Oct 04, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Justice Studies, B.S.


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Program Description


The Bachelor of Science degree in justice studies provides an expansive and holistic education in the broad, interdisciplinary field of justice studies, including and beyond the subfields represented in the concentration areas (criminal justice and criminology, global justice and policy, and social justice engagement). The major offers a rigorous and vocationally-relevant course of study for persons interested in academic or applied careers at the community, national or global level.

Students can complete the B.S. degree in justice studies with or without a concentration area (refer to requirements for each option below).

Transfer Credit


A maximum of two 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.

Degree and Major Requirements


Degree Requirements
Credit Hours
General Education  courses​​​​​​​1, 2
41
Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education ​​​​​​​2
3
Scientific literacy requirement (in addition to General Education )
3-4
Major requirements (core courses and major or concentration electives)
41
University electives

Total
31-32

120

Footnotes


The General Education  program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some credits may be fulfilled by courses required within the major.
MATH 220  (prerequisite for JUST 399 ) may count as either General Education  or Quantitative requirement.

Footnote


MATH 220  is a prerequisite for JUST 399 .

Fairness and Responsibility Component Requirement: 3 Credit Hours


Take one of the following courses.  Any course not used to fulfill this requirement may be used as elective credit.

Foundation Course Requirements for General Justice Studies Majors: 9 Credit Hours


The following requirements are only for majors without a concentration.

Choose one of the following foundation courses: 3 Credit Hours


Choose one of the following foundation courses: 3 Credit Hours


Choose one of the following foundation courses: 3 Credit Hours


Electives for General Justice Studies Majors: 18 Credit Hours


Students select six additional courses from the following list.  At least four of the six electives must have a JUST identifier.

Students may select only one of the following courses for elective credit: JUST 401 JUST 402 JUST 403 JUST 404  or JUST 405 . Students should seek approval from their advisor or the department head.

Total: 41 Credit Hours


Justice Studies Concentrations


Concentration A: Criminal Justice and Criminology


This concentration focuses on the nature, causes and solutions for crime, primarily, but not exclusively, in the United States.

Foundation Course Requirements for Majors in Concentration A: 9 Credit Hours


All students in Concentration A must take both required foundation courses (JUST 210  and JUST 212 ) and select an additional foundation course elective from the list below.

Concentration A: Required Foundation Courses: 6 Credit Hours


Choose one of the following Concentration A Foundation Course Electives: 3 Credit Hours


Concentration A Electives: 18 Credit Hours


Students in Concentration A select six additional courses from the following list. At least four of the six electives must have a JUST identifier. Note: Other courses may be substituted with your advisor’s and the department head’s consent.

Students may select only one of the following courses for elective credit: JUST 401 , JUST 402 , JUST 403 , JUST 404  or JUST 405 . Students should seek approval from their advisor or the department head.

Concentration A Total Requirements: 27 Credit Hours


Concentration B: Global Justice and Policy


This concentration explores issues of justice in global context. Most prominent among them are questions of security, equity and equality. Courses 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.

Foundation Course Requirements for Majors in Concentration B: 9 Credit Hours


Students in Concentration B must take both required foundation courses (JUST 235  and JUST 237 ) and select an additional foundation course elective from the list below.

Concentration B: Required Foundation Courses: 6 Credit Hours


Choose one of the following Concentration B Foundation Course Electives: 3 Credit Hours


Concentration B Electives: 18 Credit Hours


Students in Concentration B select six additional elective courses from the following list. At least four must have a JUST identifier.

Students may select only one of the following courses for elective credit: JUST 401 , JUST 402 , JUST 403 , JUST 404  or JUST 405 . Students should seek approval from their advisor or the department head. 

Note: Other courses may be substituted with your advisor’s and the department head’s consent.

Concentration B Total Requirements: 27 Credit Hours


Concentration C: Social Justice Engagement


This concentration 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.

Concentration C: Required Foundation Courses: 6 Credit Hours


Foundation Course Requirements for Majors in Concentration C: 9 Credit Hours


Students in Concentration C must take both required foundation courses (JUST 221  and JUST 223 ) and select an additional foundation course elective from the list below.

Choose one of the following Concentration C Foundation Course Electives: 3 Credit Hours


Concentration C Electives: 18 Credit Hours


Students in Concentration C select six additional elective courses from the following list. At least four must have a JUST identifier.

Students may select only one of the following courses for elective credit: JUST 401 , JUST 402 , JUST 403 , JUST 404  or JUST 405 . Students should seek approval from their advisor or the department head. 

Note: Other courses may be substituted with your advisor’s and the department head’s consent.

Concentration C Total Requirements: 27 Credit Hours


Footnotes


May be taken for elective credit in Concentration A, Concentration B and Concentration C when the topic is appropriate. Students may select only one of the following for elective credit: JUST 401 , JUST 402 , JUST 403 , JUST 404  or JUST 405 . Students should seek approval from their advisor or the department head.
Course is only open to students who are double majoring in Psychology .
3 Only one course from this option may be counted toward the major; approval for course selection from Justice Studies and the academic unit offering the course is also required.

Major Requirements Total: 41 Credit Hours


Recommended Schedule for Majors


First Year


First Year Total: 9 Credit Hours


Second Year


  • Foundation courses Credits: 6.00
  • Justice Studies electives Credits: 6.00

Second Year Total: 12 Credit Hours


Third Year


Third Year Total: 17 Credit Hours


Fourth Year


Fourth Year Total: 6 Credit Hours


Footnote


1 Can be counted for General Education , The Natural World .

Program Total: 120 Credit Hours


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