Get Involved: Criminal Justice and Criminology Club
This post was written by Deirdre Byrnes, a junior studying criminology and psychology and a Department of Sociology and Anthropology student ambassador.
My experience as a criminology student at NC State has been filled with many amazing opportunities — interesting classes, amazing advisors and professors, as well as great extracurricular clubs and organizations offered on campus. I have always been extremely passionate about law, criminal justice, forensics, as well as crime prevention altogether. I originally applied to NC State as a criminology major, however, shortly after, I decided to go into the exploratory studies program. I eventually found my way back to criminology and am forever grateful for this major and the individuals I have met within this department.
During my time as a criminology student, I have enjoyed the experiences offered by becoming a member of the Criminal Justice and Criminology Club. This club has provided its members with many different opportunities, as well as great connections. For one, I have felt more connected to other individuals with the same interests as me. This club welcomes all who are interested in criminal justice or crime, whether you are a criminology major or not.
Some of the other opportunities this club provides include: meetings with guest speakers, connecting students to professionals working in the field, and taking club members on tours off campus. Every weekly meeting is filled with a new lesson or interesting topic to learn about, as well as discussion opportunities to talk with other students.
Throughout my membership with this club, I have learned a lot about different areas of criminal justice and criminology. Some of the other activities we have done have included learning fingerprinting techniques, watching movies relating to criminology and criminal justice, playing criminal justice jeopardy games, and more.
One of the best memories I have is touring the City-County Bureau of Identification (CCBI) in Raleigh. CCBI provides forensic services to support the system of criminal justice within Wake County. During this tour, club members were able to meet agents, learn about different job opportunities, ask questions, as well as learn techniques and different aspects of forensic science such as fingerprinting and blood alcohol analysis.
My experience in the Criminal Justice and Criminology Club is just one of many opportunities that I have been granted as a criminology student at NC State.
