This is an archived copy of the 2015-2016 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.uta.edu/.

Criminology and Criminal Justice - Undergraduate Programs

Overview

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CRCJ) at The University of Texas at Arlington is designed to strike a balance between theory and application. The department's curriculum emphasizes the theoretical foundations necessary to understand human behavior; the criminal justice system; and the application of theoretical knowledge to the development and critical analysis of policy implications. The curriculum provides strong preparation for graduate work in both academic and professional programs and prepares students to more fully understand, analyze, and operate in a variety of settings within or related to the justice system.

The curriculum includes

  • general education courses required to provide a foundation in the liberal arts,
  • disciplinary courses that provide valuable theoretical and methodological perspectives, and
  • courses that examine various aspects of crime and the judicial systems; law enforcement, and correctional processes designed to respond to the crime problem.

Requirements to Major in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Students admitted to UT Arlington from high school or transfer students who have completed less than 30 hours of transferable college credit will be admitted as Criminology and Criminal Justice (CRCJ)-Intended majors, and will be allowed to declare CRCJ as their major based on the following criteria:

  • Completed at least 15 hours of the University core courses with a minimum 2.0 GPA
  • Completed both CRCJ 2334 INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, and one other CRCJ core course with at least a C, and earned at least 15 grade points in the two courses combined (2.5 GPA).

Students admitted to UT Arlington who have completed 30 or more hours of transferable college credit will allowed to declare CRCJ as their major based on the following criteria:

  • Achieved a minimum 2.25 GPA for all college credit earned, and
  • Completed CRCJ 2334 INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, or an equivalent course, and one other UT Arlington CRCJ core course, or equivalent course with at least a C, and earned at least 15 grade points in the two courses combined (2.5 GPA).

Students already admitted to UT Arlington, who previously declared a major other than CRCJ, who desire to change to CRCJ as their major will be accepted based on the following criteria:

  • Completed at least 15 hours of the College of Liberal Arts core courses,
  • Achieved a minimum 2.25 GPA in all hours completed at UT Arlington, and
  • Completed both CRCJ 2334 INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, and one other CRCJ core course with at least a C, and earned at least 15 grade points in the two courses combined (2.5 GPA).

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Pre-Professional Courses
General Core Requirements 42
Program Requirements (These courses also fulfill requirements in the General Core)
ENGL 1301RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I3
ENGL 1302RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II3
Mathematics (MATH 1301 or higher; MATH 1301 and MATH 1308 are recommended)
Modern and Classical Languages: 1441, 1442, 2313, 2314 (with a total of 14 hours)
Professional Courses
Major
A CRCJ major consists of 54 hours, including 33 hours of required CRCJ core courses and 21 hours of major electives (See additional requirements below)
CRCJ Core (Required)
CRCJ 2334INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 13
CRCJ 2335ETHICS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM3
CRCJ 2350INTRODUCTION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT3
CRCJ 3300THEORETICAL CRIMINOLOGY3
CRCJ 3310PROFESSIONAL WRITING FOR CRCJ MAJORS3
CRCJ 3338JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS3
CRCJ 3340CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATISTICS3
or SOCI 3352 SOCIAL STATISTICS
CRCJ 3350INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE3
CRCJ 4301THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM3
CRCJ 4332COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS3
or CRCJ 4333 INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
CRCJ 4380COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS3
CRCJ Major Electives (of which at least 15 hours must be CRCJ-prefix courses):21
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
INTRODUCTION TO SECURITY SYSTEMS
CYBERCRIME
FUNDAMENTALS OF LAW
POLICE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
ADVANCED CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSICS
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
RACE, CRIME, AND JUSTICE
WOMEN AND CRIME
VICTIMOLOGY
DRUG USE AND ABUSE
PRIVATE SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
CRIMINAL CAREERS AND BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS
GANGS
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
FORENSIC DEATH INVESTIGATION
FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF IMPRESSION EVIDENCE
FORENSIC HAIR AND FIBER IDENTIFICATION
FORENSIC EXPERT TESTIMONY
CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE MEDIA
TERRORISM AND MASS VIOLENCE
ORGANIZED CRIME: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
TOPICS IN CORRECTIONS
TOPICS IN CRIME AND CRIMINOLOGY
TOPICS IN LAW AND JUDICIAL PROCESSES
TOPICS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PRIVATE SECURITY
INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CONFERENCE COURSE
CONFERENCE COURSE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CONFERENCE COURSE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
HONORS THESIS/SENIOR PROJECT
6 hours of electives can be taken from the following courses:
THE ECONOMICS OF CRIME
U.S. LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY, COLONIAL TO 1877
U.S. LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY, 1877 TO PRESENT
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CIVIL LIBERTIES
JURISPRUDENCE
CRIMINAL LAW
U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
DEVIANCE: SOCIAL AND PERSONAL
LAW AND SOCIETY
Other courses may be used for elective credit with advisor approval
Minor
A minor is not required, but is optional. A minor, if chosen, consists of 18 hours, with at least six hours at 3000/4000 level.
Total Hours102

