U-T Tyler Expanding Longview Criminal Justice Courses

LONGVIEW — This fall The University of Texas at Tyler Longview University Center will expand the number of courses taught in the field of criminal justice. “We are working with Dr. Barbara Hart, Interim Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, to eventually bring a criminal justice program to the Longview campus,” said Dr. Van Patterson, UT Tyler LUC director. “This fall we will offer three new junior level courses which include Criminology, Probation and Parole, and Law and Society.”

“In addition we are working with representatives from the Kilgore College Criminal Justice Program to create a pathway that KC graduates can follow to earn their bachelor’s degrees,” Patterson continued. “As part of that partnership, Kilgore College has also agreed to teach a sophomore level course, Criminal Investigations, at the LUC this fall.”

“The University of Texas at Tyler has one of the top criminal justice programs in the nation. Last year UT Tyler graduates scored in the top five percent nationally on the Education Testing Service Major Field Test for Criminal Justice, and in 2012 and 2011 UT Tyler CJ seniors were among the top 10 and 15 percent in the country respectively,” said Patterson. “By working with UT Tyler and area community colleges, we intend to build a CJ program in Longview with the same high standards and quality.”