Criminology, Law, and Society & Cyber Security

Program Directors: Dr. Rebecca Dowden, dowdenr@stthom.edu, and Dr. Michael Kane, kanemf@stthom.edu

Criminology, Law and Society focuses on the problem of crime and on understanding the social, cultural, political, and economic forces that interact with the law. Courses present overviews of legal systems with particular emphasis on criminal and juvenile justice, forms of criminal behavior, the role of law in understanding social and psychological phenomena, and the applications of sociological theory in understanding law and legal systems. Students are provided with opportunities to become acquainted with the varieties of behavior that society chooses to control or regulate; the methods and institutions used to achieve that control or regulation, and the approaches aimed specifically at altering sanctioned behavior.

In an increasingly digital world, data is currency. Organizations rely on cybersecurity professionals to protect their digital assets from damage or theft. Houston is a growing technology hub, one of the top 10 U.S. cities for computer, engineering and information architecture jobs.

Students will receive AAS and BA degrees upon completion of all course requirements, including university core. Total coursework for both programs and the core is 138 hours.