Department of Justice Studies
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:
- help students develop a comprehensive understanding of justice studies.
- examine and explain justice and injustice and their impact on individuals, communities, institutions and/or nations.
- understand human behavior and interactive systems with a focus on negotiation and conflict resolution in justice contexts.
- sharpen students' ability to think and reason critically, to practice sound methodological skills and to communicate effectively.
- prepare students to utilize and produce scholarship in the field of justice studies.
- Law enforcement
- Corrections
- Law
- Peace Corps
- Nonprofit groups (national and international)
- Human Services
- Domestic and International Security
- Intelligence Analysis
- Diplomatic Corps
- Research and Graduate Study
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.
Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies
Degree Requirements
Required Courses |
Credit Hours |
| General Education | 41 |
| Philosophy course (except GPHIL 120. Critical Thinking) | 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
| 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 |
|
Students must select one track:
- Track A. Crime and Criminology
- Track B. Global Justice and Policy
- Track C. Social Justice
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.
| Courses | Credits |
| JUST 210. Crime and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| JUST 212. Theories of Crime and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Select six additional courses from the following: | 18 |
| JUST 301. Special Topics in Justice Studies (when topic is appropriate) | |
| JUST 322. Understanding Violence | |
| JUST 323. Comparative Criminology | |
| JUST/SOCI 326. Victimology | |
| JUST 327. Criminal Law | |
| JUST 328. Women, Crime and Criminal Justice | |
| JUST 329. Perspectives on Law | |
| JUST 401. Internship in Justice Studies | |
| JUST 402. Advanced Research in Justice Studies | |
| PHIL 325. Crime, Punishment and Justice | |
| PHIL 367. Topics in Philosophy of Law | |
| POSC 326. Civil Rights | |
| POSC 435. Seminar in International Terrorism | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 |
| PSYC 250. Introduction to Abnormal Psychology (non-psychology majors) | |
| PSYC/JUST 255. Abnormal Psychology for Law Enforcement Personenel | |
| PSYC 335. Abnormal Psychology (for psychology majors) | |
| PSYC 312. Forensic Psychology | |
| PSYC/JUST 314. Police Psychology | |
| PSYC/JUST 316. Human Development and Crime | |
| SCOM 231. Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution | |
| SCOM 248. Intercultural Communication | |
| SOCI 214. Social Deviance | |
| JUST/SOCI/SOWK 330. Corrections | |
| SOCI 369. Law and Society | |
| Other courses may be substituted with adviser's and department chair's consent. | |
27 |
|
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.
| Courses | Credits |
| POSC 230. International Relations | 3 |
| JUST 235. Justice in the Global Community | 3 |
| Select six additional courses from the following: | 18 |
| ANTH 340. The Invention of Race | |
| ANTH 364. U.S./Latin American Borders | |
| HIST. Any 300 level history course that is centered on a world region (other than North America) and that includes coverage of the 20th century. | |
| JUST 301. Special Topics in Justice Studies (when topic is appropriate) | |
| JUST/POSC 372. Ethics and International Politics | |
| JUST 401. Internship in Justice Studies | |
| JUST 402. Advanced Research in Justice Studies | |
| PHIL 270. Introduction to Ethics | |
| PHIL 325. Crime, Punishment and Justice | |
| PHIL 335. The Individual, the State and Justice | |
| PHIL 367. Topics in Philosophy of Law | |
| POSC/JUST 392. Peace Studies | |
| POSC 395. International Law | |
| POSC 396. International Organizations | |
| POSC 435. Seminar in International Terrorism | |
| POSC. Any 300 level POSC course that is regionally focused. | |
| REL 270. Religious Ethics | |
| REL 450. Religion and Society (topics as relevant) | |
| SCOM 248. Intercultural Communication | |
| SCOM 331. Communication and Conflict | |
| SCOM 342. Argument and Advocacy | |
| SCOM 352. Communication and Social Movements | |
| SCOM 353. American Political Culture and Communication | |
| SOCI/ANTH/SOWK 348. Introduction to Developing Societies | |
| SOCI 360. Social Movements | |
| SOCI 369. Law and Society | |
| SOWK 487. Special Topics in Social Work | |
| Other courses may be substituted with adviser's and department chair's consent. | |
27 |
|
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.
| Courses | Credits |
| JUST 221. Social Justice Theories | 3 |
| JUST 223. Social Justice Interventions and Policies | 3 |
| Choose one: | 3 |
| FAM 133. The Contemporary Family | |
| SOCI 276. Sociology of Families | |
| FAM 330. Family Relations | |
| HIST 466. The Family, 1400-1800 | |
| JUST 301. Special Topics in Justice Studies (when topic is appropriate) | |
| PSYC/JUST 316. Human Development and Crime | |
| JUST 401. Internship in Justice Studies | |
| JUST 402. Advanced Research in Justice Studies | |
| PHIL 270. Introduction to Ethics | |
| PHIL 335. The Individual, the State and Justice | |
| SCOM 231. Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution | |
| SCOM 248. Intercultural Communication | |
| Choose one: | 3 |
| SCOM 331. Communication and Conflict | |
| SOWK 487. Special Topics in Social Work | |
| SCOM 342. Argument and Advocacy | |
| SCOM 352. Communication and Social Movements | |
| SCOM 431. Legal Communication | |
| SOCI 214. Social Deviance | |
| SOCI 265. Sociology of the Community | |
| SOCI 360. Social Movements | |
| SOWK 338. Issues and Policies in Family Services | |
| SOWK 340. Violence in Families | |
| SOWK 342. Child Welfare Services | |
| SOWK 387. Working with Teenagers | |
| Other courses may be substituted with adviser's and department chair's consent. | |
12 |
|
Recommended Schedule for Majors
| First Year | Credit Hours |
| JUST 200. Introduction to Justice Studies | 3 |
| MATH 220. Elementary Statistics (prerequisite for JUST 201) 1 | 3 |
| Track core course | 3 |
9 |
|
1 Can be counted for General Education, Cluster 3.
| Second Year | Credit Hours |
| Track core course | 3 |
| Communication course | 3 |
| Track electives | 6 |
12 |
|
| Third Year | Credit Hours |
| JUST 100. Justice Studies Proseminar | 1 |
| JUST 201. Research Methods | 4 |
| JUST 300. Perspectives on Comparative Justice | 3 |
| Track electives | 6 |
14 |
|
| Fourth Year | Credit Hours |
| JUST 400. Senior Seminar in Justice Studies | 3 |
| Track electives | 3 |
6 |
|
Minor Adviser: Peggy Plass
Phone: (540) 568-7151
Location: Moody 118
The cross disciplinary 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. Refer to criminal justice for a full description of the requirements for this cross disciplinary minor.
