Crime and society's responses to it represent core concerns for social scientists, policy makers, civic leaders, community organizations, and citizens across the globe. Criminology is the field of study dedicated to understanding crime as a social phenomenon. Criminologists study the social construction of laws, nature and causes of crime, reactions to the breaking of laws, and the prevention, control and treatment of crime. The Department of Sociology's Criminology Certificate offers an essential foundation for students pursuing careers in criminal justice, victim and community services, criminal law, and non-profit organizations in local and international contexts. The certificate also prepares interested students for law school and graduate programs in sociology and criminology. Students may ultimately use this training to conduct social research on crime, influence public policy, and inform government decisions about crime and law.