UT Dallas 2021 Undergraduate Catalog

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 semester credit hours)1

View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester

Faculty

Professors: Bruce A. Jacobs, Lynne M. Vieraitis, John L. Worrall

Associate Professor: Tomislav Kovandzic

Assistant Professor: Michelle Harris

Clinical Professor: Elmer Polk

I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours2

Communication: 6 semester credit hours

COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication

RHET 1302 Rhetoric

Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)

Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours

Choose one course from the following:

MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist

MATH 1314 College Algebra

Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses (see advisor)

Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours

Select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses (see advisor)

Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours

Choose one course from the following:

HUMA 1301 Exploration of the Humanities

LIT 2331 Introduction to World Literature

PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy

PHIL 2316 History of Philosophy I

PHIL 2317 History of Philosophy II

Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses (see advisor)

Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours

Select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)

American History: 6 semester credit hours

Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses (see advisor)

Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours

GOVT 2305 American National Government

GOVT 2306 State and Local Government

Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)

Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours

Choose one course from the following:

CRIM 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice3, 4

CRIM 1307 Introduction to Crime and Criminology3, 4

ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics

ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics

SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology

Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses (see advisor)

Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours

EPPS 2301 Research Design in the Social and Policy Sciences4

EPPS 2302 Methods of Quantitative Analysis in the Social and Policy Sciences4

Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Core courses (see advisor)

II. Major Requirements: 60 semester credit hours

Major Preparatory Courses: 15 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum

CRIM 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice3, 4

CRIM 1307 Introduction to Crime and Criminology3, 4

CRIM 2306 Criminal Law

CRIM 2313 Police and Society

CRIM 2316 Corrections

CRIM 2317 Criminal Prosecution and Court Process

EPPS 2301 Research Design in the Social and Policy Sciences4

EPPS 2302 Methods of Quantitative Analysis in the Social and Policy Sciences4

Major Core Courses: 24 semester credit hours

CRIM 3300 Crime and Civil Liberties

CRIM 3302 Advanced Criminology

CRIM 3303 Advanced Criminal Justice

CRIM 3310 Youth Crime and Justice

CRIM 4311 Crime and Justice Policy

CRIM 4322 Senior Research Seminar5

And Distributive Justice Focus

Choose one course from the following (3 semester credit hours):

CRIM 3301 Theories of Justice3

SOC 4369 Public Health and Society

SOC 3325 Race and Ethnicity

SOC 4302 Class, Status, and Power

ECON 4333 Environmental Economics

And International or Comparative Focus

Choose one course from the following (3 semester credit hours):

CRIM 3319 Comparative Justice Systems3

ECON 3369 Political Economy of Terrorism

Major Related Upper-Division Elective Courses: 21 semester credit hours

21 semester credit hours of CRIM upper-division courses or related to CRIM

III. Elective Requirements: 18 semester credit hours

This requirement may be satisfied with lower-and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students must complete at least 51 semester credit hours of upper-division courses to qualify for graduation.

Minor in Criminology: 18 semester credit hours

Required Courses: 6 semester credit hours

CRIM 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice

CRIM 1307 Introduction to Crime and Criminology

Upper-Division Courses: 12 semester credit hours

Any CRIM upper-division courses excluding CRIM 4V97, CRIM 4V98, and CRIM 4V99.

1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.

2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.

3. Preferred course for Criminology Majors.

4. A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours are counted in Core Curriculum.

5. To be taken upon completion of Criminology major core courses.

Updated: 2021-05-21 09:11:35 v7.ddeb44