About the Department

The Department of Criminal Justice prepares the student in the knowledge, skills and critical thinking needed to enter such careers as law enforcement, probation, parole, institutional corrections, youth services and police management at all levels of government. The well-rounded academic experience provided by the Department of Criminal Justice serves as a strong foundation for those students interested in graduate study in the social sciences. The Department of Criminal Justice is one of the largest in Texas and enjoys an excellent reputation. Graduates have been successfully placed in agencies at all levels of government, in addition to pursuing graduate work.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Criminal Justice Department is to impart knowledge and promote critical thinking about the crime problem, and its control through criminal justice institutions and public cooperation. Students receive comprehensive criminal justice education with courses taken in the areas of criminal law, criminology, policing, courts, corrections, and crime prevention, in the context of general and liberal arts education, with background in the social sciences. The main aim of the department is to help students develop the knowledge and analytical abilities to become agents of change in criminal just organizations and serve well the communities in which they are located.