{"id":2836,"date":"2026-08-08T01:11:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/?page_id=2836"},"modified":"2026-08-14T20:26:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T20:26:11","slug":"conservation-law-enforcement-minor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/conservation-law-enforcement-minor\/","title":{"rendered":"Conservation Law Enforcement Minor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\t\t\t\tCriminal Justice \u2022 Natural Resources \u2022 Public Service\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tConservation Law Enforcement Minor\n\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tProtect Texas. Protect its people. Protect its natural resources.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tCombine criminal justice with wildlife law, conservation, environmental policy, and natural-resource protection. Tarleton\u2019s Conservation Law Enforcement Minor is designed for students interested in careers that take public safety beyond city streets and into the parks, lakes, ranchlands, forests, waterways, and rural communities of Texas.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tExplore the Minor\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to Declare the Minor\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Conservation<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\tWhy It Matters<\/a>\n\t\t    \n\t\tCareer Pathways<\/a>\n\t\t    \n\t\tMinor Curriculum<\/a>\n\t\t    \n\t\tLearn from the Field<\/a>\n\t\t    \n\t\tWhy Texas?<\/a>\n\t\t    \n\t\tDeclare the Minor<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\tWhere Law Enforcement Meets Conservation\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\tA Different Kind of Law Enforcement Career\n\t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\tConservation law enforcement brings together traditional policing responsibilities with the protection of wildlife, public lands, waterways, natural resources, and people using the outdoors.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tProfessionals in this field may enforce wildlife and boating laws, investigate criminal offenses, patrol remote areas, provide emergency response, testify in court, assist during disasters, educate the public, and protect natural and cultural resources.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tThe work requires more than an interest in the outdoors. It calls for knowledge of criminal law, wildlife regulation, conservation policy, environmental issues, public safety, ethics, communication, and the unique challenges of policing large geographic areas.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t18\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tCredit Hours\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tA focused minor combining criminal justice and environmental study.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\tWhere Could This Minor Take You?\n\t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\tThe minor is especially relevant for students interested in combining law enforcement, public service, environmental protection, and outdoor careers.\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tTexas Game Warden\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tWildlife enforcement, public safety, criminal investigations, boating enforcement, emergency response, and resource protection.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tState Park Police\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tProtect visitors, natural resources, historic sites, and public spaces throughout Texas state parks.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tFederal Conservation Enforcement\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tWildlife, environmental, public-land, investigative, regulatory, and natural-resource enforcement careers.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tParks & Natural Resources\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tCareers involving public lands, recreation management, conservation policy, investigations, and environmental compliance.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\tInterested in Becoming a Texas Game Warden?\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\tThe Texas Parks and Wildlife Department currently requires Game Warden cadet applicants to hold a bachelor\u2019s degree. Tarleton students can pair their major with this specialized minor to build an academic foundation in criminal justice, wildlife law, conservation, and environmental issues before entering the highly competitive application and academy process.\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Conservation<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t18 Credit Hours\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\tBuild a Specialized Conservation Law Enforcement Skill Set\n\t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\tThe minor combines three specialized Criminal Justice courses with nine hours of interdisciplinary electives in environmental science, policy, law, natural resources, ethics, and sociology.\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tCRIJ 4360\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tConservation Law Enforcement\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tExamine the laws governing wildlife, wildlife products, state ownership of wildlife, and state and federal regulatory approaches to conservation and public access.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tCRIJ 4361\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tTexas Wildlife Law\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tFocus specifically on Texas laws governing wildlife and the regulatory tools used by the state to conserve wildlife while balancing public use and access.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tCRIJ 4362\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tGreen Criminology\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tStudy environmental crime and harm, including wildlife offenses, pollution, toxic waste, extraction, climate-related harms, offenders, victims, and criminal justice responses.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t9\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAdditional
Credit Hours\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tCustomize Your Minor\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tBuild Your Remaining 9 Credit Hours\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tAfter completing the three core Conservation Law Enforcement courses, choose three approved elective courses<\/strong> that complement your interests and career goals. Options span environmental policy, natural resources, law, ethics, and society.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEnvironment & Natural Resources\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tENVS 1302<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tScience, Technology, and the Environment\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tENVS \/ WSES 3315<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSustainability\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWSES 3375<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPopulation, Pollution, and Resource Depletion\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLaw, Policy & Society\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tENVS 3310<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEnvironmental Policy\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tENVS 4301<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEnvironmental Law\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSOCI 3312<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEnvironmental Sociology\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tENVS 4312<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tInternational Environmental Issues\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEthics, Land & Stewardship\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWSES \/ ANSC 3323<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEthical Issues in Agriculture and the Natural