Criminology majors often get a bit of a strange rap on campus. Wether it be our strange passion for criminal studies or our unwavering love for a debate, we see a bit of judgement here and there. However, wanting to enter a field where the work is often tough and emotionally taxing, we face the stigma and false judgments with ease. These are just a few of the misconceptions we deal with on a daily basis.
1. We already know we're a little bit weird.
If you see us reviewing crime scene photos or staring intently at the latest grisly episode of "Criminal Minds," fear not. We’re probably writing up a paper for class. Or watching "Criminal Minds." Just because we’re passionate, that doesn’t make us strange. We don’t say you’re a freak for staring at chemical compounds all day. Move on, nothing to see here.
2. Stop telling us our major is “easy.”
A degree in criminology generally includes courses in psychology, sociology, law and statistics. Those are all four separate majors we wrap up into one. I’m sorry you’re busy studying for your big exam and doing all your homework. We too have three papers, a research thesis, a quiz and two exams this week. So stop telling us we must “always have so much free time.”
3. We actually memorize a tremendous amount of knowledge.
On top of taking a number of different topics each semester ranging from research methods to statistics, we learn a lot. We know anything from the origins of some of the most popular drugs to the percentage of incarcerated people in America. Because of this, we have become excellent at including statistics into everyday conversation, and yes, we cram a lot into our brains. We can’t help it. We aren’t sorry.
4. We are huge overachievers when it comes to school.
We know just as well as you do that people say we have the “easy major.” That doesn’t faze us. In fact, most of us take on even more in our four years at college than people will finish in five or even six. Criminology majors often take on a second major, or two or three minors, to keep themselves busy. For me, it’s dual majoring in criminology as well as biology. Most other criminology majors in my classes have second or even third majors to worry about. Specific fields of study often require more than just a criminology degree, so we rise to the challenge of doing more than one thing, and we do it well.
5. Don’t try to convince us this field isn’t worth entering.
With everything about police going around in the news lately, we just want to enter this field even more. Almost any criminology major will tell you the same thing: we want to make a change. Even if you couldn’t enter a field of hatred, crime and social issues, we can. And that’s a big part of what makes us important. Not everyone can study the things we learn or do the jobs we want to do. We’re prideful in our choices, and you should respect them.
6. Don't assume we all want to be cops.
Criminology is a very broad major filled with a lot of different tracks. Some people choose to study crime, others are more interested in the law aspects, some are focused on being police officers, and others want to enter forensics, to name a few. While it is true that a large amount of students hope to enter law enforcement after graduation, there are so many more roles in the field than being an officer. Ask us what we plan to do with our future. We’d love to share with you!
7. We hate criminals and murderers just as much as you do.
The difference between your hatred for those who disobey the law and ours is we are also intrigued. For many of us, our disdain for these cold individuals is what makes us work harder to enter our chosen professions. We want to bring change, we want to put away the murders, and we want to bring justice to the world.
8. We don't all love TV crime dramas.
While I’m a sucker for "Criminal Minds," being a criminology major doesn’t mean we love every crime drama out there. "CSI," "Dexter" and "Bones," while all entertaining, offer few similarities to the actual runnings of crime and law. If you want to study criminology based solely on one of the many crime TV dramas, you might want to delve a little deeper first.
