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.
- Peace Corps
- Non-Government Organizations
- Law enforcement
- Corrections
- Law
- 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
| Required Courses | Credit Hours |
| General Education | 41 |
| Philosophy course (except GPHIL 120) | 3 |
| Foreign language courses (intermediate level required) | 1-14 |
| Major requirements (core courses and selected tracks) | 41 |
| Electives | 18-38 |
| 120 | |
Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies
| 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) | 41 |
| Electives | 28-35 |
| 120 | |
Justice Studies Major Requirements
| Core Courses | Credit Hours |
| JUST 100. Proseminar | 1 |
| JUST 200. Introduction to Justice Studies | 3 |
| JUST 300. Perspectives on Comparative Justice Systems | 3 |
| JUST 399. Justice Research Methods | 4 |
| JUST 400. Senior Seminar in Justice Studies | 3 |
| Choose one of the following (which is not required for your track): | 3 |
| JUST 210. Introduction to Crime and Criminal Justice | |
| JUST 212. Theories of Crime and Criminal Justice | |
| JUST 221. Social Justice Theories | |
| JUST 223. Social Justice Interventions and Policies | |
| JUST 235. Justice in the Global Community | |
| 17 | |
Students must select one track:
Track A. Crime and Criminology
This track focuses on the nature, causes and solutions for crime, primarily but not exclusively in the United States.
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. At least four of the six electives must have a JUST identifier.
| Courses | Credit Hours |
| Select six additional courses from the following: | 18 |
| JUST 301. Special Topics in Justice Studies (when topic is appropriate) 1 | |
| JUST/PSYC 314. Police Psychology | |
| JUST 315. Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System | |
| JUST/PSYC 316. Developmental Psychology and Crime | |
| JUST 317. Victimization of Children | |
| JUST 318. Sex Offenders | |
| JUST 319. Psychopathology and Crime | |
| JUST 320. Organized Crime | |
| JUST 322. Understanding Violence | |
| JUST 323. Comparative Criminology | |
| JUST 324. Death Penalty | |
| JUST/SOCI 326. Victimology | |
| JUST 327. Criminal Law | |
| JUST 329. Perspectives on Law | |
| JUST/SOCI/SOWK 330. Corrections | |
| JUST 333. Negotiations | |
| JUST 334. Media and Justice | |
| JUST 344. Marginalized Populations | |
| JUST 345. Restorative Justice | |
| JUST 347. Drugs, Politics and Society | |
| JUST 357. Environmental Justice | |
| JUST 401. Internship in Justice Studies 1 | |
| JUST 402. Advanced Research in Justice Studies 1 | |
| JUST 403. Nelson Institute Seminar 1 | |
| JUST 404. Community Based Research 1 | |
| PHIL 325. Crime, Punishment and Justice | |
| POSC 326. Civil Rights | |
| POSC 435. Seminar in International Terrorism | |
| PSYC 312. Forensic Psychology 2 | |
| 18 | |
Note: Other courses may be substituted with adviser's and department chair's consent.
1 These courses may be taken for elective credit in Track A when the topic is appropriate. Students should seek approval from their advisers or the academic unit head.
2 Course is only open to students who are double majoring in Psychology.
Track B. Global Justice and Policy
This track explores issues of justice in global context. Most prominent among them are questions of security, equity and equality. 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, and human rights.
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. At least four of the six elective courses must have a JUST identifier.
