Chair's Welcome
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice offers a number of different opportunities to our undergraduate and graduate students. Our faculty are among the most talented teachers and researchers in their fields. They have earned the respect of students and colleagues across the world. In addition to staying current in their areas of interest, many have published books, won prestigious teaching and research awards, and received funding for their research and teaching endeavors. The faculty are committed to working with students both in and out of the classroom. In some courses, our students are given the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on different projects. Two student groups housed in our department--the ODU chapter of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice and In Support of Children--have made their mark on campus and are regularly involved in extra-curricular activities throughout the year. Dozens of students are also members of Alpha Phi Sigma and Alpha Kappa Delta, honors societies for criminal justice and sociology respectively. Perhaps most importantly, our graduates report great success in finding their chosen careers. To help in this endeavor, we host a Sociology and Criminal Justice Career Fair every year. Some students have even reported being offered jobs on the spot at the fair!
At the undergraduate level, students can select a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in either sociology or criminal justice. Many students elect to double major in both disciplines. In addition to the opportunities offered on-campus students, our undergraduate criminal justice program is available through Old Dominion University's TELETECHNET program and on-line. Students interested in our Distance Education Programs in criminal justice should browse our website and contact Ron Woodard at rwoodard@odu.edu. For more information on the campus programs, please browse our web site and feel free to contact the department.
At the graduate level, this year is particularly exciting. In addition to the Master of Arts in Applied Sociology administered jointly with Norfolk State University, the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice is proud to announce the approval of a Ph.D. program in Criminology and Criminal Justice. The program is one of only two in the state and the only one in the Hampton Roads Area. The PhD program is designed primarily for students who are interested in pursuing careers in higher education, though our course offerings will be designed to provide students the education and skills needed to be employed as researchers and research supervisors in various public and private agencies.
Please browse through the pages of our website and feel free to contact me if our department can be of service to you in any way.
Regards,
Xiushi Yang, PhD
Chair and Professor
