Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology

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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

• CRMJ 1001 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
• CRMJ 2210 - Criminal Law
• CRMJ 2400 - Criminology
• CRMJ 2465 - Research Methods
• CRMJ 3110 - Criminal Courts and Processes
• CRMJ 3250 - Juvenile Delinquency
• CRMJ 3350 - Correctional Theory and Practice
• CRMJ 3400 - Deviant Behavior
• CRMJ 3490 - Issues in Policing
• CRMJ 3500 - Drugs and the Criminal Justice System
• CRMJ 4007 - Crime and Exercise in Scotland: Exploring the Relationship between Physical Fitness, Crime, and Public Spaces
• CRMJ 4110 - Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties and Rights
• CRMJ 4130 - Leadership and Management in the Criminal Justice System
• CRMJ 4140 - Criminal Legal Procedure
• CRMJ 4150 - Community-Based Corrections
• CRMJ 4151 - Crime Causation
• CRMJ 4200 - Ethics in Administration of Justice
• CRMJ 4230 - Forensic Anthropology
• CRMJ 4280 - Comparative Criminal Justice
• CRMJ 4340 - Victimology
• CRMJ 4350 - Sociology of Law
• CRMJ 4370 - Criminal Psychopathology
• CRMJ 4540 - Gender and Crime
• CRMJ 4550 - Crime Prevention
• CRMJ 4590 - Green Criminology
• CRMJ 4600 - Political Violence
• CRMJ 4705 - Terrorism
• CRMJ 4730 - Psychology and Law
• CRMJ 4750 - Criminal Justice Internship
• CRMJ 4760 - Child Maltreatment
• CRMJ 4860 - Social Inequality, Crime, Criminal Justice and the Law
• CRMJ 4965 - Research Hours in Criminal Justice
• CRMJ 4975 - Readings
• CRMJ 4990 - Special Topics
• CRMJ 5000 - Survey of Criminal Justice
• CRMJ 5100 - Public Policy and Crime
• CRMJ 5150 - Community-Based Corrections
• CRMJ 5151 - Crime Causation
• CRMJ 5280 - Comparative Criminal Justice
• CRMJ 5500 - Internship in Criminal Justice
• CRMJ 5540 - Gender and Crime
• CRMJ 5590 - Green Criminology
• CRMJ 5860 - Social Inequality, Crime, Criminal Justice and the Law
• CRMJ 5965 - Research Hours in Criminal Justice
• CRMJ 5975 - Graduate Readings
• CRMJ 5990 - Special Topics
• POLS 4705 - Terrorism
• SOC 1000 - Sociological Principles
• SOC 1100 - Social Problems and Issues
• SOC 1350 - American Indians in Contemporary Society
• SOC 2070 - Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences
• SOC 2350 - Race and Ethnic Relations
• SOC 2400 - Criminology
• SOC 2465 - Research Methods
• SOC 3000 - Social Change
• SOC 3100 - Chinese Society
• SOC 3110 - Self and Society
• SOC 3140 - Sociology of the Family
• SOC 3150 - Collective Behavior and Social Movements
• SOC 3200 - Sociology of Religion
• SOC 3250 - Juvenile Delinquency
• SOC 3400 - Deviant Behavior
• SOC 3500 - Sociology of Gender
• SOC 3550 - Medical Sociology
• SOC 3605 - Sociology of Education
• SOC 3640 - Social Inequality
• SOC 3880 - Political Sociology
• SOC 3910 - Global Sociology
• SOC 3950 - Environmental Sociology
• SOC 4020 - Sociology of Work
• SOC 4160 - Sociology of Aging
• SOC 4350 - Sociology of Law
• SOC 4370 - Global Political Economy
• SOC 4440 - Deviance and Social Control
• SOC 4500 - Sociology of Organizations
• SOC 4590 - Green Criminology
• SOC 4650 - Urban Sociology
• SOC 4705 - Terrorism
• SOC 4715 - Sociological Theory
• SOC 4750 - Sociology Internship
• SOC 4805 - Global Population Issues
• SOC 4850 - Conference
• SOC 4860 - Social Inequality, Crime, Criminal Justice and the Law
• SOC 4890 - Special Topics in
• SOC 4900 - Seminar
• SOC 5000 - Advanced Sociological Theory
• SOC 5020 - Sociology of Work
• SOC 5050 - Social Inequality
• SOC 5070 - Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences
• SOC 5100 - Advanced Social Research Methods
• SOC 5140 - The Family
• SOC 5160 - Sociology of Aging
• SOC 5200 - Conference
• SOC 5250 - Seminar
• SOC 5350 - Sociology of Law
• SOC 5440 - Deviance and Social Control
• SOC 5540 - Stratification and Inequality
• SOC 5650 - Urban Sociology
• SOC 5715 - Sociological Theory
• SOC 5805 - Global Population Issues
• SOC 5920 - Continuing Registration: On Campus

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