Bachelor of Arts in Sociology - Criminology (International Direct)

International direct admission to Louisiana State University (LSU) is available for international students with advanced English-language skills. The program is designed to enhance academic, cultural, and professional development to help students succeed in their studies and prepare for a prosperous future. The field of sociology focuses on understanding social interaction, organization, institutions, and change in a systematic manner. Key themes in sociology include the relationship between individuals and society, the dynamics of social stability and change, the causes and effects of social inequality, and the societal construction of human life. Studying sociology helps uncover and explain social patterns, as well as observe how these patterns evolve over time and in various environments. Additionally, sociology fosters critical thinking by revealing the social structures and processes that influence different aspects of human life. The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology program at LSU offers students the option to pursue a general degree in sociology or specialize in criminology. Criminology involves studying the nature and origins of crime, crime patterns, and the societal control of criminal behavior. It is an interdisciplinary field that examines the causes, manifestations, consequences, control, and prevention of criminal activities at individual and societal levels. LSU sociologists conduct extensive research on various aspects of crime, including community factors influencing crime rates, the impact of gentrification on crime, community-based anti-crime efforts, post-disaster crime levels, and the southern culture of violence. They also study the relationship between segregation, immigration, and violence, as well as the characteristics of different deviant groups. Furthermore, research focuses on urban policing practices, such as banishment policies in public housing communities, law enforcement attitudes post-Ferguson, and the potential racial biases in predictive policing tactics. Additionally, research explores individual beliefs about sexual aggression in public drinking settings and the normalization of such behaviors.