The Criminal Justice Department at Lone Star College-University Park offers an Associate of Arts with a Field of Study in Criminal Justice degree program.

The program prepares students to enter a variety of careers in the criminal justice system or transfer to a four-year university to continue working toward a Bachelor of Criminal Justice. Possible career paths for Criminal Justice graduates include:

• Police Officer
• Private Security or Investigator
• Bailiff or Correctional Officer
• Crime Scene Technician
• Fire Inspector or Fire Investigator
• Loss Prevention
• Victim Services/Support

Students in the Criminal Justice program will receive cutting-edge classroom instruction blended with real-life scenarios. Hands-on educational experiences include investigating mock crime scenes, fingerprinting, handcuffing, and participating in mock trials.

Courses include Intro to Criminal Justice (CRIJ-1301), Court Systems and Practices (CRIJ-1306), Fundamentals of Criminal Law (CRIJ-1310), Correctional Systems and Practices (CRIJ-2313), Police Systems and Practices (CRIJ-2328), and Crime in America (CRIJ-1307).

REGISTER for Criminal Justice classes.

Peace Officers Receive Free Tuition

Are you a Peace Officer? You can enroll now in LSC-University Park's Criminal Justice courses for free. Eligibility requirements are set by the state of Texas and include:

• Provide documentation to prove the following:
  • Student is currently employed as a peace officer by the state of Texas or by a political subdivision of this state.
  • An eligible peace officer is defined as an individual elected, appointed, or employed to serve as a peace officer for a governmental entity under Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or other law—Texas Government Code, Section 615.003(1)(A).  
• Be an undergraduate student enrolled in an eligible criminal justice or law enforcement-related degree or certificate program
• Have filed a selective service statement of registration status; and
• Student must currently have and maintain a 2.0 GPA.

If you meet these requirements, fill out the State Exemption/Waiver Acknowledgement Agreement and reach out to a department contact. Additional information may also be found here.

Department Contacts

Courses are taught by diverse, highly qualified faculty members and offered in face-to-face, fully online and hybrid formats. For those who need additional flexibility, LSC-University Park also offers some Criminal Justice courses in the evenings and Saturdays.

Jermaine Johnson, Ph.D. 
Department Chair
Professor of Criminal Justice
281.655.3784
Office: B12.726

Alicia Castillo 
Faculty
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
346.395.3272
Office: B12.618

Dave Gaer
Dean of Instruction 
281.290.2663
Office: B12.603C