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Forensic Behavioral Studies: Sociology & Criminology

The Forensic Behavioral Studies concentration is recommended for students interested in forensics, law enforcement and criminal justice. The concentration consists of 18-19 credit hours. Internships are required of seniors, and students will be assisted in being matched to an internship site based on their career interests.

Requirements and Internships

Students needing an internship should talk to their advisors and notify the department at the latest by September of their senior year. Participation in an internship requires a 2.75 GPA. 

The Concentration consist of five required courses:

  • SC 2200 Criminal Justice Systems (3 cr.)
  • SC 2230 Overview of Crime Scene Analysis (3 cr.)
  • SC 2400 Criminology (3 cr.)
  • SC 3880 Forensic Science in Criminal Justice (3 cr.)
  • SC 4750 Internship and Seminar (3-4 cr.)

Plus one of the following courses:

  • SC 2550 Prejudice and Discrimination (3 cr.)
  • SC 2570 Social Inequalities in Society (3 cr.)
  • SC 3200 Sex and Gender (3 cr.)
Three students sitting on stairs.

Internships

Our students have completed internships in over 80 nonprofit and governmental agencies throughout the Cleveland metropolitan area. Internships are available to seniors in their spring semester, and students are matched to an internship site based upon their career interests. It is not uncommon for our students to be offered employment by the agency where they interned.

Sites include:

  • Achievement Center for Children
  • AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland
  • Alzheimer’s Association – Cleveland
  • American Red Cross
  • Arrupe House
  • Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland
  • Business Volunteers Unlimited
  • Care Alliance Health Center
  • Catholic Charities
  • Center for Reducing Health Disparities
  • Children’s Rehabilitation Hospitals of the Cleveland Clinic
  • Cleveland International Program
  • Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland
  • The Gathering Place
  • Legal Aid Society
  • Light of Hearts Villa
  • Make a Wish Foundation
  • New Avenues to Independence
  • Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless
  • Organize Ohio!
  • Recovery Resources
  • Salvation Army
  • Senior Citizen’s Resources
  • Shaker Heights Youth Center
  • United Way
  • University Hospitals of Cleveland
  • University Settlement House
  • Witness Victim Service Center
Female faculty member advising a female student

Small Class Sizes

Our small class sizes of usually 25 or less allows individual attention to each student while encouraging greater interaction with their professors and classmates.