Welcome from the Chair

What's special about our department?

Welcome to the University of Delaware’s Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice, where students gain marketable analytical skills while exploring the social spaces, social interactions, organizations, and institutions around them as well as the criminal justice system. Whether understanding major trends and issues in criminal justice, how social interactions and institutions are organized, how inequality impacts the world around us, or how societies change, we bring cutting-edge research and top-flight instructors to the development of our majors.

Here's what we offer sociology and criminal justice scholars at UD:

Excellence in academic programs and expertise

• Our department is internationally recognized for the strength of its research, faculty and academic programs. Our graduate program in criminology is ranked 18th in the nation, while sociology is among UD’s top 20 graduate programs. 

• Faculty research addresses pressing issues such as inequality, health disparities, disasters, substance abuse, and criminal justice policies, among other important areas. 

• Many of our faculty are award-winning scholars, including recipients of the 2025 Charles Horton Cooley Book Award from the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction (SSSI) and the 2025 James Short Senior Scholar Book Award from the American Society of Criminology Division of Communities and Place. 

• Our faculty are leading researchers, some with more than 10,000 citations on Google Scholar, reflecting how highly influential their research is in shaping scholarship and practice in their fields.

Opportunities for practical experience

We offer a variety of experiential learning opportunities and alternative learning environments.

• Inside-Out Exchange Program: Brings UD students together with incarcerated students in a unique classroom that crosses social and experiential boundaries. This nationally recognized program fosters deep learning, dialogue and critical thinking about justice and social issues.
• CRJU 495 Field Experience in Criminal Justice: Offers hands-on experience in settings such as law enforcement, courts or correctional agencies, and emphasizes connecting real-world practice with academic learning.
• Study abroad: Opportunities in countries such as South Africa and England allow students to gain global perspectives and real-world experience.

Affiliation with major research centers

• Center for Drug and Health Studies (CDHS): Advances research and data-driven solutions to address substance use disorders, health risk behaviors and justice system responses, and promotes healthier communities in Delaware and beyond through collaborative projects. Its work includes substance use prevention and recovery, behavioral health and justice policy research.
• Disaster Research Center (DRC): For more than 60 years, one of the world’s leading centers for social science research on disasters. DRC engages in ambitious fieldwork, supports academic programs and shares findings with disaster response practitioners. With funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the DRC offers many ways for students to become involved in impactful research and to learn how to make a difference in critical situations.

Graduates go on to rewarding careers and further study

Our alumni pursue careers in law, criminal justice, social work, education, business and health care. Many also continue their studies in graduate or professional programs, including business and law schools. Notable alumni include:

• Wayne R. Hanby (B.A. in criminal justice, University of Delaware) — former U.S. Marine and longtime public servant who was appointed justice of the peace in Delaware in 1980.
• Kitty Calavita (Ph.D. in sociology, University of Delaware) — Chancellor’s Professor of Criminology, Law & Society and Sociology at the University of California, Irvine.
• TaLisa Carter (M.A. & Ph.D. in criminology, University of Delaware) — associate professor in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology at American University and affiliated with the Urban Institute.
• Jullion Cooper (B.A. in criminal justice, University of Delaware) — political and economic chief at the U.S. Embassy in Lesotho.
• Jennifer Griffin (Ph.D. in sociology, University of Delaware) — chief of police in Newark, Delaware, and former deputy chief with the Toronto Police Service, recognized for advancing community policing and equity initiatives.
• Katrina Manierre (B.A. in sociology, University of Delaware) — advocate and educator specializing in domestic violence and sexual assault prevention, integrating trauma-informed and public health approaches.
• Lin Liu (Ph.D. in criminology, University of Delaware) — assistant professor of criminology at Florida International University and former prosecutor in Beijing, China.

Sociology graduates pursue roles in social work, higher education, community advocacy, law enforcement, environmental and emergency management, business and more.

Criminal justice graduates often become law enforcement officers, lawyers, probation officers, policy analysts, financial fraud investigators and other professionals in justice and public service fields.

Courses that connect theory and practice

Courses pair theory with fieldwork, internships and projects that make change in our communities.

• Student exploration and focus
  • Sociology students explore topics such as health disparities, disasters, race and gender.
  • Criminal justice students examine trends in violence, the opioid crisis, and law enforcement policies and procedures.
• Skill development
  • Through these studies, students develop strong critical thinking as well as quantitative and qualitative research skills valued across many careers.
• Popular course examples
  • SOCI 209 Social Problems: Addresses issues such as poverty, intergroup conflict, war, mental illness, aging, adolescence and environmental pollution.
  • CRJU 202 Problems of the Criminal Judiciary: Focuses on challenges in the American criminal court system, including court organization; the roles of prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges; and pretrial and trial procedures.

We invite you to explore our undergraduate and graduate programs, learn about research opportunities and visit our faculty profiles to see the work of faculty who have achieved regional and national distinction in research, teaching and service.

— Jennifer Earl, professor and chair, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware