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Texas Southmost College officially launched a criminal justice program partnership with Sam Houston State University, opening the way for TSC students to earn degrees at SHSU while completing most of their coursework in Brownsville.
The two schools announced the partnership during a mid-afternoon briefing Monday in a classroom at TSC’s Tandy Hall, where SHSU instructors will teach in-person criminal justice classes.
“SHSU wants to meet students where they are by offering face-to-face courses on the TSC campus, five- or 15-week week online courses, and opportunities for internships in the local area or virtually,” David Stender, senior director of strategy and innovation at SHSU, said.
Alan Moreno Salazar, a 2023 TSC graduate who initially enrolled in a criminal justice program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, said he decided to return to TSC to pursue the pathway.
“After one semester I came back to Texas Southmost College. I found out they were doing a partnership with Sam Houston and I gave it a why not,” Moreno recalled. “I graduated with an associate’s criminal justice of arts degree … I applied with Sam Houston, I got admitted and I received two scholarships.”
Moreno Salazar added that Sam Houston State’s legacy and prestige attracted him to the program.
Phillip Lyons, dean of SHSU’s College of Criminal Justice, said the university has been involved in the Lower Rio Grande Valley over many years.
“Sam Houston confers a fourth of all bachelors degrees in the state of Texas in criminal justice even though there are 26 different colleges and universities conferring those, and twice as many as those in second place,” typically UT programs at El Paso and San Antonio, Lyon said.
“President Rodriguez’s decision to bring our academic programming here is a significant step forward and we appreciate his leadership. It’s amazing what a persistent president and the support of the board can accomplish,” Lyons said.
Lyons referred to TSC President Jesus Roberto Rodriguez, himself a Sam Houston State graduate.
The school enjoys a long-standing reputation and is the third-oldest public university in Texas.
“As one of the most established, largest, and most prestigious criminal justice programs in the country, the College of Criminal Justice continues to set national standards in the field in both research and practice. The College offers a wide variety of degree programs and certificates in Criminal Justice and Criminology, Forensic Science, and Security Studies as well as special programs, organizations, and events,” the college states on its website.
