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Sep 19, 2024
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2024-2025 Undergraduate 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 Courses (18 Semester Hours required)
These are courses that all students regardless of specialization must master in order to understand the discipline.
Depth Courses
(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.
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)
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.
Global Justice and Law Depth
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.
Elective Global Justice and Law Depth Courses
(Choose three courses)
Social Justice and Public Policy
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.
Required Social Justice and Public Policy Depth Courses
Elective Social Justice and Public Policy Depth Courses
(Choose two courses)
Spatial Justice and Sustainability
The concentration in Spatial Justice & Sustainability (SJ&S) is focused on exploring ‘justice’ as it relates to place. This spatial approach to justice seeks to provide students with an in-depth analysis of spatial injustices across urban spaces using innovative methodological and technological approaches to addressing spatial inequalities. Students electing to pursue a concentration in SJ&S will also be exposed to a wide variety of efforts to rectify spatial injustices and create more sustainable communities. Employment opportunities for students abound in an assortment of fields that are currently underrepresented including: urban planning/studies, environmental planning, urban data sciences and geo-spatial sciences.
Required Spatial Justice and Sustainability Depth Courses
Elective Spatial Justice and Sustainability Depth Courses
(Choose two courses)
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