Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Crime and Justice Studies Major


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Crime and Justice Studies (CJS) offers teachings in criminology, criminal justice and justice studies, successfully bridging the social sciences and humanities. We offer a multi-disciplinary program that specializes in the study of the criminal justice system’s history, policies, politics and procedures.

Offering criminology, criminal justice and justice studies within one department allows students interested in the various branches of work in this field (law enforcement, courts, corrections, probation, parole, social services, youth services, community building, policy, research, etc.) to begin cross-agency dialogue with each other, within our classrooms and before they enter the workforce. This allows our students to grasp comprehensive perspectives on the various, at times conflicting expectations of the overlapping institutions and agencies that comprise or have to interact with the criminal justice system. Our students learn to analyze structural, institutional, and transnational violence, gaining knowledge and skills to use towards better understanding and perhaps transforming unjust conditions that impact society and their home communities.

Admission into the Major

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

Students seeking to declare Crime and Justice Studies as their major must schedule an interview with the department chairperson.

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.

Crime and Justice Studies Electives - 12 credits


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

Total Credits: 36


Note


Work experience or internships outside of the department may not be substituted for CJS 450 Internship. A limited number of Experiential Learning Credits (CJS 298) and Field Inquiry Credits (CJS 407; CJS 408) may apply toward overall credits with additional faculty supervised and reflective academic work.

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 cannot transfer 300-level requirements from 2-year institutions (with the exception of 3 credits for CJS 370 completed through 6 credits at the 200 level. All 4 year CJS elective transfer requests must be approved by CJS chairperson. 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/.

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