2024-2025 UMA Catalog
Justice Studies
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Admissions: 1-877-UMA-1234 ext. 3465 or (207) 621-3465
Advising Center: 1-877-UMA-1234 ext. 3149 or (207) 621-3149
Coordinator: Phillip Buckley email: phillip.buckley@maine.edu
Website: www.uma.edu/academics/programs/justice-studies/
Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies
Intro/Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies prepares students for law-related careers, e.g. law enforcement, corrections, investigations, paralegal positions and graduate work in law school or criminal justice graduate programs. The Justice Studies BS program offers three options: a pre-law/paralegal concentration; a criminal justice concentration; and a general option with no concentration.
Program Objectives
The Bachelor’s Degree in Justice Studies is a credential which allows the student to acquire the academic qualifications for certain professional positions, admission to graduate school and, in some cases, promotion within current employment. The student will be exposed to a global perspective of criminal and social justice processes, critical thinking and writing analyses. Credentials are offered in Forensics, Fraud Examination, Crime Analysis and GIS, Advocacy, Mediation, Community Policing, Pre-Law and Paralegal Studies. Courses are offered at a distance.
Learning Outcomes
At the time of graduation, the student will be able to:
Describe the roles and interactions of the legal, judicial, corrections and law enforcement professions in the U.S. criminal justice system (assessed by final exam in JUS 103 and JUS 488 Senior Capstone course portfolio)
Recognize the police role in historical perspective and connect criminological theory to past, current, and proposed practice (Assessed by final exams in JUS 103 AND JUS 389 Police Role in a Democracy and JUS 488, The Senior Capstone course portfolio)
Find and identify the elements of any state or federal crime, using appropriate technology in their research (assessed by exercises, tests or papers in JUS 121 and/or JUS 105 , Legal Research, and JUS 271W , Constitutional Rights and the Senior Capstone course portfolio)
Use critical thinking skills to illustrate how the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution limits state criminal law and police procedure in past decisions and apply those decisions to future hypothetical cases (assessed by paper, assigned in JUS 271W and the Senior Capstone course portfolio)
Compare the values in the criminal process of an international body, e.g. The International Criminal Court, or a foreign country to the US’ criminal justice values and identify the consequences (assessed by paper assigned in JUS 363 and the Senior Capstone course portfolio)
Admissions Requirements (see UMA general requirements)
Transfer Students
Students wishing to transfer credits in from other institutions should be aware that the General Education Requirements are very specific and that course equivalencies are determined after a very careful scrutiny by academic officers of the University. In some cases, pre-existing institutional articulation agreements may apply and students are encouraged to inquire prior to admission application.
Graduation Requirements
Upon successful completion of the program requirements listed below, the student will be awarded a bachelor of justice studies degree.
- completion of 121 semester hours of credit
- minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00
- minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 in discipline required courses
- completion of the General Education Requirements
- completion of major requirements
Career Opportunities for the Bachelor’s Degree
The Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice and legal systems with the student’s choice of specializing in management, research- (paralegal studies, fraud examination)–advocacy and conflict resolution skills. Justice Studies offers a dedicated pre-law concentration that teaches students legal research and writing skills together with practical skills in several legal specialties including real estate transfers, torts, and estate administration. Our pre-law concentration in the Justice Studies major offers students the opportunity to learn the vocabulary, legal reasoning, and general principles of law covered in the first year of law school. UMA and Maine Law offer a combined B.S./J.D. program for eligible students which can be completed in six years. The Justice Studies major will be able to apply these skills to criminal and civil cases. Degree candidates will study the alternative processes used globally for resolving similar issues and will develop the critical thinking skills to identify their strength and weaknesses.
