The University of Houston Downtown held a ribbon cutting to launch its Criminal Justice Program in UHD Northwest on Oct. 14.
Established in 2010, UHD Northwest is an off‑campus learning site located inside Lone Star College‑University Park, officials said.
The Criminal Justice expansion at UHD Northwest is planned for spring 2027. Registration opens for eligible students on Oct. 29 for the spring 2027 semester.
About the program
Jaime Thomas, executive director of Off-Campus, told Community Impact that UHD expanded its Criminal Justice Program to strengthen its Criminal Justice presence at Northwest and to reflect its commitment to expand educational opportunities and connect academic programs with regional workforce needs.
“By rebuilding our Criminal Justice presence at UHD Northwest, we can make it more convenient for students in the region to pursue their educational goals while strengthening our partnership with Lone Star College–University Park and engaging with local community and industry partners,” Thomas said.
The Criminal Justice program was UHD’s first four-year degree program in 1974 and the university's first master's program, according to the website.
“We recognize the importance of understanding community needs and creating pathways that help students progress from community college to a bachelor's degree and into meaningful careers,” Thomas said. “Our goal is to build a stronger, sustainable Criminal Justice presence through increased course offerings and student engagement.”
Also of note
Clete Snell, chair of the department of Criminal Justice and Social Work and professor of Criminal Justice, said during the ribbon cutting that the program will also offer internship opportunities to allow students to secure jobs ahead of graduation.
“A high-quality criminal justice degree from UHD is now available close to where our students live and work. So our field is changing. The field of criminal justice is changing, and so is our program,” Snell said.
