Regents approve doctoral program for Texas State
By Mark Hendricks
University News Service
August 22, 2008
Regents of the Texas State University System have approved plans for Texas State University-San Marcos to offer a doctoral program in criminal justice.
The program, which will lead to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice, will begin upon pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Texas State’s Criminal Justice Department is one of the fastest growing academic departments on campus. It currently serves approximately 865 undergraduate students and 70 master’s degree level students.
The degree program will offer night classes and eventually weekend classes, making it possible for area criminal justice professionals to enroll without leaving their jobs or taking extended leaves of absence.
University officials say the program will appeal to non-traditional as well as traditional students, meet the needs of criminal justice practitioners at agencies within driving distance of San Marcos and place an emphasis on policy development and research.
The Texas State Department of Criminal Justice currently administers several institutes and centers that assist in its mission to educate and prepare workers and leaders in the criminal justice field. These include:
- Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training
- Center for Society, Law and Justice
- Center for Safe Communities and Schools
- Institute for Criminal Justice Studies
- Texas Justice Court Training Center
- Texas School Safety Center
- Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Investigation
- Texas Statewide Tobacco Education and Prevention
Convening in Austin for its regular quarterly meeting, the board also amended its capital improvement plan to accelerate the construction of new baseball and softball stadiums at Texas State from 2009-2010 to 2008-2009. Design documents for final Board approval will be submitted to the board in September, 2008.
The project includes the addition to each field of new cantilevered covered metal bleachers, press box facilities, luxury suites, recessed dugouts, batting cages, restrooms, a field maintenance building and a ticket operation facility.
The project cost is approximately $8.9 million and will be funded from Texas State University System Revenue Financing Bonds, athletics reserves and private donated funds. The bonds will be repaid from Athletic Department revenues and the Student Athletics Fee.
The Texas State University System is governed by a nine member Board of Regents appointed by the Governor. In addition, a nonvoting student regent is appointed annually to the Board. The administration, which is headed by a board-appointed Chancellor, is based in Austin where it provides support to the System components and state government.