Justice Studies Major, BA

Program Description

The Justice Studies program is an interdisciplinary program designed to give students a broad understanding of the justice system and issues related to the administration of justice. As a multi-disciplinary program, it will encompass those disciplines in the humanities and social sciences that are relevant to an understanding of justice. Courses from political science, sociology, law, philosophy, history, and other disciplines that contribute to a greater understanding of justice and of issues related to crime, corrections and the administration of justice, will be an integral part of the program. The program will prepare students for professional positions in the justice system or in justice-related agencies, as well as to seek graduate and professional degrees in law, public policy or other fields relevant to the administration of justice.

 

 

Justice Studies: Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, the student will:

∙ demonstrate writing, quantitative, and communication skills within the discipline.

∙ demonstrate the ability to analyze and critique professional literature.

∙ know and be able to apply theoretical and methodological approaches to justice studies ideas.

∙ demonstrate the ability to write competent papers, review the literature, and analyze primary sources.

 

Major Requirements

A student with a major in Justice Studies must complete a minimum of 42 hours of upper (3000/4000) division courses. A grade of “C” or higher is required in each justice studies course. Students are required to complete 120 internship hours to qualify for graduation.

In support of the major area, the student is required to complete at least six (6) semester hours of philosophy and six (6) semester hours of a foreign language (or its equivalent).

The student who majors in Justice Studies is strongly encouraged to seek proficiency in conversational Spanish. Students should also take three (3) semester hours of course work in each of the following areas: geography, political science, sociology, and statistics.

Co-Requisite Courses (12 semester hours)

Geography (3 hours)

Political Science (3 hours)

Sociology (3 hours)

Statistics (3 hours)

 

JUSTICE STUDIES REVISED CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies at Winston-Salem State University

July 1, 2014

 

The student completes 60 hours of General Education courses, and 36 hours of Justice Studies courses in any one of the three Areas of Specialization. The remaining hours (24 hours) should come from electives or courses taken toward a minor degree in another program. ( A Minor is not required for the JUS degree.)

 

The student, whether in Forensic Science and Criminology or in Global Justice and Law or in Social Justice and Public Policy, must take the 6 core courses:

 

BA in Justice Studies – 36 hours

 

Core Courses (6 courses)

 

JUS 2301        Introduction to Justice Studies                                            

JUS 2302        Writing & Research in Justice Studies I                       

JUS 4302        Research Methods in Justice Studies II

JUS 4391        Internship in Justice Studies

XXX-XXXX            Language Requirement at the elementary level – Kiswahili, Spanish, Portuguese, French, American Sign Language – 6 hours

 

Areas of Specialization

Forensic Science and Criminology (6 courses; 4 of which must be in JUS and at the 3000 and 4000 level)

This area focuses on the nature, causes and solutions for crime, primarily but not exclusively in the United States.  This track focuses on the functions, policies and procedure of forensic science.  Courses in this track also addresses the scientific method of gathering and examining information as it relates to law enforcement where forensics is done in relation to criminal or civil law.

 

