Oct 09, 2024  
2023-2024 University of Wyoming Catalog 
    
2023-2024 University of Wyoming Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Colleges and Schools

Contact Information

208 Arts and Sciences Building,
(307) 766-2988
Criminal Justice website:
www.uwyo.edu/cj Sociology website: www.uwyo.edu/Sociology
Department Head: Eric Wodahl

Mission Statement

The Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology is committed to providing its students with a comprehensive liberal arts education and advancing research of value to Wyoming and our respective fields. We strive to provide a high-quality education to students that will inspire them to become critical thinkers, effective communicators, and lifelong consumers of knowledge. Students will be exposed to diverse perspectives, research, and learning opportunities to prepare them for a variety of professions in the public, private, non-profit, research, service, and academic settings.

Faculty

Professors:

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

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; Professor of Criminal Justice 2021, 2007.

Associate Professors:

LAUREN McLANE, B.S. Radford University 2002; J.D. Seattle University School of Law 2008; Associate Professor of Law 2021, 2018.

JAMIE SNYDER, B.S. Northern Kentucky University 2005; M.S. University of Cincinnati 2007; Ph.D. 2011; Associate Professor of Criminal Justice 2021, 2018.

JENNIFER TABLER, B.A. University of California Los Angeles 2010; M.S. University of Utah 2013; Ph.D. 2016; Associate Professor of Sociology 2022, 2018.

CLAIR WHITE, B.A. Colorado State University 2009; Ph.D. Arizona State University 2015; Associate Professor of Criminal Justice 2023, 2018.

Assistant Professors:

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.

KYLE BARES, B.A. University of Wyoming 2016; M.A. Bowling Green State University 2018; Ph.D. Bowling Green State University 2021; Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice 2022.

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

KENNETH R HANSON, B.A. Seattle University 2015; M.A. Kent State University 2017; Ph.D. University of Oregon 2022; Assistant Professor of Sociology 2022. 

Lecturers:

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.

KAITLYN ROOT, B.A. Western Washington University 2012; M.A. University of Akron 2017; Ph.D. 2020; Assistant Professional Lecturer 2020.

Adjunct Professor:

(See Catalog section following name for academic credentials.)

Robert A. Schuhmann, political science

Professors Emeriti:

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

Degree Programs

Criminal Justice Program

Criminal Justice is a social science that major examines the causes and impacts of crime in society.  Graduates go on to careers in fields such as law enforcement, homeland security, probation and parole, and victim services. The Criminal Justice Program offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees, concentrations, and minors (see below for details). Criminal Justice students 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. We expect that our graduating students will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

  1. Accurate knowledge relating to crime in modern society to include the elements of major crime, the extent of crime, and its distribution in society
  2. 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. 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. An understanding of and ability to apply basic concepts and theoretical perspectives in criminology and criminal justice
  5. 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.

Sociology Program

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.

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.

Programs

    MajorMinorGraduate

    Courses

    Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Colleges and Schools