Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology

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:

JAMIE A. 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 UDING, 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. 

JULIE KUPER, B.S. Florida State University; M.S. Florida State University; Ph.D. Florida State University, 2024; Assistant Professor 2024.

Lecturers:

DANIEL FETSCO, B.A. University of Wyoming 1995; J.D. University of Denver 1998; M.A. Arizona State University 2013; Associate Lecturer of Criminal Justice 2023, 2017.

PAUL GREGORY, B.S. Lamar University 1992; M.A. University of Houston; Ph.D. Western Michigan University; Assistant Lecturer 2024.

AMANDA SIKIRICA, B.A. College of William and Mary; M.S. University of Oregon; Ph.D. University of Oregon; Assistant Lecturer 2023.

Adjunct Professor:

(See Catalog section following name for academic credentials.)

MARTHA MCCAUGHEY, Ph.D., Visiting Adjunct Professor

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. Students will identify and describe major types of crime, the extent of crime, and its distribution in society.
2. Students will describe the broad historical and contemporary understanding of criminal justice systems, the interconnectedness of policing, courts, and corrections.
3. Students will recognize and apply major legal principles that serve as the foundation for civil and criminal law in the justice system.
4. Students will describe basic concepts and evaluate theoretical perspectives in criminology and criminal justice.
5. Students will demonstrate the ability to comprehend and critically assess research and policy relevant to the field of criminal justice and criminology.
6. Students will critically examine major ethical dilemmas facing the criminal justice field and the related issues of diversity and discrimination.

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 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.

We expect that our graduating students will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts and theoretical perspectives in sociology
2. Apply the scientific method to sociological research
3. Develop proficiency in the critical consumption of academic and non-academic sources
4. Express sociological ideas in core substantive areas, such as inequality, race/ethnicity, environment, deviance, gender, family, and education, clearly and coherently through written and oral communication
5. Apply a sociological framework to social problems occurring locally, nationally, and globally

Programs

• Criminal Justice, B.A.
• Criminal Justice, Prelaw Concentration, B.A.
• Sociology, B.A.

• Criminal Justice Minor
• Interdisciplinary Pre-Law Minor
• Sociology Minor

• Criminal Justice Concentration within the M.P.A.

Courses

• SOC 5920 - Continuing Registration: On Campus
• SOC 5940 - Continuing Registration: Off Campus
• SOC 5959 - Enrichment Studies
• SOC 5960 - Thesis Research
• SOC 5990 - Internship