School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy

Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Criminology and Criminal Justice Major (B.A.)

Program objectives for a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice are: (a) to possess a fundamental understanding of the criminology and criminal justice discipline; (b) to develop skills in analysis, synthesis, and quantitative reasoning essential to hypothesis testing, critical thinking, interpretation of data, and written and oral communication; (c) to be successful in finding employment that utilizes the knowledge and training developed in the program.

A. University General Education Program (41 hours)

See Graduation from the University for the University General Education Program requirements.

B. College and Degree (B.A.) Requirements (18-19 hours)

The College and Bachelor of Arts requirements are in addition to the University General Education Program requirements.

C. The Major (36 hours)

Completion of 36 semester hours of criminology and criminal justice including CJUS 1100, 2101, 3130, 3540 and 4110, plus 21 additional hours in criminology and criminal justice, of which at least 15 hours must be at the upper-division level. Students will be allowed no more that 6 hours of credit toward the degree in non-classroom courses such as internships and individual directed studies.

D. Electives

Electives may be chosen to bring the total number of hours to 120.

E. Honors Program

Majors who have completed at least 55 hours of coursework (with at least 9 hours in Criminology & Criminal Justice) and have a 3.25 or higher departmental and overall grade point average are invited to apply for admissions to the department's honors program. Students who are admitted must complete 15 hours of honors coursework in the Department, with at least 9 hours being upper-division criminal justice courses. Honor students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.25. Students who complete the program and the regular college requirement will be recognized at the commencement ceremony by having their degrees conferred “With Honors in Criminology and Criminal Justice.” The student's diploma and the official record at The University of Memphis will also reflect this accomplishment.

Criminology and Criminal Justice Minor

Completion of 18 hours in criminal justice courses including CJUS 1100, 2101, 3540, and 9 additional upper-division hours in Criminology and Criminal Justice courses.

Typical 4-Year Criminology and Criminal Justice Sequence

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement