Justice Studies (JUST)
http://cola.unh.edu/justice-studies/graduate-programs
Degree Offered: M.A.
This program is offered in Durham.
The goal of the master of arts degree program in justice studies is to produce graduates who have a high level of knowledge about law and justice in American society and worldwide. Upon completion, graduates will be able to enhance their careers in the justice system, enter new careers in the justice system, or continue their graduate training in law, social sciences, or humanities.
The program addresses issues of justice that are not necessarily criminal in nature. It will familiarize students with legal and justice ideas, legal institutions, and the legal process. It will provide tools for a reasoned appraisal of how the law works and of the policies that underlie it. The courses address a wide variety of subjects, including philosophy of law, American legal history, psychological aspects of the law, social control, criminology, juvenile delinquency, law and literature, and family law. Courses are taught by faculty with backgrounds in both the social sciences and humanities.
Special Note on Tuition
The justice studies masters of arts degree program has a different pricing structure. You can find the most current pricing for this program on the Student Accounts website.
Admission Requirements
Three academic letters of recommendation, personal statement and college transcripts.
* Application fee waiver for the first 20 applicants. Contact the Justice Studies Office for an application fee waiver code.
Students are admitted in the summer term, with classes beginning the third week in July.
There is also an accelerated masters of arts (AM) option in Justice Studies. Students may start the AM program in the fall or spring of their senior year. Please contact the department for further details.
Justice Studies (JUST)
JUST 801 - Graduate Seminar in Justice Studies
Credits: 4
Seminar on advanced material in which the instructor has specialized knowledge through research and study. Topics may include the death penalty, terrorism, psychology of the jury, immigration, history of the law. Content of specific sections will vary by section of the course. Course may be repeated for different topics.
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
JUST 802 - Law and Society
Credits: 4
Provides students with a graduate level review of the law and society field. Interdisciplinary study of the relationship between law and society. Topics include how society shapes legal decision-making and dispute resolution, law as social control and as social change, and legal ideologies and legal consciousness.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
JUST 803 - Professionalism in Justice Studies
Credits: 1
This course introduces Master’s of Arts students in Justice Studies to the expectations, tools and opportunities central to their success. It provides the fundamentals to being effective research and teaching assistants. It also Justice Studies Master’s of Arts students in developing the tools necessary to be successful candidates in positions throughout justice-related fields. Finally, it provides opportunities for them to interact with academics and professionals in justice studies. May be repeated barring duplication of subject.
Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading
JUST 805 - Quantitative Research Methods
Credits: 4
Introduction to the major quantitative methods used by criminologists and justice researchers. Focuses on methods which illuminate causes of crime and justice. Covers all aspects of the research process including conceptualization, design, sampling, data analysis, and dissemination of results. Does not assume prior statistical knowledge.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
JUST 807 - Applied Research Methods
Credits: 4
This is the second course in the Justice Studies graduate program sequence on research methods and it focuses on how to conduct applied research in the Justice Studies field including how to use quantitative methods in more applied settings and specific research tools frequently used in applied settings (e.g. qualitative methods and program evaluation). Students will work on a class research project as well as their own individual projects.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
JUST 830 - Theories of Justice
Credits: 4
The idea of justice is central to social, political, and legal theory. Considerations of justice are appealed to in assessing the legitimacy of governments, the fair distributions of goods and opportunities both with nation-states and globally, and to address specific social concerns such as racial or gender discrimination or access to health care. Course examines both historical sources and contemporary debates about the nature of justice.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
JUST 850 - Capstone Preparation: Internship/Thesis
Credits: 4
Experience in research and/or a variety of justice settings including courts, law enforcement and victim services. Includes weekly seminar.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
JUST 865 - Special Topics
Credits: 4
New or specialized courses are presented under this listing. Staff present material not normally covered by the course offerings. Cross-listed courses. May be repeated but not duplicate content.
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
JUST 895 - Reading and Research
Credits: 1-4
A) Criminology; B) Law and Society; C) Law and Psychology; D) Philosophy of Law; E) Courts. The students does independent work under the supervision of a faculty member. The student may plan (1) broad reading in an area; (2) intensive investigation of a special problem; or 3) empirical testing on a particular question. May be taken for 1-4 credits. This course is by permission only and requires a signed agreement/proposal prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): JUST 802 with a minimum grade of D-.
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
JUST 897 - Culminating Project
Credits: 4
Students conduct a project related to their internship under the supervision of a faculty member. Projects might include an evaluation of a community policing program, interviews with battered women in a shelter, or a survey of corporal punishment.
Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading
JUST 899 - Masters Thesis
Credits: 1-8
Students conduct a masters thesis under the supervision of three graduate faculty members. Thesis projects might include an intervention study to reduce delinquency, a study of immigration law in the 1920s, or a survey of hate crimes.
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits. May be repeated up to 1 time.
Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading