School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
Criminology (BA)
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 Requirements: 42 hours1
Communication (6 hours)
3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
3 hours Communication Elective (CRIM 3300)2
Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
6 semester credit hours Government (GOVT 2301 and GOVT 2302)
6 hours American History (HIST 1301 and HIST 1302)
3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (ECON 2301 or ECON 2302 or SOC 1301 or SOC 2319)2
Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
3 hours Mathematics (at or above College Algebra, MATH 1306 or MATH 1314 [recommended])
4 hours Quantitative Reasoning (EPPS 3405)2, 3
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)
CRIM 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRIM 1307 Introduction to Crime and Criminology
CRIM 2306 Criminal Law
CRIM 2308 Juvenile Law
CRIM 2313 Police & Society
CRIM 2316 Corrections
CRIM 2317 Criminal Prosecution and Court Process
EPPS 3405 Introduction to Social Statistics with Lab2, 3
Major Core Courses (21 hours)
CRIM 3302 Advanced Criminology
CRIM 3303 Advanced Criminal Justice
CRIM 3304 Research Methods in Crime and Justice Studies
CRIM 4311 Crime and Justice Policy
CRIM 4322 Senior Research Seminar4
Distributive Justice Focus
Choose one of the following (3 hours):
CRIM 3301 Theories of Justice5
SOC 4361 Law and Society
SOC 4302 Class, Status and Power
ECON 4330 Law and Economics
International or Comparative Focus
Choose one of the following (3 hours):
CRIM 3319 Comparative Justice Systems5
SOC 3336 Culture Regions
ECON 4360 International Trade
PSCI 3350 Comparative Politics
III. Elective Requirements: 35 hours
Major Related Upper-Division Elective Courses (15 hours)
15 hours CRIM upper-division courses or related to CRIM
Electives (9 hours)
All students are required to take at least nine hours of 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 courses to qualify for graduation.
Minor in Criminology (18 hours)
For a minor in Criminology, students must take the following: CRIM 1301 and CRIM 1307, and twelve hours of upper-division CRIM classes, excluding CRIM 4V97, CRIM 4V98, and CRIM 4V99.
1. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parentheses are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
2. This course is a Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Credits will count toward the Core Curriculum requirements.
3. Three hours are counted under Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning core, and one hour is counted as Major Preparatory Courses.
4. To be taken upon completion of core courses
5. Preferred courses for Criminology Majors