Crime and Justice Studies Major

Crime and Justice Studies is an innovative department with teachings that are at the cutting edge and always up-to-date with recent events, trends, struggles and developments. The program provides national and international studies on issues of criminal justice, social justice, restorative justice and transformative justice, genocide and war crimes. These include questions of critical inquiry (what is crime, what is justice and how is it pursed) as well as comprehensive analyses of structural, institutional, and State violence.

The major is interdisciplinary and draws on a range of resources across the University while providing rigorous intellectual challenges. Our students study the social ethical considerations unique to the fields of crime and justice. Our education goal is to provide students with new opportunities to combine a university education with enhanced avenues for intellectual development, career advancement and public service and social service.

Admission into the Major

Students seeking admission to Crime and Justice Studies must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.0.

Students interested in majoring in Crime and Justice Studies must schedule an interview with the Chair of the Crime and Justice Studies Program for permission to enter the program, to discuss the program requirements and to arrange for a permanent advisor.

Requirements

To successfully complete the program for graduation, all students must:

Maintain a minimum of a 2.75 GPA in the major
Maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPA overall
Meet the CJS major requirements listed below
Complete 30 credits at 300/400 level (including all courses in the major except Experiential Learning)
Complete a minimum of 120 credits with at least 45 at UMass Dartmouth
Complete the University Studies requirements
Complete the distribution requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences
All courses counting for the major must be completed with a C- or higher
Complete all required CJS core courses, 4 CJS electives within the Crime and Justice Studies department.

Required Core Courses - 24 Credits

CJS 190 - Introduction to Crime and the Justice System Credits: 3
CJS 205 - Social Theory Credits: 3
CJS 257 - Foundations in Justice Studies Credits: 3
CJS 258 - A History of Criminology Credits: 3
CJS 315 - Research Methods for Justice Studies Credits: 3
CJS 380 - Abolitionism Credits: 3
CJS 400 - Contemporary Topics in Justice Credits: 3
CJS 450 - Internship Credits: 3

Crime and Justice Studies Electives - 12 credits

Students must take at least four (4) 300- or 400-level CJS electives.

CJS 311 - Youth, Crime and Justice Credits: 3
CJS 314 - Social Control Credits: 3
CJS 321 - Women, Crime, and the Law Credits: 3
CJS 339 - Racism, Crime and Justice Credits: 3
CJS 340 - Law and Society Credits: 3
CJS 342 - Construction of Criminal Behavior Credits: 3
CJS 350 - Readings in Crime and Justice Studies Credits: 3
CJS 366 - Justice and Policy Credits: 3
CJS 368 - The Politics of Policing Credits: 3
CJS 370 - Criminal Law and Procedure Credits: 3
CJS 372 - Peace Studies Credits: 3
CJS 374 - Transformative Justice Credits: 3
CJS 386 - Prison Industrial Complex Credits: 3
CJS 492 - Thesis Research I Credits: 3
CJS 493 - Thesis Research II Credits: 3

Total Credits: 36

Note

Note: Work experience or internships outside of the department may not be substituted for CJS 450 Internship.

As part of the articulation agreement with the Massachusetts Community Colleges, it is anticipated that students arriving with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice or a closely related field may have satisfied the requirements for CJS 190 Introduction to Crime and Justice Studies. We do not transfer CJS Electives (with the exception of CJS 370). Those requirements must be completed within the Department of Crime and Justice Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Current or future confirmed employers cannot be used as placements for the CJS 450 Internship requirement.

University Studies Requirements

In addition to the requirements in the major, students will be required to complete the University Studies requirements. For more information: http://www.umassd.edu/generaleducation/universitystudies/universitystudiescurriculum/.