Are you interested in a career in law enforcement in Houston? If so, you might want to consider getting a college degree in criminal justice. The Big Heart has a number of top-notch universities offering rigorous and exciting degrees in criminal justice. This piece lists some of the best ones. Every institution’s position on this list is based on data gathered from government records, student surveys and other official channels.

Featured Programs and Schools

1) The University of Houston – Downtown

The University of Houston – Downtown (UHD) is among the 4 distinct institutions making up the University of Houston System. UHD offers 3 degrees in Criminal Justice. These are listed below:

  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
  • Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences in Criminal Justice.
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice.

In 2019, U.S. News & World Report included the UHD’s online Bachelor’s programs in its Top 100 list. Moreover, the university’s Graduate program in Criminal Justice was ranked at number 26 on the publication’s Best Online Programs list.

2) The Prairie View A & M University

Like the UHD, the Prairie View A & M University (PV or PVAMU) is categorized as a public university of medium size. Established in 1876, it is the second-oldest public university of higher learning in the state. A Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is its major degree in the field of law enforcement. In addition, it offers the following graduate degrees in Juvenile Justice:

  • Master of Science in Juvenile Justice.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Juvenile Justice.

In 2015, the PVAMU awarded 95 Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degrees to that year’s graduating class.

3) The Lee College

The Lee College was set up in 1934 as a medium-sized public community college. Its main campus is located near downtown Baytown. The college offers an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. It is a two-year program comprising of 4 semesters and 60 semester credit hours. In 2015, the Lee College awarded 10 Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice degrees to successful students.

4) The Alvin Community College

The foundations of the Alvin Community College (ACC) were laid in 1948 in Brazoria County. It was known as “Alvin Junior College” for the first few years of its existence before being renamed as ACC. The following degrees in Criminal Justice are offered by this medium-sized college operating in a large suburb:

  • Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement & Police Administration.
  • Associate in Criminal Justice.
  • Certification in Basic Law Enforcement.

5) The College of the Mainland

The College of the Mainland (COM) came into being in 1966. It is a small public community college functioning in a mid-sized suburb. Named after its location on the “mainland” area of Galveston County in Texas, the COM offers an Associate of Applied Science – Criminal Justice degree. In 2015, 12 students successfully graduated from this program and the number is set to increase in the coming years.

You May Also Like

Top Criminal Justice Degrees in Indianapolis
Top Criminal Justice Degrees in Jacksonville
Top Criminal Justice Degrees in Los Angeles