Sam Houston State University Announces Flexible Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Program

Sam Houston State University Announces Flexible Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Program

Sam Houston State University is offering a new Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) in Criminal Justice program designed for those seeking a practical, affordable and accessible pathway to earning a bachelor’s degree.

The program is offered fully online and uses a competency-based education (CBE) model with frequent start dates throughout the year, allowing students to progress by demonstrating what they know through real-world assignments and applied learning experiences. Students may also apply prior college coursework, professional training, certifications, military experience and other workforce learning toward their degree, helping reduce the time required to complete their bachelor’s degree.

“This program was built with the field, for the field,” said Danielle Boisvert, senior associate dean of the SHSU College of Criminal Justice (SHSU-COCJ). “It creates a flexible, affordable pathway for students to advance their education while balancing work, family and other responsibilities.”

Another key feature of the program is affordability. Tuition for CBE courses in the BAAS in Criminal Justice has been approved at $178 per semester credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students.

The BAAS in Criminal Justice launches Fall 2026 with coursework focused on corrections,  with a policing pathway currently in development. Boisvert notes the long-term vision is to expand the program to support a wide range of criminal justice career fields.

“We are building this program for professionals across the criminal justice field,” Boisvert said. “A bachelor’s degree can open doors to new opportunities, leadership roles and continued career growth. We want to ensure that professionals have access to an affordable, flexible education that allows them to advance their careers while strengthening the communities they serve.”

The corrections track was developed in collaboration with a nationally representative Corrections Advisory Board composed of correctional leaders from across the profession. The curriculum was designed to better align higher education with workforce needs and the evolving realities of today’s criminal justice field. Students can also earn stackable, career-relevant credentials as they progress toward completing their bachelor’s degree.

“I am excited for the potential of the new BAAS in CJ, because it ensures that students don’t just learn theory.  It has the capacity to bring immediate, practical change to the criminal justice field by combining both knowledge and practice,” said Christie Haney, executive director of the Correctional Management Institute of Texas.

“For many years, scholars and practitioners have agreed that a career in corrections requires an advanced level of learning and training that goes beyond traditional academy and in-service trainings,” said Danielle Rudes, professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. “SHSU’s College of Criminal Justice answered that call in the best possible way with these academic, science-backed programs for correctional professionals.”

To learn more about the SHSU College of Criminal Justice BAAS in Criminal Justice, visit the BAAS in Criminal Justice program page or the BAAS in Criminal Justice application and admissions page.