College of Criminal Justice

Welcome to the College of Criminal Justice

Join one of the largest and most prestigious criminal justice programs in the country.

The College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University is one of the top programs in the country for the study of criminal justice and criminology, forensic science, and security studies and continues to set the national standard for these disciplines in higher education. Since 1963, the college has been at the forefront of academic research and professional leadership development.

Learn from our faculty, a worldwide collection of the most respected criminal justice experts in the study of criminal justice, who bring modern technological methods and advanced applications into the classroom.

  • Choose from a large criminal justice course selection, including online courses
  • Study at research Institutes in Law Enforcement, Corrections, Victims, and Legal Studies
  • Join active Honor societies and Student Associations
  • Access to world renowned law enforcement and correctional training institutes
  • Apply for several criminal justice scholarships and graduate student assistantships

Grow personally and professionally by pursuing an exciting career with a criminal justice, forensic science, or homeland security studies degree. Embrace all of the resources the College of Criminal Justice has to offer through our undergraduate degrees, masters degrees, and Ph.D. programs. Apply today and choose one of our degree programs that open a world of opportunity.

Criminal Justice and Criminology Professor Recognized for Research

Dr. Peter Lehmann has been awarded the 2023 New Scholar Award for his work in the field of Criminal Justice by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS).

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Grant Provides Funding for Criminal Justice De-Escalation Training Center

SHSU’s Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) received a two-year grant through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for $981,760 to establish a de-escalation training center.

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SHSU College of Criminal Justice Names New Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology Chair

The Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice announces Dr. Erin Orrick as the new chair for the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

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SHSU CJ Online Programs Ranked Among Top 5 By U.S. News & World Report

Sam Houston State University’s College of Criminal Justice online master’s program is ranked No. 3 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in their best online rankings for 2023. This is the eighth year the program ranked among the nation’s top five programs. Additionally, SHSU CJ was ranked No. 2 for best online master’s in Criminal Justice program for veterans.

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Doctoral Students Earn Award for Prestigious Doctoral Summit

Two Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice (SHSU CJ) doctoral students are selected to participate in the next cohort of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ (ACJS) Doctoral Summit. Kyler Nielson and Ghady Hbeilini received a scholarship to join PhD students from across the country attending the ACJS 2023 Annual meeting in March 2023.

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