Published: February 16, 2011
Criminology Proves Popular At USF Poly
Lakeland, Florida- Crime is nothing new, but the overwhelming interest in studying it is. A new generation of criminology enthusiasts is not only fascinated with the pursuit of justice but also equally enamored with the cutting-edge technology used to achieve it. Over the past year, the number of criminology students at the University of South Florida Polytechnic has risen 62 percent.
Why the increase?
"Criminology has been one of the fastest growing academic disciplines in the nation for the past 10 years or so, but the recent surge at USF Polytechnic may have something to do with the economic downturn," says Dr. Paul Cromwell, professor of criminology and director, Division of Social Sciences. "In years past, going back to the Great Depression, as the economy worsened, employers in criminal justice, including law enforcement and corrections, found that they could demand more highly qualified candidates-college graduates instead of high school.
Dr. Paul Cromwell, USF Poplytechnic. (Photo by Tom Hagerty, USF Polytechnic. |
"Persons who once may have gone directly into police or correctional work from high school, or after obtaining an associate's degree, are now continuing their education in order to obtain employment*. *Others, already employed before the new standards were in place, are entering college to prepare themselves for promotion, which now often requires a college diploma or a graduate degree. "
A diverse field, criminology covers many different topics within the general study of crime and the legal system. In USF Polytechnic's bachelor's degree program, students examine issues of law enforcement, victimology, systems of punishment, development and history of the criminal law, and the organizations that work to enforce criminal statutes. In addition, students explore aspects of the social world, such as economics, politics and education, that influence criminality. Students may decide to specialize in particular aspects of the study of crime, such as gangs, cybercrime, drugs, sexual violence, crime mapping or homicide.
USF Poly student Georgia Taaffee of Lakeland says her involvement with non-profit organizations fight poverty and human trafficking in third world countries helped motivate her to study criminology.
"I travel overseas once or twice a year on sponsored trips to lead teams of volunteers or as a volunteer myself. I also participate as an active member in the Clearwater Area Human Trafficking Task Force, which is a community effort to combat human trafficking with law enforcement.
"My goal is to continue my research and education in human trafficking and other areas advocating for the underprivileged and dis-empowered. I would like to partner with non-profit organizations in the hopes that my academic skills, knowledge, and experience will aid in their efforts and causes.
"My ultimate goal is to become a college professor actively in the social science field who inspires her students to change the world."
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, "A college education doesn't necessarily make you a better person. However, a college education does make you a more competitive candidate for employment. In law enforcement, a college education gives the candidate more tools on their tool belt than someone who hasn't gone to college. We look for future leaders who have worked hard to gather the tools which will help to identify crime trends, provide exceptional customer service, and to apply what was learned in the classroom to real world experiences."
Popular culture has also contributed to the popularity of criminology.
"The media has glamorized the criminal justice profession through such television shows as the CSI series, NCIS, Law and Order and the plethora of crime reality shows," Cromwell says. "While few of these shows represent the reality of life as a law enforcement professional, they have played a big role in increasing the numbers of young people interested in joining the profession.
"Interestingly enough, the greatest increase in growth appears to be among women. When I started as a criminal justice faculty member in 1986 there were few female students. Now, 61 percent of the criminology majors at USF Poly are female. "
Cromwell credits the 1991 movie "'The Silence of the Lamb," which starred Jodie Foster as an FBI agent, with motivating more women to study criminology.
"Right after that movie came out I began to have female students come by my office wanting to become FBI profilers. That seems to me to be the point at which more women began to enter criminology programs. Maybe we can credit Jodie Foster with the growth."
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