MISSION STATEMENT
Students pursuing the B.S. in Justice Studies will find an interdisciplinary classroom experience emphasizing ideas from the social sciences, philosophy, and legal studies. The degree is designed for students interested in studying issues of justice and those desiring justice related careers, including law. Students will develop an understanding of the meaning of justice and injustice, both descriptive and normative, and analyze often controversial issues through critical inquiry and social science investigation. The faculty primarily focuses on theories of justice and injustice. Students accordingly learn about conflict and its negotiation, crime and violence, adolescents and delinquency, punishment and alternatives to punishment, and differential institutional and socioeconomic treatment of populations based on gender, race, class, and ethnic identities, including American Indian peoples.
The heart of any university program is its faculty. The School of Justice Studies boasts a faculty with strong scholarly credentials. Faculty members include national and local award recipients in research, teaching, and public service. The faculty is committed to challenging students to develop their own understandings of justice, to analyze critically, and to propose possible solutions to a wide variety of contemporary issues concerning social justice.
While completing the Justice Studies curriculum, students will encounter opportunities to develop transferable skills, including critical thinking, oral and written discourse, computer literacy, and problem solving. Faculty encourage students to practice justice through various experiential approaches, including volunteer work, service learning, and internships. Students actively engage in their education via discussion, cooperative learning, field trips, and case-based classroom formats.
ADMISSION
The B.S. degree in Justice Studies is an upper-division program. Upon admission to the university, Justice Studies students are classified as premajors. Justice Studies students must earn major status before taking 400-level JUS resident credit courses required for graduation.
Justice Studies students may achieve major status by:
| ENG 101, 102 | First-Year Composition (6) |
| or ENG 105 Advanced First-Year Composition (3) | |
| JUS 105 | Introduction to Justice Studies (3) |
| or JUS 305 Principles of Justice Studies (3) | |
| JUS 301 | Research in Justice Studies (3) |
| JUS 302 | Basic Statistical Analysis in Justice Studies N2 (3) |
| JUS 303 | Justice Theory (3) |
| College of Public Programs writing competence requirement (3) | |
For Justice Studies students to take a non-required 300-level JUS course, they must have at least a “C” in each of the JUS required courses—JUS 105 (or 305), 301, 302, and 303—and a minimum average GPA of 2.50 for these four classes.
For non-Justice Studies students to take a 300-level JUS course, they must have a minimum of 56 earned semester hours (junior status) and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. Non-Justice Studies students are ineligible to take JUS 301, 302, and 303.
For non-Justice Studies students to take a 400-level JUS course, they must have a minimum of 56 earned semester hours (junior status) and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
ADVISING
Justice Studies students admitted as premajors are advised by the school’s academic advisor. All students are encouraged to seek advising in order to formulate an appropriate educational plan. Justice Studies majors may also be advised by the school’s faculty.
Upon admission to the university, every Justice Studies undergraduate receives the Undergraduate Advisement Guide and an evaluation of transfer work, if any. For further information, contact the school’s advising office at 602/965–7727.
DEGREES
Justice Studies—B.S.
The curriculum for the B.S. degree in Justice Studies provides interdisciplinary social science courses relevant to law and justice for students working in the justice field, students anticipating justice-related careers (including the legal profession), and interested non-Justice Studies students.
JUSTICE STUDIES MINOR
The minor is designed for students interested in developing an understanding of meanings of justice and injustice and analyzing often controversial issues through critical inquiry and social science investigation.
Fifteen hours of course work in Justice Studies is required, including JUS 105 or 305 and JUS 303. A minimum of nine hours must be resident credit at ASU Main Campus, six hours of which must be upper division credit. Students must receive a minimum grade of “C” for all courses in the minor and meet all course eligibility requirements, including prerequisites. Please consult the minor verification form available in the school office.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The faculty in the School of Justice Studies awards a B.S. degree upon the successful completion of a curriculum consisting of a minimum of 120 semester hours including the university General Studies requirement, College of Public Programs requirements, justice studies courses, and electives. Additionally, the student must:
GENERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENTS
To assure the breadth and depth of their education, all Justice Studies undergraduates must complete the university General Studies requirement and additional fundamental requirements prescribed by the College of Public Programs and the School of Justice Studies. For descriptive information on these requirements, refer to “General Studies” and“University Graduation Requirements.” Note that all three General Studies awareness areas are required. Consult your advisor for an approved list of courses.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Justice Studies students are required to take one sociology course, one behavioral psychology course, and one political science course dealing with the American government system chosen from POS 110, POS 270, POS 310, or equivalent. These courses apply to the social and behavioral sciences core area of the General Studies requirement.
The required justice studies component consists of 51 semester hours, of which 15 must be taken in a related field approved by the school. The following courses are required for all degree candidates. Equivalent courses may be substituted when appropriate.
| JUS 105 | Introduction to Justice Studies (3) |
| or JUS 305 Principles of Justice Studies (3) | |
| JUS 301 | Research in Justice Studies (3) |
| JUS 302 | Basic Statistical Analysis in Justice Studies N2 (3) |
| JUS 303 | Justice Theory (3) |
| Total: 12 |
Through advising, a group of justice studies courses may be recommended to ensure a comprehensive exposure appropriate to the student’s interests.
Electives. Students are encouraged to utilize the unique opportunities afforded by the university to pursue personal and educational interests, whether in the form of a broad sampling of other disciplines or the deeper probing of a single field.
Transfer of Community College Credits. Credits transferred from accredited community colleges are accepted as lower-division credits up to a maximum of 64 semester hours. The acceptance of credits is determined by the director of Undergraduate Admissions and the utilization of credits toward degree requirements is determined by the faculty of the School of Justice Studies.
American Indian Justice Studies Certificate Program. The American Indian Justice Studies Certificate Program is a cooperative effort between the School of Justice Studies and other ASU departments. This interdisciplinary program is designed to provide a comprehensive and practical program of study for undergraduate students who want to study and work with American Indians.
The program recognizes the need for training American Indian and non-Indian students for employment and leadership roles in American Indian government, in state and federal agencies, in education programs, and in urban and Indian community programs.
To earn the certificate, students must complete four required and two elective courses and an internship. The program is open to all ASU undergraduate students. For more information, call 602/965–7682.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The faculty in the School of Justice Studies offer a M.S. degree in Justice Studies, and Concurrent M.A. in Anthropology and a M.S. in Justice Studies. For more information on courses, faculty, or programs see the Graduate Catalog.
Omnibus Courses: See omnibus courses that may be offered.
1998–99 General Catalog Table of Contents
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