Students Gain Real-World Insight Through LSCO Criminal Justice Program
March 16, 2026
ORANGE, TX – The criminal justice program at Lamar State College Orange is designed to prepare students for careers across the justice system by combining academic instruction with real-world insight from experienced professionals.
Students entering the program can pursue several pathways, including an associate degree in criminal justice, a newly launched Associate of Applied Science in criminal and forensic science, and multiple certificate options. These programs introduce students to the key areas of the justice system while allowing them to explore different career paths.
Program director, Hallie Gates, said the curriculum is structured to give students a broad understanding of the field while building practical knowledge they can use as they continue their education or enter the workforce.
“Not only are we teaching so much information about law enforcement, corrections, and courts, but we're also keeping up with modern day practitioners, people that are in the field that are doing this work.” said Gates.
Through courses covering criminal law, court systems, criminology and corrections, students learn how each part of the justice system operates and how those components work together. The program also emphasizes experiences outside the classroom within its student organization, including opportunities to hear from professionals in the field and visit facilities such as federal courts and correctional institutions.
Faculty members say those experiences help students better understand the realities of the profession.
Antonio Mitchell, an adjunct instructor and current law enforcement officer with more than two decades of experience, said exposure to the many specialties within the field often helps students discover career paths they may not have considered.
“There's so many different aspects of law enforcement,” Mitchell said. “I was able to do so many different vast principles within the law enforcement, which opened my eyes to getting a degree, going higher and getting an education.”
Mitchell brings his real-world experience into the classroom, helping students understand both the technical and practical aspects of criminal justice work. That perspective allows students to connect textbook concepts with the daily responsibilities professionals encounter in the field.
The program also reflects the experience of President Emeritus, Dr. Tom Johnson, who spent more than three decades in law enforcement and helped build the criminal justice program during his time leading the college.
Dr. Johnson said the profession offers a wide range of opportunities for those committed to serving others.
“Law enforcement is a great place to start. It's a great place to spend your career, and you'll never regret helping people,” Dr. Johnson said, emphasizing that a culture of service is central to the criminal justice field and to the program at LSCO.
By combining academic preparation, exposure to professionals and mentorship from instructors with firsthand experience, the program aims to give students the foundation they need to succeed in a variety of justice-related careers.