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Competency-Based Education

Transforming Criminal Justice Learning and Professional Development
Built by the Field, For the Field

What is Competency-Based education?

Launching in Fall 2026, the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) in Criminal Justice will feature competency-based education (CBE) courses. This flexible degree pathway provides working professionals, transfer students, and veterans and military service members an opportunity to transform their real-world training into a bachelor's degree. Students advance through this program by demonstrating mastery of criminal justice career-aligned skills while maintaining the same academic quality as traditional programs.

Why choose the Competency-Based BAAS in Criminal Justice?

  • Affordable
    • Tuition for CBE courses is set at $178 per credit hour, providing a cost-effective way to earn your degree.
  • 10 entry points per year
    • New courses start every 5 weeks, so you can begin when it works for you
  • Move at your own pace
    • Move quickly through what you already know or take the time you need to master new material
  • Turn experience into progress
    • Apply prior college coursework, technical or on-the-job training or military education toward your degree
  • Flexible for working adults
    • Designed to fit around work, family, and other commitments
  • Focused on real-world skills
    • Assessments connect learning to career pathways, preparing you with practical job-ready skills
  • Work-based mentorships
    • Earn up to 12 credit hours working with your current employer

Competency-Based vs. Traditional Online Learning

What's the difference?

Traditional Online
  • Fixed deadlines
  • Test-driven progression
  • Time-based completion
Competency-Based Model
  • Flexible pacing
  • Progress is guided by demonstrated knowledge
  • Skill-based completion

Support Every Step of the way

  • Faculty feedback and evaluation

  • Academic resources

  • Specialized advisors

  • 24/7 technical Support

Turn what you've learned into credit

The time it takes to complete the program will vary based on your prior learning and the pace you advance through each course. That means if you have significant prior experience you may be able to earn your degree in less time. You can earn applied credit through:

You may receive up to 36 semester credit hours toward the BAAS in Criminal Justice if you have credit toward or completed an Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS), Associate of Applied Business (AAB), or Associate of Specialized Technology (AST).  

Law Enforcement Trainings and Certifications: You may receive applied credit for completed training certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).

Corrections Trainings and Certifications and Other Professional Development: You may receive applied credit for verified continuing education units (CEUs), professional development, and industry-based criminal justice training.

You may receive credit for military training confirmed on your Joint Services Transcript (JST).

Meeting the needs of every criminal justice profession

 View Courses      Corrections      Policing 

This program closes the gap between field experience and formal education by working directly with practitioners to:

  • Define field-validated skills across criminal justice settings
  • Build applied assessments drawn from real field decisions: case analyses, use-of-force evaluations, evidence protocols, crisis intervention scenarios
  • Bridge classroom and operational knowledge, preparing criminal justice professionals to excel in the field
  • Strengthen workforce pipelines by giving agencies a reliable pathway to develop credentialed, promotion-ready professionals

Contact Us

Patricia Macias-Fisher

Undergraduate Pathways Coordinator

Email

cjpathways@shsu.edu

Phone

936-294-1035

Become a Bearkat

Ready to see what a degree can do for you or to start your application to SHSU? Our Admissions team is here to help.