Program Overiew

Mission
The mission of the Department of Administration of Justice undergraduate program is to educate students for careers and community service within a diverse urban environment through the development of specialized knowledge and skills needed for effective public service. The Department strives to prepare students not only with facts and concepts, but also, more importantly, to think critically and ethically in applying knowledge to related problems and challenging situations.

Objectives
The objectives of the Department of Administration of Justice are:

• Prepare professionals and change agents to serve as future leaders at the local, state and national level as well as globally.
• To provide students with an understanding of justice agencies in the United States.
• To prepare students to apply their knowledge of justice theories, research methods, and statistics to the administration and management of justice agencies.

Faculty
The Department of Administration of Justice has a distinguished faculty with varying research interests including comparative justice studies, domestic violence, policing, prisoner re-entry, race and crime, terrorism and theory. Faculty research provides students with an opportunity to examine recent developments on these and other contemporary justice issues and challenges both in the classroom and the community.

Careers
The curriculum presents subjects designed to develop competence for employment and future leadership roles for students planning careers in the judiciary, law enforcement, parole and probation, corrections, institutional services, security administration, homeland security, transportation security, immigration and customs enforcement, and other related career areas. The coursework emphasizes administration and management in contemporary criminal justice systems, major systems of social control and their policies and practices, victimology, juvenile justice and comparative criminal justice. The program also uniquely prepares individuals for graduate school and law school. The intent of the program is to assist individuals with their careers or advancement in such agencies by enhancing their professional development through education. In order to foster the academic success of the students, the program merges education with state of the art technology to reach the students and meet their needs.

Program Overview

The graduate program is designed to advance students’ understanding of justice in the contemporary era, and prepares them for challenges in law enforcement, corrections, and judicial administration. The program will prepare academicians, policy makers, top administrators and researchers by advancing their knowledge of theory, research and data analysis. In addition, the program places emphasis on the historical and contemporary issues in administrative and policy matters, including race and crime, homeland security, and the application of geographic information systems. In order to accommodate the needs of our professional graduate students, the Department of Administration of Justice offers its courses in the evening.

Curriculum

Curriculum

The program consists of thirty-six semester credit hours as follows:

1. Eighteen semester hours of core courses;
2. Six semester hours of thesis (for the thesis option) or six required courses for non-thesis option; and
3. Twelve semester hours of elective courses

Required (Core) Courses (18):

AJ 500 Seminar in Administration of Justice (3)

AJ 501 Seminar in Administration of Justice/Criminal Justice/Criminological Theory (3)

AJ 502 Seminar in Research Methods (3)

AJ 503 Seminar in Quantitative Methods (3)

AJ 504 Seminar in Race, Class, Gender, and Crime in Administration of Justice (3)

AJ 505 Seminar in Ethics and Administration of Justice (3)

Required Courses (Thesis Option only) (6):

AJ 788 Thesis I (3)

AJ 789 Thesis II (3)

Required Courses (Non-thesis Option only) (6):

AJ 701 Capstone Seminar in Administration of Justice (3)

AJ 617 Independent Study (3)

Elective Courses (12):

AJ 607 Police Administration (3)

AJ 609 Issues in Corrections Administration (3)

AJ 610 Issues in Judicial Administration (3)

AJ 611 Issues in Juvenile Justice Administration (3)

AJ 612 Administrative Law for Justice Agencies (3)

AJ 613 Evaluation Research for Justice Agencies (3)

AJ 614 Issues in Terrorism and Administration of Justice (3)

AJ 615 Seminar on Special Topics in Administration of Justice (3)

AJ 616 Environmental Crime and Administration of Justice (3)

AJ 617 Independent Study (3)

AJ 701 Capstone Seminar (3)

Program Overview

The purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy of Administration of Justice (PhD AJ) is to prepare individuals for (1) leadership and managerial positions in justice agencies; (2) faculty positions in higher education that require advanced knowledge of theory, administration, research, and data analysis; and (3) research positions in private and public research institutions specializing in the administration of justice issues, policy,
and data analysis. The Doctor of Philosophy in Administration of Justice will educate future leaders needed to assume administrative and policy positions at all levels of government, and in the private sector in the State of Texas, nationally and globally.

The educational objectives of the program are:

• To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the body of knowledge in administration of justice, criminal justice and criminology.
• To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical foundation of administration of justice, criminal justice and criminology.
• To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of research and data analysis, and their specific application to administration of justice.
• To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the role of race, class, and gender in the administration of justice.
• To prepare students to assume teaching positions at the university level.
• To prepare students to assume research positions at the university level.
• To prepare students for research positions in government and the private sector.

