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 Requirements 1: 42 hours
- Communication (6 hours)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
- Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
- Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
- Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
1 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.
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 Quantitative Reasoning core, and one hour is counted as Major Preparatory Courses.
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 Lab 2, 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 4305 Social Control and Criminal Sanctions
- CRIM 4322 Senior Research Seminar**
- Distributive Justice Focus
- Choose one of the following (3 hours):
- CRIM 3301 Theories of Justice*
- SOC 4361 Law and Society
- SOC 4302 Class, Status and Power
- ECON 4320 Law and Economics
- International or Comparative Focus
- Choose one of the following (3 hours):
- CRIM 3319 Comparative Justice Systems*
- SOC 3336 Culture Regions
- ECON 4360 International Trade
- PSCI 3350 Comparative Politics
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 Quantitative Reasoning core, and one hour is counted under Major Preparatory Courses.
* Preferred courses for Criminology Majors
** To be taken upon completion of core courses
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.
Minor in Criminology: 18 hours
For a minor in Criminology, students must take the following: CRIM 1301 and CRIM 1307, and twelve hours of CRIM electives, excluding CRIM 4V97, CRIM 4V98, and CRIM 4V99.
