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.

Graduate Students Honor Victims Through Texas Prison Museum Exhibit

Visitors to the Texas Prison Museum this month have an opportunity to experience a limited-time exhibit created by Sam Houston State University’s College of Criminal Justice (SHSU CJ) graduate students.

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SHSU College of Criminal Justice Professor Named Outstanding Mentor By National Organization

Stuti Kokkalera has been recognized for her work with students by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS).

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CMIT Executive Director Awarded Highest Honor In Corrections Field

Doug Dretke, executive director of Sam Houston State University’s Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT), has been named a recipient of the 2024 E. R. Cass Correctional Achievement Award by the American Correctional Association.

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SHSU Participating in National Forensic Science Research Collaboration

Sam Houston State University is partnering with Florida International University (FIU) and Texas A&M University (TAMU) in Phase II of the nation’s only forensic science Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC).

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Victim Studies Class Creates Exhibit For Houston Toy Museum

What began as an assignment for Shelly Clevenger’s seminar in victimology course transformed into an exhibit in the Houston Toy Museum.

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