CONTACT: TECHNICAL PROGRAMS DEPT.
DISMISSAL AND SUSPENSION POLICY
Criminal Justice
Faculty/Staff
Program of Study
Purpose
The Criminal Justice program provides education and training for students planning careers in federal, state, or local law enforcement. The Criminal Justice Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) program offers students the opportunity to focus on one of three options. The first option, the Basic Peace Officer, is for those students seeking to graduate with an A.A.S. in Criminal Justice and from the Middle Rio Grande Law Enforcement Academy to prepare for the TCLEOSE Texas Peace Officer exam. The second option, Corrections, is for those students seeking to graduate with an A.A.S. in Criminal Justice with a focus on Correctional Systems. The third option, Forensic Science is for those students seeking to graduate with an A.A.S. in Criminal Justice with a focus on Forensic Science. Criminal Justice is a Tech Prep program.
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the Criminal Justice program through regular college admission procedures (see Admission Regulations section). Students will receive a one-year Certificate and/or an A.A.S. degree upon satisfactory completion of the courses of study and upon making formal application for graduation (see Curricula section).
The Criminal Justice program carries two award options, a one-year Certificate and the two-year A.A.S. degree. College Board policy requires all students to take the Accuplacer exam. Students pursuing the one-year Certificate do not have to pass the Accuplacer; however, those not scoring at the READ 0302 level are encouraged to enroll in the appropriate developmental course(s).
Students who wish to pursue the two-year A.A.S. degree must meet all Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements.