Criminology Major
The Criminology program at Stonehill, which is ranked No. 4 on College Factual’s list of the best U.S. colleges for a major in criminology, provides knowledge in the theory and practice of the social sciences, research methodology and law.
Criminology Majors: Agents of Social Change
A deeper understanding of how societies work empowers Stonehill sociology and criminology graduates to pursue a wide array of careers through which they can make a difference.
Criminology Program Overview
The Criminology major and minor at Stonehill provides students with a foundation to understand the political, economic and cultural patterns that shape definitions of crime, the practices of law, the criminal justice system, the causes and consequences of crime, and crime control policies.
Criminology students take a critical look at the organization and operation of crime control systems at a local, state, federal and international level, including the development and practice of criminal justice, social justice and restorative justice. In addition, other courses examine the nature of individuals and groups that are in conflict with the law or cause willful social harm, as well as those who are victims of crime.
Criminology Program Competitive Advantages
The Criminology program not only prepares students for typical positions in policing, the courts and corrections, it provides a broader platform on crime and justice, allowing students to enter into an array of positions, including private and non-profit organizations, graduate and law school. Among other things, our graduates work with victims, substance abusers, at-risk and delinquent youth, and adult offenders and as lawyers, researchers, crime analysts, investigators and case managers.
Students are required to complete an internship placement that puts them in direct contact with social service or criminal justice agencies.
Sample Criminology Courses
The Jury System
Ethics, Values and Diversity in Criminal Justice
Capstone Internship in Criminology
Top Ranked Program
Stonehill College’s Criminology program is recognized as one of the best by several college-ranking websites including College Factual and Niche. Stonehill criminology majors pursue various careers, including many in law and public service, and have one of the best average starting salaries in the country.
Ranked fourth on College Factual's list of best U.S. colleges for a major in criminology
Niche ranks Stonehill's Criminology program in the top 20% of Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in America
Where Our Criminology Graduates Work
Stonehill students who graduate with a B.A. in Criminology move into myriad professions, agencies, graduate schools and service opportunities. Continue exploring where our graduates work.
Partnerships & Special Programs
I am in my dream career today because of Stonehill's Criminology program. The dedicated professors always provided me with the link between the classroom and the real world, which made networking, interning and job hunting a complete success.
2019 Student SURE Team Project. Pictured left to right: Molly Parent '20, Keelan Hynes '20, Renee Radavich '20, Jadaiya Stanley '20, Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal and Kayla McKeon, Amherst College '22
Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Projects
The Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) is a valuable opportunity for students who have completed their first year at Stonehill to perform significant, publishable full time research under the guidance of and in collaboration with an experienced faculty researcher.
- Keelan Hynes ’20, Renee Radavich ‘20,and Jadaiya Stanley ’20 worked with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on the Contemporary Maritime Piracy Database Extension Project.
- Molly Parent ’20 worked with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on Analysis of Somali Maritime Piracy Legal Cases.
- Robert Giannelli ‘20 and Rebecca Merkel ‘19 worked with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on Contemporary Maritime Piracy—Understanding Highest Piracy Incidence Countries.
- Lena Ottati ‘19 and Emma Patten ‘19 worked with Professor Jungyun Gill on Feminism in the Era of Trump.
- Melissa Mardo ’17 worked with Professor Chris Wetzel on Students in Action: Changing Forms and Foci of Engagement in an Era of Globalization.
- Paige Campbell ’18 worked with Professor Jungyun Gill on Is Gender Equality Good for Mental Health?
- Linsey Malia ’18 worked with Professor Jungyun Gill on Racism and Mental Health: An Application of Critical Race Theory.
- Olivia Osiecki ’16 worked with Professor Erica Tucker on Examining Readers’ Interpretations of Historical Violence in Children’s & Young Adult Literature.
- Emma Lorusso ’16 worked with Professor Jungyun Gill on Stories of Asian Adoptees: Interviews and Letters to Birth Families.
- Prithak Chowdhury ’15 worked with Professor Christopher Wetzel on Students in Action: Changing Forms and Foci of Engagement in an Era of Globalization.
- Matthew Attaya ’15 worked with Corey Dolgon on Youth Leadership Development in Brockton.
Sociology students presented their research at the Eastern Sociological Society 2019 Annual Meeting. Pictured left to right: Denis Osvaldo Garcia Reyes '19, Emma Patten '19, Liliah Meehan '20 and Lauren Wallace '19
Faculty – Student Research Collaborations
In addition to SURE, faculty work with students to conduct research in other types of projects. This might include working with faculty on their own research, but also includes the work students do on their own research projects and on their thesis projects.
