Justice Studies, BS

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Delivery Area: Online

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements:

Minimum 121 Credit Hours
Minimum Cumulative G.P.A.: 2.00
Minimum G.P.A. in the Major: 2.50
Writing Intensive Course
30 Credit Hours or Residency Courses
9 Credits of Upper-Level Major Residency Courses

Program Major Requirements (81 Credit Hours):

JUS 121 - Criminal Law 3 CR
JUS 271W - Constitutional Rights 3 CR
JUS 363 - Comparative International Justice Issues 3 CR
JUS 488W - Senior Seminar and Capstone Experience 3 CR
Complete a two semester sequence of the same Foreign or American Sign language sequence 6-8 CR
Complete one of the following pathways/concentrations:
- No concentration
- Criminal Justice
- Pre-Law

Complete one of the following pathways/concentrations:

No Concentration:
- JUS 105 - Legal Research and Materials 3 CR
- JUS 231 - Legal Writing 3 CR
- Complete any two 100-level or 200-level Justice Studies courses 6 CR
- Complete any six upper-level (300-400) Justice Studies electives 18 CR
- Complete one of the following 3 CR:
  - JUS 313 - American Legal History
  - JUS 324 - Political and Legal Thought
- Complete 28-30 credits of any 100-level or higher general electives to reach the required 121 credit hour requirements. These credits may be taken through additional JUS classes or through classes outside of Justice Studies 28-30 CR
Criminal Justice Concentration:
- JUS 160 - Introduction to Forensic Science 3 CR
- JUS 200 - Principles of Investigation 3 CR
- JUS 352 - Community Policing 3 CR
- Complete any seven upper-level (300-400) Justice Studies electives, two of which must come from the following list of classes 21 CR:
Complete 31-33 credits of any 100-level or higher general electives to reach the required 121 credit hour requirements. These credits may be taken through additional JUS classes or through classes outside of Justice Studies 31-33 CR
Legal Studies/Pre-Law Concentration:
- JUS 105 - Legal Research and Materials
- JUS 216 - Principles of Litigation
- JUS 231 - Legal Writing
- JUS 296W - Professional Responsibility
- JUS 405 - Contracts and Consumer Law
- JUS 417 - Torts and Insurance Law
- Complete one of the following Practica courses:
  - JUS 361 - Mediation Practicum
  - JUS 362 - Practicum in Justice Studies
Complete one of the following Family Law Thematic courses:
- JUS 218 - Estate Administration
- JUS 222 - Family Law
Complete one of the following Conflict Resolution Thematic courses:
Complete one of the following Legal History Thematic courses:
- JUS 313 - American Legal History
- JUS 324 - Political and Legal Thought
Complete two of the following Contemporary Legal Issues Thematic courses:
- JUS 307 - Violence in the Family
- JUS 316 - Criminology
- JUS 364 - Human Rights Violation: Torture and Trauma
- JUS 388 - Contemporary Justice Issues
- JUS 390 - Advocacy and Public Policy
- JUS 392 - Hate Crimes
- JUS 395 - Resilient and Safe Communities
- JUS 471 - Judicial Processes
- JUS 472 - Issues in Property Division, Custody, and Support
- JUS 489 - Topics in Justice Studies
- Complete 25-27 credits of any 100-level or higher general electives to reach the required 121 credit hour requirements. These credits may be taken through additional JUS classes or through classes outside of Justice Studies 25-27 CR

General Education Requirements (40 Credit Hours):

Written Communication:

ENG 101 - College Writing 3 CR

Oral Communication:

Any satisfactory course 3 CR*

Writing Intensive:

ENG 317W - Professional Writing 3 CR

Quantitative Literacy:

Any satisfactory course 3 CR*

Computing Literacy:

Any satisfactory course 3 CR*

Natural Science:

Any satisfactory course 4 CR*

Humanities:

AME 201W - Introduction to American Culture and Power 3 CR

Fine Arts:

Any satisfactory course 3 CR*

Critical Thinking:

PHI 135 - Critical Thinking 3 CR

Cultural Diversity:

Any satisfactory course 3 CR*

Social Science:

JUS 103 - Foundations of Law and Criminal Justice 3 CR

Ethical Reasoning:

PHI 250 - Ethics 3 CR

Information Literacy:

CIS 150 - Introduction to Data Science 3 CR

*These General Education courses are waivable for students with prior bachelor’s degree

Non asterisked (*) linked courses are required for this program

Notes:

Students are encouraged to select a biology course to fulfill their GenEd requirement in Natural Sciences to support forensics, but it is not required.

Pre-law Advising Notes:

Suggestions for Students seeking the Paralegal Studies Certificate:

Students Seeking the Paralegal Studies Certificate are required to take the following courses in addition to the mandatory courses in the Pre-Law Concentration in order to gain their Certificate:

JUS 212 - Real Estate Transfer Procedures (elective option)
JUS 218 - Estate Administration (option within the concentration)

Complete one of the following:

JUS 222 - Family Law (option within the concentration)
JUS 362 - Practicum in Justice Studies (elective option)

Suggestions for Students seeking the Mediation Certificate:

Students seeking the Mediation Certificate are required to take the following courses in addition to the mandatory courses in the Pre-Law Concentration in order to gain their Certificate:

JUS 362 - Practicum in Justice Studies (elective option)
JUS 391 - Mediation (option within the concentration)

General Education:

It is the intention of the University of Maine at Augusta that every degree graduate will be prepared to function in our society as an effective and informed citizen. To this end, the faculty has designed a set of minimum expectations that students are expected to satisfy. The aspirations are defined by core skills, competencies, and abilities as well as knowledge based learning experiences that are the grounds for the General Education Requirements. To learn more, visit www.uma.edu/academics/general-education/