School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
Criminology (B.A.)
The Criminology Program is an interdisciplinary academic program, based primarily in criminology and sociology that studies the interrelationships among law, policy, and societal conditions. The relationships among these factors are dynamic and complex, therefore Criminology integrates a variety of perspectives, approaches, and social science disciplines in order to analyze and understand the origins of crime and injustice and society's response to these issues.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Criminology Program is to examine the causes and consequences of crime and crime control politics by providing a program of study involving a variety of perspectives, approaches, and social science disciplines to undergraduate students. Our faculty members are dedicated teachers and scholars who have published their work in the most prestigious journals in the field. They are committed to expanding the knowledge of the discipline and preparing students to be leaders in influencing our society's response to crime.
Majors in the Criminology program at UT Dallas will be provided an educational experience, which will allow them to put their academic training, background and experience to use in a wide variety of post-graduate educational and occupational positions, including:
- Employment in Criminal Justice agencies at the federal, state, and local government level;
- Graduate School in Criminology or Criminal Justice (or a related social science discipline);
- Law School; or
- Social Work, Counseling, or other Human Service program.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminology
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours
Communication (6 hours)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
II. Major Requirements: 43 hours
Major Preparatory Courses (22 hours beyond Core Curriculum)
Major Core Courses (21 hours)
Distributive Justice Focus
Choose one of the following (3 hours):
International or Comparative Focus
Choose one of the following (3 hours):
III. Elective Requirements: 35 hours
Major Related Upper Level Elective Courses (15 hours)
- 15 hours CRIM upper-division courses or related to CRIM
Advanced Electives (9 hours)
All students are required to take at least nine hours of Advanced Electives outside their major field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.
Free Electives (11 hours)
This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Note: Students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.
- Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parentheses are the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
- This course is a Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Credits will count toward the Core Curriculum requirements.
- Three hours are counted under Quantitative Reasoning core, and one hour are counted as Major Preparatory Courses.
- To be taken upon completion of core courses
- Preferred courses for Criminology Majors