Overview

Criminology

Criminology is the scientific study of the causes and prevention of criminal behaviour. Criminology includes perspectives on

Making laws
Breaking laws and
Societal reactions to laws being broken

Criminology studies crime and deviance. It is studied parallel to social issues, such as education, racism, poverty, and gender.

The curriculum is designed to help students learn about the criminal justice system. The course covers its

processes,
the roles played by individuals in the system, and
the fundamentals of crime scene investigation and processing.

What is Criminology all about?

If you have been a student who often gets fascinated by detective stuff then this is the course you might be interested in. This course will help you to land a job in the police department or with a detective agency.
Many universities are offering this course in India right after class 12th. This course is a branch of science which deals with crime and prevention of the same. After you complete this course there is a wide range of opportunity which is available for you particularly in India as the crime rate is increasing day by day.
Students should be interested in a range of subjects. Similar disciplines are psychology, sociology, law, and biology. The course focuses on the principles of explaining crime. These principles help professionals investigate crime scenes.

There are many speciality areas within criminology, such as

Criminal behavioral analysis,
Ballistic analysis,
Fingerprint analysis, and
Trace evidence processing.
Criminology students help in solving crimes using the scientific method and analyze suspect behaviors.
Undergraduate students learn fundamental theories in deviance and the psychology of crime. Graduate learners build on key skills through coursework in concentration areas. They also train in advanced research skills.
The open career options as scientists, analysts, and post-secondary teacher careers. Learners evaluate contemporary injustices and recommend a course of action. Students assess the institutions and the key tasks of the criminal justice system.

What are the Branches?

Criminal justice is the academic study of the criminal justice system. It analyzes the nature and extent of crime. It studies the reactions of criminal justice agencies to the breaking of the law.
If you plan on a career or continuing your studies in a graduate program, criminal justice is the program for you. Due to the ubiquity of the criminal justice system, your career options in criminology exist at every degree level. Students who enroll in associate programs prepare for law enforcement positions. You can be a police officer, fish and game warden, or a corrections officer. They can also pursue careers with federal agencies. You should begin your job search early to take advantage of university resources. You can also bolster your career prospects by engaging with industry associations.
Learners explore the historical evolution of policing. This helps them to better understand its current structure and function within criminal justice. The value of positive community relationships and partnerships is covered. Along with this, you learn how sworn and civilian positions work together to maintain public safety. Various types of communication such as internal reports and documentation will be practised.
Rural criminology is the study of crime trends outside of metropolitan and suburban areas. The crime in rural communities consists of narcotic related crimes. The focus of the study is to determine what makes individuals commit crimes or act criminally. It also studies why certain areas have more crimes or how crime affects victims. Anything having to do with criminals, crimes and crime victims is covered in the study of criminology.

What is the Eligibility and admission criteria?

UG: 12th pass with 50% minimum marks. You need to have taken Science or Arts in class 12th.

Programs available in Criminology

Certificate Course (Forensic Science); Diploma Course (Cyber Crime); Diploma Course; (Forensic Science and Criminology); Diploma in Criminal Law (D.Crim); Diploma in Criminology & Penology; Bachelor Degree Course (Forensic Science and Criminology); Masters Degree Course (Forensic Science and Criminology); Masters Degree Course (Forensic Science and Criminology Research); Master of Science (M.Sc) in Criminology; Master of Arts (MA) in Criminology & Criminal Justice; Master of Arts (MA) in Anti Terrorism Law; Master of Legislative Law (LLM) in Criminal Law & Criminology; Master of Legislative Law (LLM) in Crimes & Torts; Master of Legislative Law (LLM) in Criminal Law; Post Graduate Diploma Course (Forensic Science and Criminology).

What are the top and popular Colleges offering admissions in Criminology courses?

University of Pune
Osmania University
Gujarat University
University of Madras
Bundelkhand University
Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU)
Vinayaka Institute of Management & Technology
Sardar Patel University of Police, Security, and Criminal Justice

What is the Scope of Criminology in India?

There is a vast scope in Criminology as it will help you to join various government/non-government agencies that work in the criminal justice domain.
After a master’s you can go further in teaching and academic positions through NET/JRF
You can go for doctoral research in the fields of criminal justice, victimology, etc.
Join police departments as a criminologist and assist police departments
You can also do freelancing work for media platforms or get self-employed and start private detective agency (after getting necessary training and certifications)

How much Criminologists earn in india?

Avg. Salary in India is Rs. 4,10,000 per year. a criminologist generally earns around Rs. 2.4 Lakh to Rs. 3 Lakh a year. The pay increases with experience. Depending on the sensitivity of case, time required, and difficulty, a criminologist working on their own can charge anywhere between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 1 Lakh per case.