Nov 23, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Justice Studies Major, BA


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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, the criminal justice system and related social justice issues with a global focus. The purpose of the Justice Studies program is to educate students to be critical thinkers who can communicate their thoughts effectively in oral and written form. Our program will familiarize students with facts and concepts and teach them to apply this knowledge to related problems and changing situations. 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.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, the student will:

  • Help students develop a comprehensive understanding of Justice Studies and the criminal justice system.
  • Examine and explain justice and injustice and their impact on individuals, communities, institutions and/or nations.
  • Demonstrate writing, quantitative, and communication skills within the discipline.
  • Sharpen students’ ability to think and reason critically, to practice sound methodological skills and to communicate effectively.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze and critique professional literature.
  • Know and be able to apply theoretical and methodological approaches to criminal justice ideas and social justice issues.

Major Curriculum

For a robust and strategic liberal learning outlook, intellectual design, and instructional delivery posture that is consistent with current pedagogies in the Justice Studies discipline, focus and meaning are strengthened further by dividing the curriculum into three primary theoretical and philosophical segments: foundation, breadth, and depth.

The Foundation courses prescribe those courses that all students in the major must take so that they can begin to understand better and establish mastery in the discipline.

The Breadth courses are those that provide for focus on the discipline and its related fields; create avenues for interdisciplinary collaboration; and more content enhanced than the foundation courses.

Depth courses are more sequentially graduated in content and in levels of analysis, and typically provide more complex and critical levels of thought with the need for sophisticated evaluative judgments.

Foundation (18 Semester Hours required)

These are courses that all students regardless of specialization must master in order to understand the discipline.

JUS 2301 - Introduction to Justice Studies   (3SH)

JUS 2302 - Research Methods in Justice Studies I  (3SH)

JUS 2310 - Theories of Justice Studies  (3 SH)   

Language at the Elementary Level (6AH)

(Options include: Kiswahili, Spanish, Portuguese, French, American Sign Language)     

JUS 4391 - Internship in Justice Studies         

Breadth (9 Semester Hours required; pick 3, 1 must be (JUS 4302 - Writing & Research in Justice Studies II  )

These are courses that demonstrate the breadth of the discipline. 

JUS 3310 - Police & Community    

JUS 3335 - Justice Administration   

JUS 3337 - Court Procedure & Evidence     

JUS 4302 - Writing & Research in Justice Studies II  (3SH)

JUS 4342 - GIS Concepts and Techniques  

JUS 4344 - Prison and Punishment in U.S. Society    

Depth (9 Semester Hours, required to pick three, 1 must be (IDS 2301 - Introduction to Urban Studies and Sustainability  /GEO 2301 - Introduction to Urban Studies and Sustainability )

The Justice Studies program provides students the opportunity to take one area of the discipline and to go more in depth by taking additional courses.  Based on the expertise of the faculty the program offers three areas of depth or concentration.  Each student will select one area from among Forensic Science & Criminology; Global Justice & Law and; Social Justice & Policy. The academic advisor will help students determine which area best fits with their goals.

JUS 4391 - Internship in Justice Studies   

Major Requirements

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)

Students are required to complete 120 internship hours to qualify for graduation.

The student who majors in Justice Studies should have 6 hours of foreign language which can include sign language. The student is strongly encouraged to seek proficiency in conversational Spanish.

The student, whether specializing 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 - Research Methods in Justice Studies I                             

JUS 4302 - Writing & Research 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

Course Notes

*Students must take JUS 2302 - Research Methods in Justice Studies I  before they can take JUS 4302 - Writing & Research in Justice Studies II    

Areas of Specialization

Forensic Science and Criminology

(6 courses; 4 of which must be in JUS and at the 3000 and 4000 level): All Students in this area of specialization must take: SOC 3353 - Criminology   /JUS 3353 - Criminology     

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 3310 - Police & Community         

JUS 3318 - Forensic Psychology         

JUS 3339 - Criminal Investigation              

JUS 3361 - Juvenile Justice          

JUS 3365 - Medical and Legal Investigations of Death                                                                 

JUS 4344 - Prison and Punishment in U.S. Society                                                                                                                 

JUS 4342 - GIS Concepts and Techniques                                                    

BIO 1305 - Human Heredity, Genetics and Society            

BIO 3315 - Fundamentals of Neuroscience Lecture       

BIO 3366 - Genetics          

CSC 3325 - Introduction to Information Security          

GEO 2315 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems        

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 Psychology         

PSY 3307 - Social Psychology         

PSY 3319 - Psychology and Law           

PSY 3329 - Personality          

Global Justice and Law  

(6 courses; 4 of which must be in JUS and at the 3000 and 4000 level) All Students in this area of specialization must take: JUS 2310 - Theories of Justice Studies  

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 2310 - Theories of Justice Studies        

JUS 3336 - The Judicial Process       

JUS 3335 - Justice Administration       

JUS 3344 - The Political Economy of Justice       

JUS 3355 - Criminal Law        

JUS 3342 - Comparative Justice Studies      

JUS 3345 - Strategic Approaches to Community Safety       

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 4301 - Latin American Political Thought        

AAS 4302 - Race and Economics in the USA       

AAS 3303 - Conflict and Conflict Resolution in Africa        

JUS 4320 - Roman Justice   /HIS 4320 - Roman Justice     

JUS 4328 - Victorian Justice   /HIS 4328 - Victorian Justice     

HIS 3309 - Black Revolutionary Movements          

GER 3304 - Public Policy, Aging and Society          

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 4317 - Urban Communities           

SOC 4364 - Race and Culture        

Social Justice and Public Policy

(6 courses; 4 of which must be in JUS and at the 3000 and 4000 level): All Students in this area of specialization must take: JUS 2310 - Theories of Justice Studies ; JUS 4330 - Social Justice   

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 Studies        

JUS 3344 - The Political Economy of Justice       

JUS 3345 - Strategic Approaches to Community Safety        

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, Aging and Society       

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 3344 - Sex, Gender & Feminist Thought      

SOC 4364 - Race and Culture       

Course Notes

*Students must take JUS 2302 - Research Methods in Justice Studies I  before they can take JUS 4302 - Writing & Research in Justice Studies II    

Spatial Justice and Sustainability

AAS 4302 - Race and Economics in the USA  

CSC 1315 - Introduction to Data Science  

GEO 2313 - Environmental Justice and Sustainability  

GEO 3311 - Urban Geography  

GEO 4345 - Applied Urban Studies Lab  

HIS 3361 - Urban History  

IDS 2301 - Introduction to Urban Studies and Sustainability  

JUS 2305 - Freedom Dreams: U. S. Social Movements from Theory to Action   /HIS 2305 - Freedom Dreams: U.S. Social Movements  

HIS 2325 - Historical Foundations of a Just Society  /JUS 2325 - Historical Foundations of a Just Society  

JUS 3382 - Class, Race, Gender & Justice  

POS 3326 - Public Policy  

POS 3331 - Civil Rights  

POS 3371 - Urban Politics  

SOC 2336 - Social Problems  

SOC 4317 - Urban Communities  

SOC 4333 - Social Stratification   

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