About the College

The College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University is one of the largest and oldest criminal justice programs in the nation. In 1970, the College became one of the first programs in the U.S. to offer the Ph.D. in criminal justice and is the first in the State of Texas to offer the Masters of Science in Forensic Science. Students will benefit from a close-knit learning environment led by an expert faculty with members specializing in criminology, law, psychology, criminal justice, sociology, history, and political science. Our doctoral is designed to produce students of crime and justice who possess a deep and extensive awareness of the body of knowledge in the field of criminal justice and possess the intellectual and methodological skills necessary for the continuing process of discovery and understanding of crime and justice related issues.

Mission: The mission of the Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University is to advance the theory, practice, and cause of criminal justice through scholarship, teaching, training, and technical assistance.
History: A detailed history of developments at the College of Criminal Justice and the CJ Center, from its founding in 1963 to today.
Beto Chair Lecture Series: The Beto Chair was established in 1979 as an endowed chair in honor of Dr. George J. Beto. It has enriched the College of Criminal Justice and, since 1981, has made possible a lecture series by top scholars from the field of criminology & criminal justice. The presence of a distinguished person who has gained national eminence in criminal justice brings new vitality to learning experiences of students and faculty alike.
Map / Directions: No matter where you are, click here for directions to the College of Criminal Justice. View or print out a detailed map of the center to help find your way around.
Contact Directory: A comprehensive directory of current college faculty, staff, and doctoral students.
News / Events: Regularly updated calendar of important upcoming events.
Schedule a Visit: The College welcomes interested groups from high schools or junior colleges. Follow this link to schedule a guided tour.
Request Information: Follow this link to request detailed information about the program(s) you are most interested in.