Department of Homeland Security and Criminal Justice

College of Education and Professional Studies
Office: Morelock Academic Building, 109
Phone: (432) 837-8166
Chair and Professor: Oguzhan Basibuyuk, Ph.D.
Associate Professor: Ismail Dincer Gunes, Ph.D.

Program Description

The Homeland Security and Criminal Justice degree programs are designed to meet the needs of students pursuing a career in several areas of the criminal justice system. Students can choose a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice or a Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security, which will qualify graduates for employment in many public service professions. Opportunities currently exist for men and women in homeland security, law enforcement, courts, and corrections agencies at the federal, state, and local levels of government. The jobs include state highway patrol, municipal police, sheriffs’ departments, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, adult and juvenile probation, parole, prisons, treatment centers, TSA, FEMA, and other agencies on Homeland Security. Other areas of interest where opportunities exist are victim and witness assistance programs, state parks and wildlife agencies, the National Park Service, Alcoholic Beverage Commission, emergency management and private industry.

Students including Transfer students should be aware that the Sul Ross State University Department of Homeland Security and Criminal Justice will accept all common Criminal Justice courses for which the student has earned a “C” or better. Students should be aware that courses transferred in from two-year institutions (junior and community colleges) cannot count toward the University requirements for total upper-level hours. These two-year institution courses will not count as upper-level, even if they had a 3000 or 4000 number.

Sul Ross State University also houses the H. Joaquin Jackson Law Enforcement Academy. Cadets in the academy who are also students at Sul Ross State University may earn college credits for select Criminal Justice courses while attending the academy. These credits only apply to cadets enrolled in the SRSU academy.

Homeland Security and Criminal Justice majors are both required to complete a total of 120 semester credit hours, including a total of 60 hours of Homeland security and/or Criminal Justice major, concentration area, and elective courses. Details of these requirements are listed below.

To graduate with a major in Criminal Justice, students must obtain a passing score on the Criminal Justice Senior Exam, which is required for CJ 4309 Senior Seminar. For the Homeland Security degree, students must obtain a passing score on the Homeland Security Exam, which is required for CJ 4331 Advanced Topics in Homeland Security.

* Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice Degree Plan
Offered at Alpine, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Uvalde
Course descriptions can be found here. The degree plan can be found here.

Bachelor of Science - Homeland Security Degree Plan
Course descriptions can be found here. The degree plan can be found here.