invites students to analyze those features of social existence that we are most likely to take for granted. As such, sociological training imparts critical and analytical skills of great value in virtually all aspects of modern life.

Much of the applied knowledge employed in diverse fields such as communications, social work, business management, family life, health care, urban planning, government, education, religion and the administration of justice derives from basic sociological research. Consequently, sociological training provides an excellent background for occupations connected with these fields. In addition, an undergraduate degree in sociology prepares many students for advanced study in law, education, business, public administration, social work, pastoral work, health care and other professions.

The department provides a comprehensive sociology education both for students who elect to terminate their formal education with the B.A. and for those who plan to pursue advanced degrees in sociology or a related social science. Fundamentally, however, the department aspires to prepare students for informed participation in an increasingly complex world.

Honors in Sociology

Sociology majors with a 3.200 overall GPA, a 3.500 GPA in sociology courses and one 5000-level sociology course graduate with honors in sociology. The department also nominates students for membership in Alpha Kappa Delta, the international honorary society for sociology. Selection is based on academic excellence.