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As political leaders search for solutions to the crime problem, criminal justice professionals and criminologists have assumed a central role in researching, formulating, implementing, and evaluating public policy designed to control crime. To do so requires knowledge of individual and social factors that contribute to the cause of criminal behavior and strategies and practices established for the control of crime.
Both the Criminal Justice and Criminology degree programs prepare graduates for careers in corrections, law enforcement, probation and parole, the legal profession and other areas related to the justice system, such as dispute resolution and mediation. Students are encouraged to enroll in internships or mediation training courses. Both majors focus on building critical knowledge and effective professional skills. Each degree program focuses on developing students' abilities in the areas of critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communications and effective use of technology tools to address problems and issues in the criminal justice field.
(210) 436-3224
aabney@stmarytx.edu
Charles Francis 210
Ruth Castillo
Administrative Assistant
(210) 436-3224
rcastillo5@stmarytx.edu
Charles Francis 211
Contact Us
Armando J. Abney, Chair(210) 436-3224
aabney@stmarytx.edu
Charles Francis 210
Ruth Castillo
Administrative Assistant
(210) 436-3224
rcastillo5@stmarytx.edu
Charles Francis 211
Criminal Justice studies the administration, organizational structures, goals, processes, practices, roles, philosophies and histories of formal organizations such as police and related law enforcement agencies, courts, community-based corrections and correctional institutions that assist in the prevention and control of crime and delinquency.
All majors must complete the following courses:
:
For more information, please see the degree plans and course catalog.
All majors must complete the following courses:
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice Administration
- Ethics in Criminal Justice
- International Justice Systems
- Adjudication of Social Issues
- Criminal Justice Research Methods
- Computer Technologies in Criminal Justice
- Legal Topics in Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice Senior Seminar
:
| Corrections in the Community | Correctional Counseling & Treatment |
| Correctional Institutions | Police Role in Crime & Delinquency |
| Police | Community Relations |
| Issues in Policing | Criminal Procedure & Evidence |
| Process & Policy of American Courts | Law and Society |
| Social Stratification or Minority Relations | Victimology or Demography & Ecology |
| Juvenile Delinquency | Criminology |
| Social Psychology or Urban Psychology | Interviewing Techniques |
| Mediation Techniques | Internship in Criminal Justice |
For more information, please see the degree plans and course catalog.
Criminology studies the causes, prevention and treatment of criminal and delinquent behavior. St. Mary's curriculum focuses on individual and social factors that are associated with the distribution of crime in society. Students are introduced to the roles of the offender, victim and society in exploring the reasons why criminal behavior occurs. Criminology explores the relationship between the field of criminology and the organizations and social service agencies that are responsible for the control of crime and protection of society.
Both of these Bachelor of Arts degrees are offered through the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at St. Mary's University. The curriculum leading to these degrees offers a well-rounded educational experience, built on St. Mary's core curriculum and integrates academic preparation in the major with real-world problem solving. Students are prepared for professional positions in agencies, institutions, organizations and programs that deal with various aspects of criminal and juvenile justice.
All majors must complete the following courses:
For more information, please see the degree plans and course catalog.
Both of these Bachelor of Arts degrees are offered through the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at St. Mary's University. The curriculum leading to these degrees offers a well-rounded educational experience, built on St. Mary's core curriculum and integrates academic preparation in the major with real-world problem solving. Students are prepared for professional positions in agencies, institutions, organizations and programs that deal with various aspects of criminal and juvenile justice.
All majors must complete the following courses:
- Introductory Sociology
- Social Stratification
- Victimology
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Criminology
- Criminal Justice Research Methods
- Computer Technologies in Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice Senior Seminar
| Police Role in Crime & Delinquency | International Justice Systems |
| Law & Society | Corrections in the Community |
| Correctional Counseling & Treatment | Correctional Institutions |
| The Family | Social Psychology |
| Urban Psychology | Demography & Ecology |
| Minority Relations | Interviewing Techniques |
| Mediation Techniques | Internship in Criminal Justice |
For more information, please see the degree plans and course catalog.
St. Mary's University has designed an academic plan to provide undergraduate curriculum advice for students interested in attending law school after earning their baccalaureate degree.
If you would like to learn more, visit the Pre-Law section of this site.
If you would like to learn more, visit the Pre-Law section of this site.
Faculty
Armando J. Abney, Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorChair, Criminal Justice & Criminology
Office: Charles Francis 210
Phone: (210) 436-3011, Ext. 1245
Email: aabney@stmarytx.edu Full Bio Details
Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, 1983
M.A., Sam Houston State University, 1977
B.A., Sam Houston State University, 1976
Areas of special interest include: criminology, juvenile delinquency, race and ethnic relations, and research methods. Abney serves as a research consultant for numerous public and private agencies, and organizations.
M.A., Sam Houston State University, 1977
B.A., Sam Houston State University, 1976
Areas of special interest include: criminology, juvenile delinquency, race and ethnic relations, and research methods. Abney serves as a research consultant for numerous public and private agencies, and organizations.
Milo Colton, Ph.D., J.D.
