University Catalog

Criminology and Criminal Justice - Undergraduate Programs

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 be 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).
UNIV 1131STUDENT SUCCESS (UNIV 1131 OR UNIV 1101)1
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, (Must be one language for a total of 8 hours).8
Total # of hours before major (54)
MAJOR
A CRCJ major consists of 57 hours, including 36 hours of required CRCJ core courses and 21 hours of major electives (See additional requirements below). The total number of hours must be 120 or more.
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 3338JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS3
CRCJ 3380RACE, CRIME, AND JUSTICE3
CRCJ 3340CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATISTICS3
or SOCI 3352 SOCIAL STATISTICS
CRCJ 3350INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE3
CRCJ 3370INTRODUCTION TO FORENSICS3
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
WOMEN AND CRIME
VICTIMOLOGY
DRUG USE AND ABUSE
PRIVATE SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
WHITE-COLLAR AND CORPORATE CRIME
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
To satisfy CRCJ Additional Electives, up to 9 hours of these course may be used:
THE ECONOMICS OF CRIME
HIST 3391MOOT COURT3
JURISPRUDENCE
POLS 4316WOMEN IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS3
POLS 4331U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: GOVERNMENT POWER3
U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
PSYC 3303DRUGS AND BEHAVIOR3
DEVIANCE: SOCIAL AND PERSONAL
SOCI 3336SOCIAL INEQUALITY3
SOCI 3337RACIAL & ETHNIC GROUPS IN US3
SOCI 4306QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS3
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 the 3000/4000 level.
Oral Proficiency and Computer Proficiency Required (COMS 1301)
Hours of Open Electives6
Total Hours141

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.

Requirements for a Minor in Forensic Applications of Science and Technology

The CRCJ minor in Forensic Applications of Science and Technology (FAST) provides a multidisciplinary approach designed for criminology and criminal justice majors pursuing professional careers in non-laboratory-based areas of forensic science, such as crime scene investigation and where a working knowledge of the basic concepts of forensic science and technology would prove beneficial. Science majors pursuing laboratory-based careers in forensic science may also find this minor advantageous. Students must complete 18 credit hours from the courses listed below, with at least six hours at the 4000 level.

To earn a FAST minor students must earn a GPA of 3.0 or better in those courses. Courses required for the minor cannot be utilized for double credit in the student’s major. An academic minor may only be awarded upon current completion of a baccalaureate degree at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Required Entry Course:

CRCJ 3370 INTRODUCTION TO FORENSICS

Electives:

CRCJ 3307 INTRODUCTION TO SECURITY SYSTEMS

CRCJ 3371 CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (Prerequisite: 3370)    

 CRCJ 3320 CYBERCRIME

CRCJ 4357 FORENSIC FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION  (CURRENTLY BEING TAUGHT AS CRCJ 4387. TOPICS IN CRIME AND CRIMINOLOGY) (Prerequisite: 3370)

CRCJ 4340 FORENSIC DEATH INVESTIGATION (Prerequisite: 3370)   

CRCJ 4341 FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF IMPRESSION EVIDENCE (Prerequisite: 3370 AND 3371)

 CRCJ 4342 FORENSIC HAIR AND FIBER IDENTIFICATION (Prerequisite: 3370)     

CRCJ 4343 FORENSIC EXPERT TESTIMONY (Prerequisite: 3370)                   

CRCJ 4390 INTERNSHIP PRACTICUM IN A DEPARTMENT APPROVED FORENSIC, CRIME SCENE OR DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY SETTING (Participation in CRCJ 4390 requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 in both CRCJ courses and in all courses completed at UTA.)

With departmental approval, courses offered by other academic units that have an applied forensic focus may be considered for the FAST minor. Such courses could include:

BIOL 3352 INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC LAB SCIENCE                     

BIOL 4352 FORENSIC BIOLOGY                                                                     

BIOL 4406 HUMAN OSTEOLOGY (Also offered as ANTH 4406)                   

ANTH 3308 FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY                                                        

This minor would be appropriately combined with the following majors: Criminology and Criminal Justice, Biology, Chemistry, Nursing, Psychology, or Computer Science.

Minor in Legal Studies

Requirements