Computer and Communication Competency

Computer Use: Students majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice may demonstrate competency in computer use by taking either CSE 1301 COMPUTER LITERACYINSY 2303 INTRODUCTION TO M.I.S. AND DATA PROCESSING, or any other course approved by the Undergraduate Assembly for this purpose. They may also demonstrate competency by passing the University proficiency examination in computer use.

Communication: Students majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice may demonstrate competency in communication by taking either:

COMS 1301FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING3
COMS 2305BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION3
COMS 3315COMMUNICATION FOR EDUCATORS3
or any other course approved by the Undergraduate Assembly for this purpose

Major

In addition to fulfilling University and College of Liberal Arts requirements, students planning to graduate with a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice (CRCJ) must also fulfill the following requirements:

  • Be a declared CRCJ major,
  • Achieve a minimum overall 2.0 GPA in all courses taken at UT Arlington,
  • Earn a C or better in all major courses required for the degree, and
  • Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in all CRCJ courses taken, including approved electives selected from ECON, HIST, POLS, and SOCI.

Requirements for the Online Bachelor Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice

This degree is offered via the UT TeleCampus and is designed with the criminal justice and law enforcement professional in mind. Students who have already completed the first two years of undergraduate courses, can complete the bachelor degree program by taking the upper level courses online, taught by the same faculty who teach on-campus courses . The courses are taught entirely online and do not required any on-campus visits. This 66-credit hour program, combined with the appropriate lower-division undergraduate course work, will lead to a Bachelor in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree from UT Arlington. To earn a Bachelor in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree from UT-Arlington, students must earn grades of C or better in all major courses required for the degree. Students must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in major courses to remain in the program and must graduate with 2.5 GPA or higher in all major courses. To learn more about this program, please visit: www.utcoursesonline.org .

Pre-Professional Courses
General Core Requirements 42
Program Requirements (These courses also fulfill requirements in the General Core)
ENGL 1301RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I3
ENGL 1302RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II3
Mathematics (MATH 1301 or higher; MATH 1301 and MATH 1308 are recommended)
Professional Courses
Major
CRCJ 2334INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (CCJO 2310) (UTA)3
CRCJ 3350INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (CCJO 3320) (UTA)3
CRCJ 3380RACE, CRIME, AND JUSTICE (CCJO 3370) (UTA)3
CRCJ 4301THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM (CCJO 4330) (UTA)3
CRCJ 4380COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS (CCJO 4336) (UTA)3
CRCJ 4333INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS (CCJO 4350) (UTA)3
CRCJ 4315CRIMINAL CAREERS AND BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS (CCJO 4352) (UTA)3
CRIJ 3315 (CCJO 3322) Legal Aspects of Evidence (UTB)
CRIJ 3331 (CCJO 3326) Legal Aspects of Corrections (UTB)
CRIJ 4370 (CCJO 4338) Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice (UTB)
CRIJ 4312 (CCJO 4358) Principles of Law Enforcement Supervision (UTB)
CRIJ 4341 (CCJO 4360) Correctional Casework and Counseling (UTB)
CRIJ 4313 (CCJO 4362) Seminar of Issues in Law Enforcement (UTB)
CCJO 3312 (formerly CRIM 3340) Criminal Justice Administration (UTPB)
CCJO 3332 (formerly CRIM 3365) Juvenile Delinquency and Justice (UTPB)
CCJO 4316 (formerly CRIM 4332) Theories of Criminal Behavior (UTPB)
CCJO 4354 (formerly CRIM 4381) Ethics in Criminal Justice (UTPB)
CCJO 4356 (formerly CRIM 4321) Probation and Parole (UTPB)
CCJO 4364 (formerly CRIM 4382) Police and the Community (UTPB)
PSYC 4305 (CCJO 4372) Drugs and Behavior (UTPB)
Select two of the following electives:
CRIJ 3325 Violet Crime and Offenders (UTB)
CRIJ 4363 (CCJO 4366) Gangs and Gang Behavior (UTB)
CRIJ 4300 (CCJO 4300) Forensics DNA Analysis (UTEP)
BIOL 3320 (CCJO 3324) Genetics (UTEP)
BIOL 4395 (CCJO 4395) Toxicology (UTEP)
INSS 4350 Selected Problems in Intelligence Crime & Border Security (UTEP)
Electives10
Total Hours79

