Earn your degree in criminal justice
Criminal Justice
Our bachelor’s degree in criminal justice provides an excellent foundation for students interested in working within the criminal and juvenile justice system and in law enforcement. It also provides strong preparation for graduate school in sociology and criminal justice, as well as law school. Our criminal justice degree is multidisciplinary, with coursework in sociology and political science, and an emphasis on developing critical thinking and effective communication skills.
Our students gain valuable real-world experience through internships with state and local law enforcement agencies, adult and juvenile probation and corrections, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and more.
Degree Requirements
Undergraduate course catalog: Criminal Justice
The New Mexico Highlands undergraduate catalog outlines your options and the steps you need to take to complete degree requirements for your chosen major. To ensure the seamless completion of your degree, consult often with your academic adviser and utilize Highlands’ Degree Audit tool to keep track of your academic progress.
Faculty and Staff
Sociology and Criminal Justice
Faculty and Staff
-
Gloria Y. Gadsden, Ph.D.
Department Chair, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
-
Rebecca Álvarez, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice
-
Laura Hansen, Ph.D.
INSTRUCTOR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Mission
The mission of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice is to contribute to meeting the educational and research needs in sociology, anthropology, criminal justice and the related fields; contribute to meeting the career needs in social services and social sciences, tribal, state, and federal career requirements, as well as contribute to training for careers in education, law, public service, and other social science fields; contribute to meeting the need for secondary school teacher certification in sociology and/or anthropology; and to provide sociocultural service and expertise for the region, as well as the greater global community.