Department of Justice Studies

Peggy S. Plass, Department Head
Phone: (540) 568-7124
Email: plassms@jmu.edu
Location: Darcus Johnson Hall 2013
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/justicestudies

Professors
T. Castle, P. Plass, C. Robinson, S. Spivey

Associate Professors
D. Beers, G. DeFazio, B. Meade, T. Parsons, M. Poteyeva, H. Scheuerman, C. Watkins

Assistant Professors
T. Benjamin, G. Perez

Lecturer
D. Breneman

Mission 

Justice studies is committed to offering a cross-disciplinary, 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.

Career Opportunities

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

• 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

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.

Programs

• Justice Studies, B.A.
• Justice Studies, B.S.
• Justice Studies, Criminal Justice and Criminology Track, B.A.
• Justice Studies, Criminal Justice and Criminology Track, B.S.
• Justice Studies, Global Justice and Policy Track, B.A.
• Justice Studies, Global Justice and Policy Track, B.S.
• Justice Studies, Social Justice Engagement Track, B.A.
• Justice Studies, Social Justice Engagement Track, B.S.