Note: UT Arlington denotes classes offered by The University of Texas at Arlington; UTB denotes classes offered by The University of Texas at Brownsville; UTPB denotes classes offered by The University of Texas at Permian Basin; and UTEP denotes classes offered by The University of Texas at El Paso.

Students will satisfy the computer and communications competencies during completion of the online core courses required for the BCRCJ degree.

Requirements for a Minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice

A minor in CRCJ consists of 18 semester hours, of which at least 12 must be 3000/4000 level. CRCJ 2334 INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, and CRCJ 4301 THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM, are required courses for a CRCJ minor. Students must earn a 2.0 GPA in all CRCJ courses taken toward the minor.

Certificate in Crime Analysis

A Certificate in Crime Analysis is offered by the Department for students interested in pursuing a law enforcement career in crime analysis. Students must complete seven required courses (21 credit hours) to qualify. The courses are:

CRCJ 3336POLICE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION3
CRCJ 3340CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATISTICS3
CRCJ 3350INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE3
GEOL 4330UNDERSTANDING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS3
CSE 1301COMPUTER LITERACY3
CSE 1310INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS & PROGRAMMING3
CRCJ 4390INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE 13
Total Hours21
1

Participation in CRCJ 4390 INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 in both CRCJ courses and in all courses completed at UT-Arlington.

Certificate in Crime Scene Technology

CRCJ students interested in beginning a career as a crime scene technician are offered a Certificate in Crime Scene Technology. Students must complete seven required courses (21 credit hours) to qualify. The courses are:

CRCJ 2334INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM3
CRCJ 2340CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION3
CRCJ 3337ADVANCED CRIMINAL PROCEDURE3
CRCJ 3370INTRODUCTION TO FORENSICS3
CRCJ 3371CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION3
CRCJ 4340FORENSIC DEATH INVESTIGATION3
Optional Courses
CYBERCRIME
FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF IMPRESSION EVIDENCE
FORENSIC HAIR AND FIBER IDENTIFICATION
FORENSIC EXPERT TESTIMONY
INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE 1
Total21
1

Participation in CRCJ 4390 INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 in both CRCJ courses and in all courses completed at UT-Arlington.

Certificate in Law Enforcement Administration

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CRCJ) at UT-Arlington and the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration (ILEA), which is one of seven institutes within the Center for American and International Law, Plano, TX, combine to offer a Certificate in Law Enforcement Administration for police officers, supervisors, and managers. To receive the certificate, officers must complete four courses offered by ILEA (13 credit hours) and five courses (15 credit hours) offered by the CRCJ Department at UT Arlington.

Courses to be taken at or through ILEA are:

  • LEA 200, School of Police Supervision;
  • LEA 220, Fair Labor Standards Act Law;
  • ETH 100, Ethical Decision Making; and
  • ETH 150, Ethics Train-the-Trainer.

Courses offered by the CRCJ Department at UT-Arlington are online courses and include:

CRCJ 2334INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM3
CRCJ 3380RACE, CRIME, AND JUSTICE3
CRCJ 4301THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM3
CRCJ 4380COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS3
CRCJ 4315CRIMINAL CAREERS AND BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS3
Total Hours15

Certificate in Legal Studies

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CRCJ) at UT-Arlington, offers a Certificate in Legal Studies for students interested in working in the legal field. To receive the certificate, students must complete six courses (18 credit hours) offered by the department. The courses are:

CRCJ 2334INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM3
CRCJ 3330FUNDAMENTALS OF LAW3
CRCJ 3337ADVANCED CRIMINAL PROCEDURE3
CRCJ 4301THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM3
Select two of the following:6
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS
TOPICS IN LAW AND JUDICIAL PROCESSES
INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE 1
Total18
1

Participation in CRCJ 4390 INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 in both CRCJ courses and in all courses completed at UT-Arlington.