Criminology can best be defined as the scientific study of crime and deviant behavior, including its causes, responses by law enforcement, and methods of prevention. It is a sub-specialty of sociology, which in itself is the scientific study of social behavior.
Criminology draws majorly upon the research of many fields such as law, philosophy, sociology, biology, statistics, psychology, psychiatry, economics, and anthropology.
Many universities in different countries of the world, including Nigeria, offer a BSc or higher in criminology. For aspiring students looking to study this course in Nigeria, this article has been written for you. Here, you’ll find the schools that offer criminology in Nigeria.
Which School offers Criminology in Nigeria?
Below are the universities that offer criminology in Nigeria. These schools are categorized as federal, state, and private.
Note: Depending on the school, this course is offered as either Criminology or Criminology and Penology or as Criminology and Security Studies.
Federal Universities Offering Criminology in Nigeria
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN): University of Ilorin is a federal university located in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria and established in 1975. UNILORIN offer this course as Criminology and Security Studies under the Faculty of Social Sciences. The course duration for criminology at the University of Ilorin is 4 years.
University of Jos (UNIJOS): Founded in 1975, the University of Jos is a federal university located in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. UNIJOS offer this course as Criminology and Security Studies under the Faculty of Social Sciences. The course duration for Criminology and Security Studies at the University of Jos is 4 years.
Federal University of Dutse (FED-DUTSE): Federal University of Dutse is a federal university located in Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria and founded in 2011. This federal university offer a 4-year course in Criminology and Security Studies under the Faculty of Social Science.
Bayero University (BUK): Bayero University is a Kano-based federal university in Nigeria which was established in 1975. BUK offers Criminology under the Faculty of Social Science. The course duration for criminology at the Bayero University is 4 years.
Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE): Established in 2011, Federal University Oye-Ekiti is a federal university located in Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. FUOYE offer this course as Criminology and Security Studies under the Faculty of Criminology and Security Studies. The course duration for criminology at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti is 4 years.
Nigeria Police Academy (NPA): Nigeria Police Academy is a federal university located in Wudil, Kano State, Nigeria and founded in 2013. This school also offer Criminology and it is a 4 years course.
State Universities Offering Criminology in Nigeria
Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba (AAUA): Adekunle Ajasin University is a state-owned university located in Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria and established in 1999. It’s the only state university offering criminology and the course is offered as Criminology and Security Studies. The course duration for Criminology and Security Studies at Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba is 4 years.
Private Universities Offering Criminology in Nigeria
Achievers University: Achievers University is a private university located in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria and founded in 2007. The university offer the course as Criminology and Security Studies and its duration of study is 4 years.
Caleb University: Caleb University is a private university located in Imota, Lagos State, Nigeria and established in 2007. Caleb University offer the course as Criminology with a 4-year duration of study.
Chrisland University: Founded in 2015, Chrisland University is a private university located in Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria. Chrisland University offer the course as Criminology and Security Studies and it has a 4-year duration of study in the school.
Salem University: Salem University is a private university located in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria and founded in 2007. Salem University is the only university in Nigeria offering this course as Criminology and Penology. The duration of study for this course in this private university is 4 years.
Kwararafa University: Kwararafa University is a private university located in Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria and established in 2001. This northern private university offer this course as Criminology and Security Studies and it has a 4 years duration of study.
O’Level Requirements For Criminology
The O’level subject combination required to study Criminology are:
Five SSCE credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Economics and then any two Arts or Social Science subjects.
UTME Required Subject Combination For Criminology
Note that English Language is compulsory for this course. Therefore, for the other UTME subject combination required to study Criminology, you will have to choose three (3) subjects from:
Economics, Mathematics and any of Government, History, Geography, Lit-in-English, French and CRK/IRK.
Direct Entry Requirements For Criminology
If you don’t intend to gain admission through UTME, the following are the conditions you need to meet to gain Direct Entry admission to study Criminology in any of the universities that offer this course in Nigeria.
Two ‘A’ level passes in Economics and any one of Mathematics, Statistics, Accounting, Physics, Chemistry, Agricultural Science, Geography, Business Management, History and Government.
Polytechnic that offers criminology in Nigeria
There is no polytechnic that offer criminology in Nigeria. Aspiring students will only get to study Criminology in universities offering the course in Nigeria.
Does UNILAG offer criminology?
No, UNILAG does not offer criminology.
Does UNIBEN offer criminology and security studies?
No, UNIBEN does not offer either criminology or criminology and security studies.
Criminology and Security Studies is under which Faculty?
In the universities where Criminology and Security Studies is offered in Nigeria, it is mostly under the Faculty of Social Sciences or Faculty of Management Sciences
Is Criminology under the Faculty of Law?
No, it’s not under the Faculty of Law. Criminology is mostly under Faculty of Social Sciences or Faculty of Management Sciences in universities offering the course.
What field of study is Criminology part of?
Criminology is a sub-field of sociology, which traditionally studies human behavior, interaction, and organization. Additionally, Criminology draws up research and concepts from other fields of study, such as law, philosophy, biology, anthropology, and psychology.
Conclusion
In this article, we have been able to talk about universities or schools that offer criminology in Nigeria. In the universities listed above, the course is offered as Criminology, Criminology and Penology, or Criminology and Security Studies. The course duration of study in these schools is usually 4 years. So aspiring students who want to study Criminology can choose from any of the schools talked about in this article.