| Courses | Credit Hours |
| Select six additional courses from the following: | 18 |
| ANTH Any 300-level anthropology course that is centered on a world region (other than North America) 1 | |
| 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 1 | |
| JUST 301. Special Topics in Justice Studies 2 | |
| JUST 320. Organized Crime | |
| JUST 322. Understanding Violence | |
| JUST 324. Death Penalty | |
| JUST/POSC 331. Human Rights | |
| JUST 333. Negotiations | |
| JUST 334. Media and Justice 2 | |
| JUST 341. Gender and Justice | |
| JUST 345. Restorative Justice | |
| JUST 346. Intervention, Reconciliation and Justice in World Affairs | |
| JUST 350. Globalization and Justice | |
| JUST 353. Justice and Development | |
| JUST 357. Environmental Justice | |
| JUST/POSC 372. Ethics and International Politics | |
| JUST/POSC 373. Rebuilding Post Conflict Societies | |
| JUST 375. Genocide in the 20th Century | |
| JUST 377. Global Futures | |
| JUST/POSC 392. Peace Studies | |
| JUST 401. Internship in Justice Studies 2 | |
| JUST 402. Advanced Research in Justice Studies 2 | |
| JUST 403. Nelson Institute Seminar 2 | |
| JUST 404. Community Based Research 2 | |
| PHIL 335. The Individual, the State and Justice | |
| POSC 395. International Law | |
| POSC 396. International Organizations | |
| POSC 435. Seminar in International Terrorism | |
| POSC Any 300-level political science course that is regionally focused 1 | |
| REL Any 300-level religion course with a contemporary and international focus | |
| SCOM 332. Mediation | |
| SCOM 342. Argument and Advocacy | |
| SOCI/ANTH/SOWK 348. Introduction to Developing Societies | |
| SOCI 360. Social Movements | |
| SOCI 342. Muslim Movements in the Middle East | |
| 18 | |
Note: Other courses may be substituted with adviser's and department chair's consent.
1 Only one course from this option may be counted towards the major.
2 These courses may be taken for elective credit in Track B when the topic is appropriate. Students should seek approval from their advisors or the department head.
Track C. Social Justice
This track 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.
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. At least four of the six electives must have a JUST identifier.
| Courses | Credit Hours |
| Choose from the following: | 18 |
| ANTH 340. The Invention of Race | |
| ANTH 382. Cultures of Appalachia | |
| HIST/SOCI 338. US Urban Social History | |
| JUST 301. Special Topics in Justice Studies 1 | |
| JUST 315. Mental Illness and Criminal Justice | |
| JUST 322. Understanding Violence | |
| JUST 324. Death Penalty | |
| JUST 334. Media and Justice 1 | |
| JUST 341. Gender and Justice | |
| JUST 343. Interpersonal Dynamics and Justice | |
| JUST 344. Marginalized Populations | |
| JUST 357. Environmental Justice | |
| JUST/POSC 392. Peace Studies | |
| JUST 401. Internship in Justice Studies 1 | |
| JUST 402. Advanced Research in Justice Studies 1 | |
| JUST 403. Nelson Institute Seminar 1 | |
| JUST 404. Community Based Research 1 | |
| POSC 326. Civil Rights | |
| POSC 348. Politics of Cultural Pluralism | |
| POSC 383. Women and Politics | |
| PSYC 310. Psychology of Women and Gender 2 | |
| PSYC 320. Diversity Issues in Psychology | |
| REL 317. Exploring Gandhian Philosophy of Nonviolence | |
| REL/SOCI 322. Sociology of Religion | |
| REL 450. Religion and Society | |
| SOCI 336. Race and Ethnicity | |
| SOCI 354. Social and Cultural Stratification | |
| SOCI 367. Sociology of Sexuality | |
| 18 | |
Note: Other courses may be substituted with adviser's and department chair's consent.
1 These courses may be taken for elective credit in Track C when the topic is appropriate. Students should seek approval from their advisers or the department head.
2 Course is only open to students who are double majoring in Psychology.
Recommended Schedule for Majors
| First Year | Credit Hours |
| JUST 200. Introduction to Justice Studies | 3 |
| MATH 220. Elementary Statistics (prerequisite for JUST 399) 1 | 3 |
| Track core course | 3 |
| 9 | |
1 Can be counted for General Education, Cluster 3.
| Second Year | Credit Hours |
| Track foundation course | 3 |
| Outside track foundation course | 3 |
| Track electives | 6 |
| 12 | |
| Third Year | Credit Hours |
| JUST 100. Justice Studies Proseminar | 1 |
| JUST 300. Perspectives on Comparative Justice | 3 |
| JUST 399. Research Methods | 4 |
| Track electives | 9 |
| 17 | |
| 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.
