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 Professors: Michelle Harris, Andrew Krajewski, Yeung Jeom Lee
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 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
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.
The plan must include sufficient upper-division courses to total 45 upper-division semester credit hours.
Minors
Students must take a minimum of 18 semester credit hours for the minor, 12 of which must be upper-division semester credit hours. Students who take a minor will be expected to meet the normal prerequisites in courses making up the minor, and should maintain a minimum GPA of 2.000 on a 4.00 scale (C average). Semester credit hours may not be used to satisfy both the major and minor requirements; however, free elective semester credit hours or major preparatory classes may be used to satisfy the minor.
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.