General Education

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Academic Programs

Department of Justice Studies

Dr. Glenn P. Hastedt, Director

Location: Moody Hall, Room 213
Phone: (540) 568-7124
E-mail: hastedgp@jmu.edu
Web site: http://www.jmu.edu/justicestudies/

[Printable Version]

Professor
G. Hastedt

Associate Professors
J. Peter Pham, P. Plass, S. Spivey

Assistant Professors
J. Buffington-Vollum, T. Castle, R. Mitchell, S. Vollum

Mission Statement
Career Opportunities
Transfer Credit
Major and Degree Requirements
Recommended Schedule for Majors
Criminal Justice Minor

Mission Statement
Justice studies is committed to offering an interdisciplinary, intellectually challenging and vocationally relevant course of study for persons interested in academic or applied careers in justice studies at the community, national or global level.

Goals
To carry out this mission, justice studies seeks to:

Career Opportunities

The justice studies major includes opportunities for field work and career-related internships as part of the curriculum.

Transfer Credit
A maximum of three courses may be transferred into the justice studies major from other institutions. No transfer credit will be given for any course offered in the major at the 300 or 400 level.

Major and Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies Degree Requirements

Required Courses
Credit Hours
General Education
41
Philosophy course (except GPHIL 120A)
3
Foreign Language courses (intermediate level required)
1-14
Major requirements
38-44
Electives
18-38
 
120

Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies Degree Requirements

Required Courses
Credit Hours
General Education courses
41
Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education)
3
Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education)
3-4
Major requirements (core courses and selected track)
38-44
Electives
28-35
 
120

Justice Studies Major Requirements

Core Courses
Credit Hours
JUST 100. Pro-seminar
1
JUST 200. Introduction to Justice Studies
3
JUST 201. Justice Research Methods
4
JUST 300. Perspectives on Comparative Justice Systems
3
JUST 400. Senior Seminars in Justice Studies
3
Communication Course
3
Choose one of the following:
     SCOM 231. Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution
     SCOM 331. Communication and Conflict
     JUST/SCOM 333. Negotiations
 
17

Students select one track.

Track A. Crime and Criminology
This track focuses on the nature, causes and solutions for crime, primarily in the USA.

All students in Track A must take JUST 210, Crime and Criminal Justice, and JUST 212, Theories of Crime and Criminal Justice.

Students select six additional courses from the following. No more than two 200-level courses may be selected in completing the track.

Other courses may be substituted with adviser's and department chair's consent.

Track B. Global Justice and Policy
This track focuses on issues of justice in global context, including international political and economic relations, international law, the global environment, human rights, and the encounter between cultures. Across the many disciplines embraced by this track, the topic of achieving justice in its plurality of manifestations serves as a unifying element.

All students in Track B must take POSC 230, International Relations and JUST 235. Justice in the Global Community.

Students select six additional courses from the following. No more than two 200-level courses may be selected in completing the track.

Other courses may be substituted with adviser's and department chair's consent.

Track C. Social Justice
This track focuses on aspects of social justice; how individuals, families, organizations, communities and societies engage in social justice. This includes legislation, course action, and federal, state, and municipal programs as well as local efforts such as restorative justice, alternative dispute resolution, victim support, abuse prevention, and community organizing.

Students in Track C must take JUST 221, Social Justice Theories, and JUST 223, Social Justice Interventions and Policies.

Students select six additional courses from the following. No more than two 200-level courses may be selected in completing the track.

Other courses may be substituted with adviser's and department chair's consent.

Recommended Schedule for Majors

First Year
Credit Hours
JUST 200. Introduction to Justice
3
MATH 220. Elementary Statistics (prerequisite for JUST 201)1
3
 
6
   
Second Year
Credit Hours
JUST 100. Pro-seminar
1
JUST 201. Research Methods
4
Communication course
3
Track requirements
6
 
14
   
Third Year
Credit Hours
JUST 300. Perspectives on Comparative Justice
3
Track requirement
3
Track electives
6
 
12
   
Fourth Year
Credit Hours
JUST 400. Senior Seminar in Justice Studies
3
Track Electives
9
 
12

1 Can be counted for General Education, Cluster 3

Criminal Justice Minor
Peggy Plass, Minor Adviser

The interdisciplinary minor in criminal justice is designed for students who are preparing for careers in law enforcement, corrections, judicial administration or other areas related to the study or management of crime, either directly upon graduation or after further graduate training. For a full description of the requirements for the minor in criminal justice, see Interdisciplinary Programs.

 

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