Associate ProfessorPhone: (210) 436-3519
Email: mcolton@stmarytx.edu Full Bio Details
Ph.D. Political Science, University of Colorado at Boulder
J.D., University of Iowa
Milo Colton is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder with B.A., M.P.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. He also graduated from the University of Iowa with a J.D. degree, and he holds active law licenses in Washington, D.C., Nebraska, U.S. District Court in Nebraska, and the Winnebago Tribal Court.
He taught Legal Studies in the Criminal Justice Program and Administrative Law in the Master of Public Administration Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio from 1994-2001. He also served as adjunct professor at San Antonio College, teaching Texas Peace Officer Law. He began teaching as an adjunct professor in the Criminal Justice Program at St. Mary's University in 1996, and he joined the St. Mary's faculty full time in the fall of 2001, teaching courses related to policing and American Indians and the Law. He administered a community college program at the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska, and he taught college classes at both the Winnebago and Omaha Indian Reservations. He was an outreach consultant to American Indian communities for the University of Iowa, and he served as president of the American Indian Law Students Association at the University of Iowa Law School before returning to the Winnebago Reservation as the tribe's chief administrative officer.
He was the director of Institutional Research and Management Information Services at Westmar College. He was associate director of the National Maternal and Child Health Resource Center and an analyst for the Budget and Management Office of the City and County of Denver. He was also an analyst for the Colorado Supreme Court in the State Court Administrator's Office and a senior staff associate for the National Center for State Courts. He served as local evaluator and principal investigator for several U.S. Department of Justice grants related to community policing.
In 1980, he was elected to the Board of Education in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1982, he was elected to the Iowa Senate.
He enlisted for active duty in the U.S. Air Force, and he served in the Strategic Air Command during the Vietnam War.
He recently published the following articles: The Impact of a Casino on Crime and Education (1999), The Blackbird Bend Dispute (2000), The Winnebago Path to Self-determination (2000), Theft at East Central High School-San Antonio, Texas (2000), Courts Give Green Light to State Annexation of Indian Reservations (2001), George W. Bush and the Tradition of Broken Treaties (2001), Self-determination and the American Indian: A Case Study (2001), Kerrey, Custer and the Legacy of Manifest Destiny (2002), and Strengthening Indian Nations Through Culturally Relevant Education (2002). He recently authored the following books: The Political Thought of Alexander Solzhenitsyn (2000) and The Seed of Cain (2000).
J.D., University of Iowa
Milo Colton is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder with B.A., M.P.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. He also graduated from the University of Iowa with a J.D. degree, and he holds active law licenses in Washington, D.C., Nebraska, U.S. District Court in Nebraska, and the Winnebago Tribal Court.
He taught Legal Studies in the Criminal Justice Program and Administrative Law in the Master of Public Administration Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio from 1994-2001. He also served as adjunct professor at San Antonio College, teaching Texas Peace Officer Law. He began teaching as an adjunct professor in the Criminal Justice Program at St. Mary's University in 1996, and he joined the St. Mary's faculty full time in the fall of 2001, teaching courses related to policing and American Indians and the Law. He administered a community college program at the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska, and he taught college classes at both the Winnebago and Omaha Indian Reservations. He was an outreach consultant to American Indian communities for the University of Iowa, and he served as president of the American Indian Law Students Association at the University of Iowa Law School before returning to the Winnebago Reservation as the tribe's chief administrative officer.
He was the director of Institutional Research and Management Information Services at Westmar College. He was associate director of the National Maternal and Child Health Resource Center and an analyst for the Budget and Management Office of the City and County of Denver. He was also an analyst for the Colorado Supreme Court in the State Court Administrator's Office and a senior staff associate for the National Center for State Courts. He served as local evaluator and principal investigator for several U.S. Department of Justice grants related to community policing.
In 1980, he was elected to the Board of Education in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1982, he was elected to the Iowa Senate.
He enlisted for active duty in the U.S. Air Force, and he served in the Strategic Air Command during the Vietnam War.
He recently published the following articles: The Impact of a Casino on Crime and Education (1999), The Blackbird Bend Dispute (2000), The Winnebago Path to Self-determination (2000), Theft at East Central High School-San Antonio, Texas (2000), Courts Give Green Light to State Annexation of Indian Reservations (2001), George W. Bush and the Tradition of Broken Treaties (2001), Self-determination and the American Indian: A Case Study (2001), Kerrey, Custer and the Legacy of Manifest Destiny (2002), and Strengthening Indian Nations Through Culturally Relevant Education (2002). He recently authored the following books: The Political Thought of Alexander Solzhenitsyn (2000) and The Seed of Cain (2000).
Ray Leal, Ph.D.
Criminal Justice and Criminology ProfessorPhone: (210) 431-6850
Email: rleal@stmarytx.edu Full Bio Details
Ph.D. Political Science, Indiana University
Interests in mediation & conflict resolution and legal topics.
Interests in mediation & conflict resolution and legal topics.
Pedro Lopez, Ph.D.
Criminal Justice and Criminology ProfessorPhone: (210) 431-6851
Email: plopez@stmarytx.edu Full Bio Details
Ph.D. Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University
Interests in institutional and community-based corrections.
Interests in institutional and community-based corrections.