Resources\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPHIL 4305<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEnvironmental Ethics\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tENVS 4302<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLand Use in the American West\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Choose any 9 credit hours from the approved elective list<\/strong>. Work with your academic advisor to select courses that best complement your major, interests, and career goals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Conservation<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\tView Official Catalog Requirements\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\tLearn from Experience\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\tFaculty Who Connect the Classroom to the Field\n\t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Headshot<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tTarleton Alumnus \u2022 Practitioner \u2022 Instructor\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tGregory Hollis\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tGregory Hollis brings direct conservation law enforcement experience into the Tarleton classroom. He earned his Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Tarleton in 2022 and began teaching at the university that same year.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tHollis has served Texas as a game warden since 2016, combining law enforcement, public service, outdoor expertise, and natural-resource protection. His background also includes a Bachelor of Science in Forestry with a concentration in Recreation Management.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Headshot<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Criminology \u2022 Environment \u2022 wildlife Research<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tDr. Leo Genco\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Leo Genco specializes in green criminology, conservation criminology, wildlife crime, and rural crime. His research examines illegal hunting and fishing, environmental harm, and the geographic factors associated with wildlife offenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He brings this research expertise into CRIJ 4362 Green Criminology, connecting conservation challenges with criminal justice and law enforcement responses. In this class, students examine crimes and harms affecting wildlife, ecosystems, and communities while exploring how criminal justice institutions respond to environmental offenses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\tWhy This Matters Here\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tTexas Needs Law Enforcement Professionals Who Understand the Land\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tConservation law enforcement has particular importance in Texas because public safety and natural-resource protection often overlap. Texas officers operate across lakes, rivers, state parks, rural counties, border regions, forests, coastal areas, hunting lands, and rapidly growing communities.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tTexas Game Wardens are fully commissioned state peace officers. Their responsibilities extend beyond hunting and fishing violations to criminal enforcement, court testimony, emergency response, natural disasters, homeland security operations, boating and water safety, and protection of natural resources.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tState Park Police likewise protect natural and cultural resources while maintaining safe environments for millions of state-park visitors. That combination of public safety, conservation, tourism, outdoor recreation, and emergency response creates a law-enforcement mission that is uniquely important to Texas.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Texas<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\tWhat You Can Gain from the Minor\n\t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\tLaw & Regulation\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tBuild knowledge of wildlife law, conservation regulation, environmental law, and enforcement authority.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tEnvironmental Awareness\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tUnderstand the environmental conditions and resource conflicts that shape enforcement decisions.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tInterdisciplinary Skills\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tConnect criminal justice with environmental science, policy, sociology, ethics, agriculture, and natural resources.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tCareer Focus\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tAdd specialized coursework to your degree that reflects a clear interest in conservation-oriented public service.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\tReady to Add the Minor?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tDeclare the Conservation Law Enforcement Minor\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tStudents interested in adding the Conservation Law Enforcement Minor should first review how the 18-hour curriculum fits into their major and graduation plan.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To declare the minor, contact Tarleton Academic Advising Center<\/strong> or the Department of Criminal Justice<\/strong>. An advisor can review your degree plan and help determine how the required and elective courses can fit into your remaining coursework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tContact Academic Advising\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Contact criminal justice department<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\tQuestions About the Minor?\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tDr. Olga Semukhina<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\tDepartment Head
\n\t\t\t\t\tDepartment of Criminal Justice

\n\t\t\t\t\tsemukhina@tarleton.edu<\/strong><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\tTurn Your Interest in the Outdoors into a Career of Service\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\tBuild a degree that connects law enforcement, conservation, wildlife protection, environmental knowledge, and the communities that depend on Texas natural resources.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Conservation<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDeclare the Minor\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tView the Catalog\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Criminal Justice \u2022 Natural Resources \u2022 Public Service Conservation Law Enforcement Minor Protect Texas. Protect its people. Protect its natural resources. Combine criminal justice with wildlife law, conservation, environmental policy, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":973,"featured_media":2842,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"functions-assets\/subsite-hero-page-template.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2836","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/author\/semukhina\/","display_name":"semukhina"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 7 days ago","modified":"Updated 3 hours ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on August 8, 2026","modified":"Updated on August 14, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on August 8, 2026 1:11 am","modified":"Updated on August 14, 2026 8:26 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","featured_img":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/191\/2026\/08\/Gemini_Generated_Image_u9p5e5u9p5e5u9p5.png","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/973"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2836"}],"version-history":[{"count":48,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2836\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3055,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2836\/revisions\/3055"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/criminal-justice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}