2009-2010 University Catalog

Administration of Justice, BS

Banner Code: LA-BS-ADJ

This bachelor of science in administration of justice provides a sound foundation in the liberal arts and a focused study of the justice system and social, human, and moral problems raised in the administration of justice. The course of study prepares students for careers in law enforcement, corrections, the courts, investigations, juvenile justice, private and homeland security, and related social and human services. The program also provides a strong background for law school and graduate study in criminal justice or law and society.

Students may use up to 18 credits of approved ADJ courses taken at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) or another community college to fulfill the requirements detailed below. Once a student matriculates at Mason, no courses may be taken at another institution without prior written approval from the program and the dean.

This program of study is offered by the Department of Administration of Justice .

For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see the Academic Policies chapter of the catalog.

Degree Requirements

In addition to satisfying university general education requirements and the requirements for a bachelor of science degree in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, students pursuing this degree must complete 67 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.00.

Five core courses (16 credits):

ADJ 100 - Introduction to Criminal Justice Credits: 3
ADJ 300 - Research Methods and Analysis Credits: 4
ADJ 303 - Experiencing the Criminal Justice System Credits: 3
ADJ 306 - Criminal Justice Ethics Credits: 3
ADJ 424 - Constitutional Law: Criminal Process and Rights Credits: 3

Twelve elective courses (36 credits) including at least 24 credits of ADJ courses chosen from:

ADJ 301 - Public Law and the Judicial Process Credits: 3
or
GOVT 301 - Public Law and the Judicial Process Credits: 3
ADJ 302 - Delinquency Credits: 3
ADJ 304 - Computer Crime, Forensics, and Auditing Credits: 3
ADJ 305 - Crime and Crime Policy Credits: 3
ADJ 307 - Social Inequality, Crime, and Justice Credits: 3
ADJ 308 - Human Rights and Justice Credits: 3
ADJ 400 - Applied Criminal Psychology Credits: 3
ADJ 401 - Policing in America Credits: 3
ADJ 402 - Punishment and Corrections Credits: 3
ADJ 403 - Community Corrections Credits: 3
ADJ 404 - Crime Victims and Victimization Credits: 3
ADJ 405 - Law and Justice around the World Credits: 3
ADJ 406 - Family Law and the Justice System Credits: 3
ADJ 407 - Law and Society Credits: 3
ADJ 408 - Criminal Courts Credits: 3
ADJ 409 - Community Policing Credits: 3
ADJ 422 - Controversial Legal Issues Credits: 3
ADJ 423 - Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties Credits: 3
or
GOVT 423 - Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties Credits: 3
ADJ 425 - Criminal Justice Management Credits: 3
ADJ 460 - Surveillance and Privacy in Contemporary Society Credits: 3
ADJ 461 - Introduction to Homeland Security Credits: 3
ADJ 462 - Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Credits: 3
ADJ 471 - Prevention and Deterrence of Crime Credits: 3
ADJ 475 - Theory and Politics of Terrorism Credits: 3
ADJ 490 - Special Topics in Administration of Justice Credits: 1-3
ADJ 491 - Honors Seminar I Credits: 3
ADJ 492 - Honors Seminar II Credits: 3
ADJ 499 - Independent Study in Administration of Justice Credits: 1-3
GOVT 101 - Democratic Theory and Practice Credits: 3
GOVT 103 - Introduction to American Government Credits: 3
GOVT 420 - American Political Thought Credits: 3
GOVT 421 - Contemporary Political Ideologies Credits: 3
GOVT 452 - Administrative Law and Procedures Credits: 3
PHIL 151 - Introduction to Ethics Credits: 3
PHIL 311 - Philosophy of Law Credits: 3
PSYC 100 - Basic Concepts in Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 211 - Developmental Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 231 - Social Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 314 - Adolescent Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 325 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 326 - Therapeutic Communication Skills Credits: 3
SOCI 101 - Introductory Sociology Credits: 3
SOCI 301 - Criminology Credits: 3
SOCI 308 - Racial and Ethnic Relations Credits: 3
SOCI 310 - Sociology of Deviance Credits: 3
SOCI 315 - Sex and Gender in Contemporary Society Credits: 3
SOCI 352 - Social Problems Credits: 3
SOCI 475 - Women and the Law Credits: 3
SOCW 400 - Legal and Ethical Issues in Human Services Credits: 3
SOCW 410 - Alcohol and Substance Abuse: Policies and Programs Credits: 3
SOCW 423 - Social Work with Children and Adolescents Credits: 3
SOCW 430 - Social Work and the Law Credits: 3
CONF 300 - Conflict Resolution Techniques and Practice Credits: 3
CONF 302 - Identity Conflicts and their Resolution Credits: 3
CONF 320 - Interpersonal Conflict Analysis and Resolution Credits: 3
CONF 330 - Community, Group, and Organizational Conflict Analysis and Resolution Credits: 3
CONF 393 - Philosophy, Conflict Theory, and Violence Credits: 3

15 credits in skills for the justice professional chosen from:

Any foreign language courses that develop or require foreign language skills and are taught in the language
Any CS course; any IT course

ADJ 479 - Preparation for Internship Credits: 3
ADJ 480 - Internship in Justice Administration Credits: 3-12
GEOG 311 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
GOVT 305 - Contemporary American Federalism Credits: 3
GOVT 309 - Government and Politics of Metropolitan Areas Credits: 3
GOVT 351 - Administration in the Political System Credits: 3
GOVT 355 - Public Personnel Administration Credits: 3
GOVT 356 - Public Budgeting and Finance Credits: 3
GOVT 357 - Urban Governance and Planning Credits: 3
GOVT 359 - Computers in Public Management Credits: 3
GOVT 364 - Public Policy Making Credits: 3
GOVT 366 - Public Policy Analysis Credits: 3
GOVT 400 - Political Research and Data Analysis Credits: 3
GOVT 464 - Issues in Public Policy and Administration Credits: 1-3
PSYC 260 - Basic Research Methods in Psychology Credits: 1-3
SOCI 405 - Analysis of Social Data Credits: 4
SOCI 410 - Social Surveys and Attitude and Opinion Measurements Credits: 3
STAT 362 - Introduction to Computer Statistical Packages Credits: 3
STAT 455 - Experimental Design Credits: 3
STAT 463 - Introduction to Exploratory Data Analysis Credits: 3
STAT 474 - Introduction to Survey Sampling Credits: 3
SOCW 200 - Introduction to Social Work Credits: 3
SOCW 301 - Laboratory in Interpersonal Communication Credits: 4
SOCW 323 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment I Credits: 3
SOCW 324 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment II Credits: 3
SOCW 351 - Social Policy and Social Justice I Credits: 3
SOCW 352 - Social Policy and Social Justice II Credits: 3
SOCW 425 - Planning and Organizing for Community Change Credits: 3
SOCW 430 - Social Work and the Law Credits: 3

Concentrations

ADJ majors have the option of obtaining a concentration by completing 15 of their 36 elective credits within one of the following areas. Credits earned in ADJ 490, 491, 492, and 499, when relevant, may be applied to a concentration with prior written approval of the director of the BS in Administration of Justice Program.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated “writing intensive” in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in administration of justice fulfill this requirement by successfully completing ADJ 303. Students should complete ENGL 302 before taking the writing-intensive course in the major or take the two courses simultaneously.

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