Students in the Justice Studies major may choose to earn a B.S. or B.A. degree. For a list of degree requirements, please see the Registrar's website.
For major requirements, please consult the current JMU Catalog:
Students should refer to the catalog that aligns with their catalog requirement year. View previous catalogs.
Concentrations
All Justice Studies majors take a core set of requirements, and select one of four options that allow them to specialize in one of three concentrations, or the General Justice Studies major.
The concentration in Criminal Justice and Criminology focuses on the nature, causes and solutions for crime, primarily but not exclusively in the United States. It explores questions of justice in the context of what has been labeled as criminal behavior. While understanding the nature of various forms of criminal endeavor is significant in this concentration there is also a strong focus on understanding the political, social, and cultural roots of the problem, and the theoretical traditions in the social sciences and beyond which have sought to explain this type of behavior. In addition, there is an emphasis on thoughtful examination of the responses to crime, with a concentration on effective policy initiatives and social change.
Remember that all students take a common core of Justice Studies courses which take broad, varied, and holistic approaches to the question "what is justice?" This concentration is deeply engaged and intertwined with other approaches to and understandings of justice.
Current JMU catalog:
- Justice Studies, B.A. - Concentration in Criminal Justice and Criminology
- Justice Studies, B.S. - Concentration in Criminal Justice and Criminology
Refer to the current JMU catalog for the catalog course descriptions. Please note that not all JUST courses are offered every semester. For requirements, students should refer to the catalog that aligns with their catalog requirement year. View previous catalogs.
The concentration in Global Justice and Policy explores issues of justice in global context, including questions of equity and equality. Courses in this concentration address the individual, group and state dimensions of these and related issues in a diverse set of policy areas including democratization, cultural identity, global social movements, development, environmental justice, conflict resolution and human rights.
Current JMU catalog:
- Justice Studies, B.A. - Concentration in Global Justice and Policy
- Justice Studies, B.S. - Concentration in Global Justice and Policy
Refer to the current JMU catalog for the catalog course descriptions. Please note that not all JUST courses are offered every semester. For requirements, students should refer to the catalog that aligns with their catalog requirement year. View previous catalogs.
The concentration in Social Justice Engagement 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.
Current JMU catalog:
- Justice Studies, B.A. - Concentration in Social Justice Engagement
- Justice Studies, B.S. - Concentration in Social Justice Engagement
Please refer to the current JMU catalog for the catalog course descriptions. Please note that not all JUST courses are offered every semester. For requirements, students should refer to the catalog that aligns with their catalog requirement year. View previous catalogs.
Current JMU catalog:
Please refer to the current JMU catalog for the catalog course descriptions. Please note that not all JUST courses are offered every semester. For requirements, students should refer to the catalog that aligns with their catalog requirement year. View previous catalogs.
All students complete a CORE set of Justice Studies requirements, which offer students opportunities to explore justice in broad, holistic, and varied ways.
Please note it takes at least 5 semesters to complete major requirements, due to the prerequisite structure.
JUST 200 is the prerequisite for all other JUST courses. Students must then complete at least one of the three required 200-level foundation courses. Then students may begin taking 300-level courses.
JUST 399 is the prerequisite for JUST 400 (and MATH 220 is the prerequisite for JUST 399). Students should pay careful attention to the prerequisite structure to make timely progress toward graduation.
