CRIMINOLOGY!!! Definition, Job Opportunities, Employers And 7 Universities That Offer Criminology in Nigeria

In this post, I will show you the 7 Universities That Offer Criminology in Nigeria. Criminology is an interdisciplinary field in both the behavioral and social sciences, drawing especially upon the research of sociologists, psychologists, philosophers,
psychiatrists, social anthropologists, as well as scholars of law.

Definition Of Criminology

Criminology is the scientific study of crime, including its causes, responses by law enforcement, and methods of prevention. It is a sub-group of sociology, which is the scientific study of social behavior.

There are many fields of study that are used in the field of criminology, including biology, statistics, psychology, psychiatry, economics, and anthropology. Criminology has sub-groups, namely:

Penology: the study of prisons and prison systems

Bio criminology: the study of the biological basis of criminal behavior

Feminist criminology: the study of women and crime

Criminalistics: the study of crime detection

7 Universities That Offer Criminology in Nigeria

1. BAYERO BAYERO – Bayero University, Kano
2. CALEB – Caleb University, Imota
3. Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State
4. University Of Ilorin, Ilorin
5. University Of Jos, Jos
6. Chrisland University, Owode, Ogun State.
7. POLAC – Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil,

Both the Positivist and Classical Schools take a consensus view of crime, that a crime is an act that violates the basic values and beliefs of society. Those values and beliefs are manifested as laws that society agrees upon.

Therefore, definitions of crimes will vary from place to place, in accordance to the cultural norms and mores, but may be broadly classified as blue-collar crime, corporate crime, organized crime, political crime, public order crime, state crime, state-corporate crime, and white-collar crime.

However, there have been moves in contemporary criminological theory to move away from liberal pluralism, culturalism and postmodernism by introducing the universal term ‘harm’ into the criminological debate as a replacement for the legal term ‘crime’.

As a criminology graduate with critical thinking, analytical and communications skills, you’re attractive to employers both inside and outside the criminal justice sector.

Major Employers Include For Criminologists

Central and local government, the police and prison services, the court services, security services, non-profit-making organisations, including the NHS, educational institutions and charities that work with young offenders or victims of crime.

Find information on employers in law enforcement and security, social care, charity and voluntary work, and other job sectors.

Job Opportunities For Criminology Graduates

Employer value experience and a range of paid and voluntary opportunities exist. These include work with offenders, criminal justice agencies, social work and community education departments, and victims of crime.

Specific roles include prison visiting, working as a special constable, and involvement in drug treatment schemes or youth/bail hostels for young offenders.

Jobs Directly Related To Criminology Degree

community development worker, detective, police officer, prison officer, probation officer, social worker, youth worker, adult guidance worker, charity officer, housing manager/officer, local government officer, paralegal, social researcher, solicitor.

It is also possible to work in a range of social welfare posts, such as mental health support and drug rehabilitation, housing (as housing officers or in outreach support roles), as homelessness officers, and in refugee and victim support/counselling private security and in law practices.

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don’t restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.