Program Overview

The goal of the U.S. Army ROTC program is to develop technically competent, physically fit and highly motivated men and women for positions of responsibility as commissioned officers in the active Army, the Army Reserve and Army National Guard. Upon completion of the curriculum, students will have an understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles of the military as an art and as a science. The leadership and managerial experience gained through ROTC provides great benefit for students in both their civilian endeavors and their military careers.

Statutory Authority

General statutory authority for establishment and operation of the ROTC program, including the scholarship program, is contained in Title 10, United States Code, Chapter 103 (Sec. 2102-2111). Specific rules and procedures are found in U.S. Army Regulation 145-1.

Course Credit

ROTC classes may be taken for elective credit toward any degree plan at the University of Houston. Freshman and sophomore level classes are open to all students, regardless of age or physical condition. No military obligation is incurred as a result of enrollment in these courses. Junior and senior level courses are more restrictive and do require a military obligation. ROTC scholarship students also incur a military obligation.

Four-Year Program

The four-year program is divided into two courses: the basic course, which is normally attended by students during their freshman and sophomore years, and the advanced course attended during the junior and senior years. Advanced course students attend a five-week advanced camp at Fort Lewis, Washington, normally between their junior and senior years.

Basic Course

The basic course consists of four semesters of military science which includes: MSCI 121, 122, 221, and 222. These freshman and sophomore level classes are open to all students without obligation. Advanced Course

Students entering the advanced course must enter into a contract to pursue and accept a commission in the active Army, the Army Reserve or the Army National Guard. To be considered for contracting into the advanced course the student must: be a full-time student in a course of instruction that leads to a degree in a recognized academic field, have a minimum of two years of academic work remaining in a curriculum leading to a baccalaureate or advanced degree, be under age 30 when commissioned, and pass a physical examination.

Two-Year Program

The two-year program is designed for students who did not take the basic course but are otherwise eligible to enroll in the advanced course. This program allows students completing their sophomore year to attend a four week "Leader's Training Course" during June and July at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in lieu of taking the first two years of ROTC. There is no military obligation for attending the "Leader's Training Course." The Army provides transportation, room, and board. Students are paid approximately $700 for the four week period.

Laboratory Requirements

A military science laboratory is required for students enrolling in MSCI 121, 122, 221, 222, 331, 332, 431 or 432. This laboratory provides opportunities for marksmanship training, rappelling, drill and ceremonies, communications training, and other activities.

Veterans

Veterans who have served on active duty or in the Army Reserve/National Guard are also eligible for the ROTC program. Although veterans are not required to take the Basic Course, they are encouraged to do so. All students, including veterans, must have a minimum of 60 credit hours prior to enrolling in the Advanced Course.

National Guard and Army Reserve Members

Students enrolled in ROTC may also be members of the Army Reserve/National Guard. Through the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), those students enrolled in the Advanced Course will be assigned in a leadership position as a cadet and receive pay and entitlements from the Guard or Reserve in the pay grade of Sergeant (E-5).

Scholarships

The United States Army offers, on a competitive nationwide basis, four-, three-, and two-year scholarships. The scholarships will cover tuition. Recipients will also receive benefits for educational fees (to include lab fees), a book allowance and a subsistence allowance of $500 per month. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must be under age 30 on the anticipated graduation date. Applications are available from the Military Science Department.

Other Financial Aid

All students enrolled in the Advanced Course will receive a subsistence allowance of $450 per month for juniors and $500 per month for seniors. For more information contact the Military Science Department. GI Bill recipients still retain benefits.

Tuition

Members of the Army or the National Guard, Texas State Guard, or other reserve forces may be exempted from the nonresident tuition fee and other fees and charges

Special Training

Basic and advanced course students may volunteer for and attend the U.S. Army Airborne and Air Assault courses during June, July and August. Cadet Troop Leadership training positions are also available to Advanced Course cadets during the summer months.

Miscellaneous

Cadets in the Advanced Course are paid an allowance of $500 per month during the school year. Military textbooks and uniforms are furnished to all cadets. The Corps of Cadets sponsors an annual military ball in addition to other social events throughout the school year. The Department of Military Science sponsors extracurricular activities such as the University of Houston Color Guard; the Ranger Challenge Team.

Instructor

Thomas, Roland W.
Professor – Military Science Instructor
B.A., Wayland Baptist University
MA.,  Webster University

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