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Criminal Justice. Real Career. Right Here in Waco.

Study criminal justice at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and transfer to a 4-year institution — or earn your bachelor's on À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's campus through Tarleton State. Start building your future in Waco.

Your Options at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ

You don’t have to have everything figured out to start. À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ’s Criminal Justice program is designed to move with you.

Start With A Certificate

We offer certificate programs in law enforcement, forensics, and policy/corrections designed to get you job-ready fast. If you decide to keep going after those programs, your coursework counts toward your degree.

Earn Your Associate of Arts

À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ’s AA in Criminal Justice is a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board-approved field of study—which means it transfers as a complete block to state universities. Do two years at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, then transfer with confidence.

Finish In Waco

Happy in the Heart of Texas? Through our University Center at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, you can take Tarleton State University courses right in Waco on the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Campus, then graduate with a Tarleton degree without leaving the 254.

Financial aid is available. Most students qualify through the traditional FAFSA process.

What Criminal Justice Careers Look Like

À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ prepares students for careers across the full criminal justice system, including:

• Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement
• Corrections, Probate & Parole Officers (adult & juvenile)
• Forensics & Crime Scene Investigation
• Courts & Security
• Future Degree Program Opportunities: Law School, Grad School

If you don’t know what direction you want to go yet, that’s fine. The first year of coursework at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ covers the landscape of criminal justice, so you’ll have a clearer picture by the time you need to pick a path.

À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ The Program

À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's Criminal Justice program is part of the Emergency Services Education division, which means you're learning alongside people training in paramedicine, fire, and emergency management. It's a professional environment from day one.

Classes are primarily in-person and hands-on. Some online options are available — ask your advisor which courses qualify.

Want to Know More?

Fill out the form on this page and someone from the Criminal Justice program will get in touch with you. No pressure, no obligation—just a conversation about where you want to go, or how criminal justice could fit into your future.

You can also contact our program director, Jarred Hankhouse, directly at 254-299-6523 or jhankhouse@mclennan.edu.