Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice
Turn your interest in law, justice, and public service into a future you can build on. Â鶹Æƽâ°æ's Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice gives you a strong, transfer-ready foundation for a bachelor's degree in the field. You'll study the core principles and concepts that shape the criminal justice system, all within a degree plan that follows the field-of-study curriculum set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. From your first course to your transfer, you'll build the knowledge and skills that prepare you for a meaningful career — close to home.
Top Careers in Criminal Justice
A career in criminal justice puts you at the center of public safety and community service. You'll learn how crime and law work, how the justice system functions, and how policy shapes the way we respond to crime. Your studies blend critical thinking with real understanding, so you graduate ready to continue toward your goals.
Criminal justice professionals serve in many roles. You could step into policing, forensics, or emergency and social services. You might pursue homeland security, private security, or work as a bailiff, probation officer, or game warden. Non-profit organizations also need people who understand the system and care about their communities.
Your skills travel with you across many settings. Strong communication, teamwork, and analysis matter in every corner of the field. So does a sense of social and personal responsibility that guides good decisions.
Strong skills open doors. With a solid academic foundation behind you, you can keep building toward a bachelor's degree and a career that makes a difference.
The pay can be strong, too. In Texas, detectives and criminal investigators earn an average of $70,760 a year, and the top 10% take home $114,460 or more. Police and sheriff's patrol officers earn an average of $78,450 a year, with the top 10% earning $95,370 or more. With a transfer-ready foundation from Â鶹Æƽâ°æ, you can build toward these careers and a paycheck that supports your goals — close to home.
Schedule a Meeting
Steven J. Zani
Chair of General Education and Developmental Studies
Education Annex Building, Office 133
Phone: 409-984-6341
Email: zanisj@lamarpa.edu
Program Information
| course | title | sch |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | ||
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | |
| HIST 1301 | United States History I | |
| BCIS 1305 | Business Computer Applications | |
| MATH 1342 | Elementary Statistical Methods | |
| CRIJ 1301 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | |
| EDUC 1100 | Learning Frameworks | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENGL 1302 | Composition II | |
| HIST 1302 | United States History II | |
| SPCH 1315 | Public Speaking | |
| CRIJ 1306 | Court Systems and Practices | |
| SOCI 1301 OR PSYC 2301 | Sociology OR General Psychology | |
| Third Semester | ||
| GOVT 2305 | Federal Government | |
| PHIL 1301 | Introduction to Philosophy | |
| CRIJ 1310 | Fundamentals of Criminal Law | |
| * | Creative Arts | |
| * | Life & Physical Sciences Lec & Lab | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| GOVT 2306 | Texas Government | |
| CRIJ 2328 | Police Systems and Practices | |
| CRIJ 2313 | Correctional Systems and Practices | |
| * | Life & Physical Sciences Lec& Lab | |
| Total | ||
The Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Criminal Justice program is built to move with you — toward a four-year degree and the career you want. As a two-year academic transfer degree, it gives you an affordable, smart start before you continue at a university. Here's how the program sets you up for success:
- Start with an academic transfer degree. The Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice is designed for students who plan to pursue a bachelor's degree. Its degree plan follows the field-of-study curriculum prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, so your courses are built to carry forward.
- Finish core complete. Complete the Â鶹Æƽâ°æ curriculum and you're considered core complete — a strong head start that lets you focus on your major after you transfer.
- Transfer toward a bachelor's degree. Up to 60–66 semester credit hours from Â鶹Æƽâ°æ apply toward a bachelor's degree at Lamar University, with an additional 60 hours or more needed to finish the four-year degree. An advisor can help you map your plan from day one, so no time or credits go to waste.
- Step into a meaningful career. Your foundation prepares you for paths in policing, forensics, emergency and social services, homeland security, private security, and more — including roles like bailiff, probation officer, and game warden.
With a core-complete, transfer-ready foundation, you can continue toward a bachelor's degree and grow your career on a timeline that fits your goals.
What is the Criminal Justice program at Â鶹Æƽâ°æ?
The program is an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice designed for students who plan to pursue a bachelor's degree. You'll study basic criminal justice principles and concepts, including the nature of crime and law and how the major parts of the system work together. The degree plan follows the field-of-study curriculum prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Is this an academic transfer degree?
Yes. This is a two-year academic transfer degree built to set you up for a four-year university. Complete the Â鶹Æƽâ°æ curriculum and you're considered core complete, giving you a strong head start toward your bachelor's degree — close to home.
What does "core complete" mean?
Core complete means you've finished the full block of general education courses required by the state. Once you're core complete, most universities accept your core as a whole, so you can focus on your major instead of repeating basic requirements.
What skills will I build in this program?
You'll build skills that nearly every field values. Your training focuses on:
- Critical thinking, inquiry, and analysis of information
- Clear written, oral, and visual communication
- Empirical and quantitative reasoning with data and facts
- Teamwork and flexibility in working with others
- Social responsibility and civic engagement
- Personal responsibility and ethical decision-making
These are practical, transferable skills you can carry into a career or a four-year degree.
What will I learn about the justice system?
You'll learn to understand the nature of crime and law and how the system's major components work. You'll analyze criminal justice policy to weigh different responses to crime, and you'll learn to identify, analyze, compare, and contrast the philosophy and function of law enforcement in American society.
What careers can this degree lead to?
A degree in criminal justice opens doors across public service. Graduates pursue roles in policing, forensics, emergency and social services, homeland security, and private security. You could also work as a bailiff, a probation officer, a game warden, or with non-profit organizations.
How many credits transfer to Lamar University?
Up to 60–66 semester credit hours from Â鶹Æƽâ°æ apply toward a bachelor's degree at Lamar University. From there, you'll complete an additional 60 hours or more to finish your four-year degree. An advisor can help you map your plan from day one.
How long does it take to finish?
You can complete this two-year academic transfer degree in about two years of full-time study. Your exact timeline depends on your course load and schedule. An advisor will help you choose a pace that fits your work, family, and budget.
How do I get started?
Take the first step today. Apply through ApplyTexas, then talk to an advisor about your goals and transfer plans. They'll walk you through enrollment, financial aid, and your course plan — one clear step at a time, close to home.
The Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Advantage
Ready to turn your interest in justice into a career you can build on? Your path in criminal justice starts at Â鶹Æƽâ°æ. This two-year academic transfer degree gives you a strong, affordable foundation — and sets you up to transfer toward a bachelor's degree with confidence.
At Â鶹Æƽâ°æ, you learn from supportive instructors who know your name. You'll study the nature of crime and law, the major parts of the justice system, and the role of law enforcement in American society. You'll sharpen real skills: critical thinking, clear communication, working with data, teamwork, and the kind of social and personal responsibility that good public service demands. Complete the Â鶹Æƽâ°æ curriculum and you're core complete, giving you a head start on your bachelor's degree at Lamar University.
By graduation, you'll have more than a degree. You'll have a transfer-ready foundation and the skills that open doors in policing, forensics, emergency and social services, homeland security, and beyond. It's affordable, flexible, career-focused learning that meets you where you are — and prepares you for wherever you want to go.