Chair’s Welcome

Welcome to the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at UTSA!  We are excited about your interest in our programs. We currently have 16 full time faculty along with another dozen or so instructors who are professionals in the local community and have a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share with our roughly 900 undergraduate majors. 

Our department is devoted to delivering high quality education through our Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice (MSCCJ) and our Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice (BA) programs.

Our MSCCJ program will enable you to gain expertise in research, theory and policy while preparing you for advanced careers in governmental agencies or continued study at the doctoral level. The BA program will prepare you for careers in the criminal justice system at the local, state and federal level or in the private sector, or for entrance to law school or graduate programs.

Our faculty members are nationally recognized for their scholarship and are committed to innovative research and education. We have expertise in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, criminological and criminal justice system theories, and substantive expertise in policing, courts, and corrections. Our faculty are active researchers who regularly publish peer-reviewed articles and engage in research funded by federal, state, local, and private entities.

Studying and working in the areas of criminology and criminal justice is interesting and exciting and can be very challenging and rewarding. I hope you decide to attend UTSA and enroll in one of our programs. We look forward to the opportunity to help you in your pursuit of knowledge in criminology and criminal justice and are here to assist you in achieving your educational goals. 

Please take time to peruse our faculty webpage and explore all of the exciting things our department is engaged in. If you have any questions about our programs or research projects, please drop by our office (DB 4.110) or contact me directly. 

We look forward to hearing from you!


Richard D. Hartley, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Richard Hartley, Ph.D.

Contact

Richard Hartley, Ph.D.

Department Chair, Professor

Criminology and Criminal Justice

richard.hartley@utsa.edu

Have an inquiry about our program?

We appreciate your interest in the Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice at UTSA and extend our warmest welcome to you from the Department.

Department mission
The mission of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is to engage in research, education and service to students, practitioners, policymakers and the community. This mission is accomplished by creating and disseminating knowledge and partnering with diverse communities and institutions to address complex social problems.