Prison Studies Certificate
Mass incarceration has become one of the most pressing social issues of our time, affecting millions of lives in the U.S. and around the world. The goal of the Prison Studies Certificate is to offer UB students the opportunity to gain intellectual depth about issues related to prisons and incarceration on individual, local, national, and global levels. By completing this interdisciplinary Certificate, students will be equipped to contribute meaningfully to discussions, policies, initiatives, and careers addressing the multifaceted issues of prisons and incarceration. They will be prepared to engage with the complex and evolving landscape of the criminal justice system head-on, and will be able to play a pivotal role in shaping a more compassionate, inclusive, and equitable society.
JUMP TO:
Upon completion of the interdisciplinary Prison Studies certificate, students will be able to:
- Exhibit comprehensive knowledge of the historical development of prisons and the evolution of incarceration systems worldwide, understanding the factors that have shaped their current forms and functions.
- Articulate the structural inequalities within the criminal justice system, with a focus on racial disparities, and understand the interconnectedness of mass incarceration with broader social justice issues.
- Understand key policies and laws related to prisons and incarceration, including sentencing laws, parole and probation systems, and initiatives promoting rehabilitation and reintegration.
- Integrate knowledge from various disciplines to develop a holistic understanding of prisons and incarceration, fostering innovative and comprehensive approaches to address related challenges.
Certificate Requirements (21 credits total)
Prison Studies Core Course (3 credits)
- SOC 337LEC - Sociology of Punishment
Two Sociology Courses (6 credits)
- SOC 319LEC - Juvenile Justice
- SOC 346LEC - Beyond The Walls: Reentry After Incarceration
- SOC 357LEC - Race, Crime, & Criminal Justice
- SOC 359LEC - Incarceration and Family Life
- SOC 361LEC - Incarceration and Work
- SOC 425SEM - Behind the Walls
One Arts & Science Course (3 credits)
- ENG 376LEC - Prison Literature
- EVS 369LEC - Prison Ecology
- HIS 216LEC - Crime and Punishment in America
- SSC 392SEM - Aging in Prisons
One Professional School Course (3 credits)
- PUB 450LEC - Incarceration and Public Health
- ELP 410 SEM - Gender, Education, and the Carceral State
- SW 350LEC - Restorative Justice
- SW 360LEC - Mass Incarceration and Direct Practice
- LAW 406LEC - Law, Politics, and Mass Incarceration
Two Additional Prison Studies Electives (6 Credits)
Choose any two courses not already taken from the above lists.
Total Credits Required for Certificate: 21
More information can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog. If you have questions, please contact ugradsoc-crim@buffalo.edu.
How to enroll
To add the Prison Studies Certificate to your degree plan, you will need to complete the CAS Major/Minor Change Request form (the form closes for about a month each semester after drop/add, but opens back up in October and February).