Deviance, Law, and Social Control

This specialty area covers a wide range of topics in the study of crime, law, and deviance-including the fields of law and society, criminology, criminal justice, and deviant behavior. Wisconsin’s DLSC program is distinguished both by its strong emphasis on law and society scholarship and by its commitment to linking the study of crime and deviance with more general issues in social and legal theory. Through a combination of classroom instruction, independent directed study, and teaching and research apprenticeships, the program fosters a sound background in general sociology, a thorough understanding of theoretical and empirical issues in the study of law and deviance, and a solid set of technical skills for conducting scholarly research. DLSC faculty and students maintain strong ties with the Law School, the Institute for Legal Studies, the School of Social Work, and the Departments of Political Science and Psychology. The DLSC program features a weekly training seminar.