UB extends the name of its sociology department

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The University at Buffalo has expanded the name of its sociology department to include criminology. The current Department of Sociology and Criminology is part of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The new name represents the programs, degrees, faculty and students that are already part of the department. Crime, law or justice are specializations that approximately half of current professors pursue.

“In addition to our bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology, we also offer a bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminology,” says Robert Adelman, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminology. “Our undergraduate criminology program has actually tripled since it launched a few years ago. »

Although this expansion leaves room for growth, they are not ready to abandon the sociology base of the department.

“The department has been very strategic in hiring new criminology colleagues with doctorates in sociology rather than criminology, including the eight faculty members hired in the last five years,” says Adelman . “While this may change in the future, one of the strengths of our criminology faculty is that it contributes significantly to other areas of sociology. »

Students in the department are excited about the name change, according to Ashley Barr, PhD, associate professor in the department and director of graduate studies.

“While the master’s degree in criminology already provides students with the applied skills needed to succeed in areas related to their interests – from policy analysis, to organizing social services, to advocating for social justice, to public safety and law enforcement – ​​they expect the name change to provide them with even more opportunities. more value to their degree,” says Barr. “Informal conversations between faculty and our wonderful undergraduate students indicate that they are equally enthusiastic. »

The daily operations of the department will remain the same.

“The feeling is that the terms ‘sociology and criminology’ better capture what we do,” says Barr. “This demonstrates our strengths in attracting even more students and faculty in the future. »