Criminal Justice Studies Graduate Certificate
Advance your career with a Criminal Justice Studies Graduate Certificate, honing the skills and knowledge needed to pursue rewarding roles in law enforcement, criminology and criminal justice management.
- Offered 100% Online.
- 1 year
- 12 credit hours
- No thesis required
- No foreign language credits required
Justice For All
Explore the complexities and challenges of the American criminal justice system with our fully online certificate program. Tailored for both students and professionals, this flexible course structure allows you to focus on areas that matter most to your career. Dive into specialized topics like criminal causality, law enforcement, criminal law, policy development, corrections and national security. Earning a graduate certificate from East Texas A&M can equip you with the expertise to unlock career opportunities in law enforcement, criminology and beyond.
Spring 2026 Graduate Flex Term.
What Are My Job Opportunities?
A Criminal Justice Studies Graduate Certificate can open doors to a wide range of career opportunities in law enforcement, criminology, policy-making and more.
Careers Possibilities
Current Median Salaries from US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023
Program Details
Our Criminal Justice Studies Graduate Certificate is designed to equip professionals with critical insights into criminal justice systems.
What Might I Learn?
You will have the opportunity to gain experience in a number of key areas.
Criminal Justice Systems
Understand the structure and functions of law enforcement, the judiciary and correctional systems and how they interact to uphold justice.
Criminal Behavior Theories
Examine theories behind criminal behavior and explore practical strategies for crime prevention and intervention.
Research and Analysis
Develop strong research skills to assess criminal justice programs, analyze crime trends and evaluate the effectiveness of policies and interventions.
Emerging Technologies
Understand how modern technologies like data analytics, surveillance tools and cybersecurity shape law enforcement and criminal justice practices.
Taking Classes
Our fully online graduate certificate in criminal justice studies is tailored for students and working professionals looking to enhance their careers. You can complete our online program by taking 16 week courses in the fall and spring semesters, or accelerate your progress through 8 week courses during the fall and spring semesters or 5 week courses during the summer.
Please refer to the schedule of classes for course offerings and meeting times, which are subject to change.
Curriculum
Our graduate certificate provides a well-rounded curriculum focused on key areas such as criminal law, law enforcement, criminology and criminal justice policy. Through flexible, self-paced online courses, you can gain the expertise needed to tackle complex issues in the criminal justice system and advance your career in law enforcement, criminology or related fields.
Courses Offerings
Adding Value with Certificates
Enhance your career with the Criminal Justice Studies Graduate Certificate and additional certifications to broaden your expertise and leadership in the criminal justice field.
Criminal Justice Management Graduate Certificate
This certificate is designed to attract student practitioners seeking to advance within the decision-making and leadership roles within their field. The courses in this plan focus on management and policy issues. This certificate is ideal for you if you wish to specialize in management issues, such as evaluating, planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting and budgeting.
Homeland Security Graduate Certificate
This certificate is designed to attract members outside traditional criminal justice fields. Through this program, you will gain a broad understanding of homeland security issues while enhancing leadership capabilities among those who currently work in local, state and federal government and others who are interested in gaining greater knowledge about the field of homeland security. This certificate focuses on homeland security concepts, applicable management principles, policy analysis and the enhancement of critical thinking skills necessary to successfully address security challenges within the United States.
Public History Graduate Certificate
This certificate helps you develop specific skills related to public history. The practical, theoretical and analytical training provided in the certificate program will enhance your ability to compete for jobs in museums, historical societies, cultural resource centers, parks and historic preservation.
Finding My Community
We believe that education thrives in an environment where collaboration, support and mutual respect flourish. Our community of students and professors embodies these values, creating an enriching and dynamic atmosphere for learning and growth. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the table. Our professors are not only experts in their respective fields but also dedicated mentors who are committed to guiding and nurturing the next generation of scholars.
Nicole Farris, Ph.D.
Faculty
Willie Edwards
Alum Faculty
Zachary Palmer, Ph.D.
Faculty
Andrew Garcia, J.D., Ph.D.
Faculty
Student Organizations
Our campus has many ways to engage and get involved.
Student organizations at East Texas A&M University can offer valuable opportunities for networking, leadership and professional development in the criminal justice field. Organizations like the Criminal Justice Association and the Homeland Security Student Organization aim to provide platforms for students to connect with industry professionals, participate in events and gain real-world insights, enhancing both their academic and career growth.
I’m Looking For Something Different
Is this program close, but still not right for you? Check out our related degrees!
How Do I Get Started?
If you have not already done so, complete the Request Information form. You will be connected with your enrollment specialist, who can answer your questions. When you’re ready, go ahead and follow the steps below to apply.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission, you must first meet the following criteria.
- Earn a 3.0 GPA on all required coursework (No course substitutions may be applied on graduate certificates)
- Submit a Completion of Certificate Request while taking your final graduate certificate courses.
Plan Ahead
Upon completion of the certificate program, courses will count towards a Master of Science in Applied Criminology (MSAC), and newly declared graduate students can lock in their tuition rates for two years.
Admission Process
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “Criminal Justice Studies, Graduate Certificate” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- Within two business days of your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Provisional Status
After you submit your application, you may be granted provisional status, which means you can enroll in one semester of courses.
Submit the following documents to your graduate coordinator after you receive an application confirmation email.
Your Graduate Coordinator
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
- Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
- Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
Note: International students interested in graduate certificates must do so in conjunction with a graduate degree.
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “Criminal Justice Studies Graduate Certificate” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $75 application fee
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents to your graduate coordinator after you receive an application confirmation email.
Your Graduate Coordinator
- Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
I Still Have Questions
We are here to help! Send us an email. We can answer your questions and assist you in the application process.
Contact the Department
- Sociology and Criminal Justice
- 903.886.5175
- 903.886.5774
- [email protected]