JUS 2320        Introduction to Forensic Science

JUS 2310        Theories of Justice Studies

JUS 2318 -     Introduction to Forensic Psychology

JUS 3339 -      Criminal Investigation

JUS 3310       Police & Community                                                      

JUS 3337        Court Procedure & Evidence                                          JUS 3361        Juvenile Justice                                                              JUS 4344        Corrections                                                                                                             JUS 4342        Technological Analysis                                                  BIO 1305        Scientific Ethics BIO 3315        Introduction to Neuroscience BIO 3366        Genetics CSC 3325        Introduction to Information Security GEO 2315       Introduction to GIS SOC 3347       Deviant Behavior SOC 3353       Criminology SOC 3354       Sociology of Mental Illness SOC 4321       Group Dynamics PHI 2303        Introduction to Logic          PHI 3302        Philosophy of Science PSY 3306        Abnormal Behavior PSY 3307        Social Psychology PSY 3319        Psychology of Law PSY 3329        Personality
Global Justice and Law  (6 courses; 4 of which must be in JUS and at the 3000 and 4000 level)
This area explores issues of justice in global context. Most prominent among them are questions of security, equity and equality. It further guides students in engaging in intellectual thoughts and discussions in investigating social justice, inequality and violence among various groups globally.  Courses in this track address the individual, group and state dimensions of these and related issues in a diverse set of policy areas including democratization, cultural identity, developmental, environmental protection, conflict resolution, human rights and the impact of the legal system.   JUS 3336     The Judicial Process JUS 3335     Justice Administration JUS 3344     The Political Economy of Justice JUS 3355     Criminal Law JUS 3342     Comparative Justice Systems JUS 3345     Strategic Approaches to Community Justice JUS 3346       Sociology of Law JUS 3382     Class, Race, Gender & Justice JUS 4322     Contemporary Issues in Justice Studies JUS 4330      Social Justice JUS 4369      Constitutional Law   AAS 4302   Race and Economics in the USA AAS 4301    Latin American Political Thought   AAS 4303     Conflict & Conflict Resolution in Africa HIS xxx        Roman Justice HIS xxx       Victorian Justice HIS xxx       Revolution in the Black Atlantic GER 3304    Public Policy of Aging  PHI 2302    Contemporary Moral Problems POS 3326    Public Policy POS 3341     International Relations POS 3371     Urban Politics POS 4356     Black Political Thought POS 4378     Western Political Thought SOC 3343     Cultural Diversity SOC 3344     Sex, Gender & Feminist Thought SOC 4317     Urban Communities SOC 4364     Race & Culture   Social Justice and Public Policy  (6 courses; 4 of which must be in JUS and at the 3000 and 4000 level)

This area is designed to investigate what is fair, equitable and just for society. Emphasizing the oppression and liberation of vulnerable, exploited and marginalized populations, this curriculum promotes sustainable and just solutions to social, political and economic problems.  Courses afford an opportunity to both consider such issues and ideas in addition to offering various resolutions of particular issues.

JUS 2310     Theories of Justice Studies

JUS 3335     Justice Administration

JUS 3342     Comparative Justice Systems

JUS 3344     The Political Economy of Justice

JUS 3345     Strategic Approaches to Community Justice

JUS 3346     Sociology of Law

JUS 3350      Victims and Justice

JUS 3382     Class, Race, Gender & Justice

JUS 4330     Social Justice

JUS 4322     Contemporary Issues in Justice Studies

JUS 4369     Constitutional Law

AAS 4302   Race and Economics in the USA

AAS 4301   Latin American Political Thought

GER 3304   Public Policy of Aging

PHI 2302   Contemporary Moral Problems

POS 3310    Legal, Political and Economic Aspects of Aging

POS 3326    Public Policy

POS 3331    Civil Rights

POS 3371    Urban Politics

SOC 3343    Cultural Diversity

SOC 4364    Race & Culture

 

Course Notes

*Students must take JUS 2302 before they can take JUS 4302

 

Minor Requirements

A minimum of 18 semester hours with a grade of “C” or higher in each course is required for a minor in Justice Studies. To satisfy the requirements for a minor, students must take JUS 2301 (Introduction to Justice Studies), which is a prerequisite to all other Justice Studies courses, as well as JUS 2302 (Research Methods in Justice Studies I). Students may choose any combination of other Justice Studies courses to fulfill the remaining 12-semester-hour requirement.

 

 

Courses Listings in Numerical Order

JUS 2301/Introduction to Justice Studies

JUS 2302/Research Methods in Justice Studies I

JUS 2310/Theories of Justice Studies*

JUS 2320/Introduction to Forensic Science*

JUS 3310/Police & Community

JUS 3335/Justice Administration

JUS 3336 /The Judicial Process*

JUS 3337/Court Procedure & Evidence

JUS 3342/Comparative Justice Systems Or JUS 4322/Contemporary Issues in Justice Studies

JUS 3344/The Political Economy of Justice Or JUS 3382/Class, Race, Gender & Justice

JUS 3345/Strategic Approaches to Community Justice

JUS 3346 /Sociology of Law*

JUS 334 7/Drugs, Crime, and Justice*

JUS 3350/Victims and Justice *

JUS 3355/Criminal Law

JUS 3361/Juvenile Justice

JUS 4302/Research Methods in Justice Studies II

JUS 4330/Social Justice*

JUS 4342/Technological Analysis

JUS 4344/Corrections

JUS 4369/Constitutional Law*

JUS 4391/Internship in Justice Studies

*Indicates JUS electives. JUS electives are not required but can be used as a part of the paradigm. The student who is enrolled in a JUS elective must successful pass the course with a “C” or higher.