Transferable Skills & Competencies
This diverse field encompasses investigation theory, legal analysis, interpretation of laws and statutes, comparison of international and regional justice systems, the study of contemporary social issues and problem solving. The Justice Studies student is prepared for many types of public and private work. A sampling of skills follows:
Research and Analysis
Communication: Public Speaking
Investigation and intelligence analysis
Preparing reports and analyses
Researching legal resources and issues
Developing Public Policy
Collecting evidence
Supervising and administering programs
The following list offers a sample of jobs our graduates have held:
Border Patrol Agent
Lawyer, District Attorney, Private Practice
Police Chief, Sheriff
Paralegal, Court Clerk, Court Director
Warden
Victim-Witness Advocate
Probation Officer
Restorative Justice/ Diversion specialist
US Marshall
Mediator, Legislator or lobbyist
FBI, DEA Agent
Careers
The selected list that follows offers a sampling of the diverse career possibilities for UMA Justice Studies graduates in municipal, state, or federal law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions, various security firms, and other public and private service roles. For some, additional training or skill development may be required.
Legal System
- Police Office
- Legal Assistant
- Court Clerk
- Dispatcher
- Probation Officer
- Lawyer*
- Criminal Justice Program Designer
- Criminal Justice Trainer
Security Work
- Airline Security
- Security Guard
- Border Patrol Officer
- Correction Officer
- Polygraph Examiner
- Ballistics Expert
Business
- Insurance Claims Clerk/Adjuster
- Debt Collector
- Investigator, Utility Bills
- Leasing Agent
- Private Investigator
- Food Inspector
- Arbitrator*
- Security Consultant
Public Interest
- Animal Cruelty Investigator
- Welfare Eligibility Interviewer
- Wildlife Control Agent*
- Legislative Assistant
- Immigration Officer
- Fish and Game Warden*
- Legislator
- Criminal Justice Grant Management
- Criminal Justice Educator
* Graduate level study is generally required for these occupations.
Associate of Science in Justice Studies
Program Objectives
The Justice Studies program provides the associate degree student an introduction to the spectrum of professional choices available in the law and justice disciplines while allowing for specialization. Completion of a Certificate of Paralegal Studies or Certificate of Forensic Science-Investigation Focus is possible while completing the Associate degree. Students will hone their facility in critical thinking and written expression as well as develop a model of professionalism and understanding of the scientific research process.
Learning Outcomes
At the time of graduation, the student will be able to:
Describe the roles and interactions of the legal, judicial, corrections and law enforcement professions in the U.S. criminal justice system (assessed by final exam in JUS 103 )
Recognize the police role in historical perspective and connect criminological theory to past, current, and proposed practice (Assessed by final exams in JUS 103 )
Find and identify the elements of any state or federal crime, using appropriate technology in their research (assessed by exercises, tests or papers in JUS 121 )
Use critical thinking skills to illustrate how the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution limits state criminal law and police procedure in past decisions and apply those decisions to future hypothetical cases (assessed by paper, assigned in JUS 271W )
Career Opportunities for the Associate’s Degree
Students with an associate degree and law enforcement aspirations have been hired by the Maine State Police, local police and sheriff’s departments, state and local corrections, Maine Warden Service and Marine Patrol. Those students without law enforcement interest have found employment with local law firms, title companies, district attorney offices as victim witness advocates, and the Maine Court system as court clerks.
Transferable Skills & Competencies
Research and analysis of statutory and case law, investigation, collecting evidence, more than adequate writing skills, an understanding of the necessary interpersonal skills for either job path.
Careers
The selected list that follows offers a sampling of the diverse career possibilities for UMA Justice Studies graduates. For some, additional training or skill development may be required.
Legal System
- Police Officer
- Legal Assistant
- Court Clerk
- Dispatcher
- Probation Officer
- Lawyer*
- Criminal Justice Program Designer
- Criminal Justice Trainer
Security Work
- Airline Security
- Security Guard
- Border Patrol Officer
- Correction Officer
- Polygraph Examiner
- Ballistics Expert
Business
- Insurance Claims Clerk/Adjuster
- Debt Collector
- Investigator, Utility Bills
- Leasing Agent
- Private Investigator
- Food Inspector
- Arbitrator*
- Security Consultant
Public Interest
- Animal Cruelty Investigator
- Welfare Eligibility Interviewer
- Wildlife Control Agent*
- Legislative Assistant
- Immigration Officer
- Fish and Game Warden*
- Legislator
- Criminal Justice Grant Management
- Criminal Justice Educator
*Baccalaureate or graduate level study is generally required for these occupations
ProgramsAssociate of ScienceBachelor of ScienceMinorCertificate
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