- Sam Neil ’20 worked with Professor Pam Kelley on the Drug Free Communities Grant 2019 survey analysis and the implementation of the Critical Incident Management System in Middlesex County.
- Paige Campbell ’19 conducted her senior thesis in applied sociology with Professor Chris Wetzel on Creating an Effective Diabetes Intervention in Native American Populations.
- Kateri Collins ’19 worked with Professor Pam Kelley on the implementation of the Critical Incident Management System and analysis of Plymouth County Outreach activity.
- Michaela Kewley ’19 collaborated with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on Pathways of Women into Terrorism.
- Chase LeMay ’19 did research with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on The Russian Annexation of Crimea: An international crime?
- Lena Ottati ’19 conducted her senior thesis with Professor Jungyun Gill on Feminist Identities of Participants of a 2017 Women’s March.
- Emma Patten ’19 conducted her senior thesis with Professor Jungyun Gill on Exploring the Intersection of Feminist and Environment Movements through Participants in a 2017 Women’s March. She presented at the Eastern Sociological Society 2019 Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Emma Patten ‘19 and Elena Ciaramella ’19 worked with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on Media Representations of Climate Change and Crime.
- Michael Phelan ’19 worked with Professor Pam Kelley on the Project Safe Neighborhoods grant evaluation.
- Angela Farias ’18 worked with Professor Erica Tucker on “I Refuse to Inherit All Your Sufferings”: Changing Gender Ideologies in an Intergenerational Azorean Immigrant Family.
- Yamilex Gonzalez-Baez ’18 conducted her senior thesis on applied sociology with Professor Jungyun Gill on Gender Roles in Romantic Relationship.
- Jameilen Jones ’18 worked with Professor Jungyun Gill on Child Welfare and Education.
- Ryan Murphy ’18 worked with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on Examining the Deterrent Effect of Federal Hate Crime Statutes.
- Cameron Burke ’17 worked with Professor Twyman-Ghoshal on Examining the Presence and Potential of Restorative Justice in Serbia in Cases of Discrimination.
- Cameron Burke ’17 collaborated with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on Who are the Most Influential Criminologists in American Criminology?
- Andrea Mancuso ’17 conducted her senior thesis in applied sociology with Professor Jungyun Gill on A Cross-Cultural Study of Mental Health Stigma: The Cases of India, South Africa, and Brazil.
- Kayla McNulty ’17 worked with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on Crimes of International Financial Institutions: A Case Study of Uganda.
- Katie Wahrer ’17 worked with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on Human Trafficking in Serbia.
- Emma Lorrusso ’16 did her senior thesis in applied sociology with Professor Jungyun Gill on Exploring Transracial Adoption: An In-depth Look into the Experiences of Korean and Chinese Adoptees. She presented with Professor Gill at the Eastern Sociological Society 2016 Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Emma Lorusso ’16 worked on another study with Professor Jungyun Gill on Asian Adoptees.
- Olivia Osiecki ’16 worked with Professor Jungyun Gill on a study of Girls’ Education.
- Katherine Wahrer, Emma Dionne, Alexandria Taylor, and Alexandria Navarro, all class of ’17 worked with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal to study The Use of Forced Labor by Multinational Corporations.
- Alexander Coe ‘15 and Anthony Beltramello ’15 worked with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on Comparing Narratives of Radicalization and De-Radicalization.
- Alexandra Keohane, Bretton Keohane, and Gabrielle Peruccio, all class of ’15 conducted applied research with Professor Chris Wetzel on School as a Social Institution.
- Monica St. Clair ’15 aided Professor Ann Marie Rocheleau on a study of The Supermax Population.
- Kelli Brodbeck ‘14 conducted her senior thesis in applied sociology with Professor Chris Wetzel on Patrolling Borders: Symbolic Boundaries and the Culture of Campus Policing.
- Laura Dzgoeva ‘14 conducted her senior thesis in applied sociology with Professor Chris Wetzel on What’s in a Game? The Popularization and Legitimization of ‘League of Legends’ and eSports.
- Michelle Renna ‘14 conducted her senior thesis in applied sociology with Professor Chris Wetzel on Real Teachers?: A Comparative Analysis of Meaning Making and Professional Perspectives Among Urban Educators.
- Nicole Zolli ’14 worked with Professor Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal on Analyzing Forced Labor Prosecutions in the United States.
Susan Guarino-Ghezzi Student of the Year Award Winners
- 2019: Meaghan Gemma and Nicole Russo
- 2018: Julia Spugnardi
- 2017: Cameron Burke and Katie Wahrer
- 2016: Sofia Przybylek and Caroline Murray
- 2015: Justine Mitchell
- 2014: James Lanier
Contact Us With Any Questions

Ann Marie K. Rocheleau
