"The upper-level classes are small, and I like the personal interaction I have with the faculty as well as their scholarly approach. I enjoy the development of my intellectual life through my association with the University."
- Detective Brian P. Strout,
Maine State Police
"The Justice Studies Program continues its long tradition of educating the leadership of Maine law enforcement. Our examination of police, technology and law is broadened to include other practitioners of the discipline (e.g. victim witness advocates, paralegals, probation officers and practitioners in related fields like Mental Health and Human Services)."
- Mary Louis Davitt
Professor of Legal Technology
Home » Academics » UMA Colleges » Natural and Social Sciences » Justice Studies
Degrees Offered: B.S. and A.S.
Offered on the Augusta and the Bangor campus
If you’re interested in law enforcement, detection and forensics, investigate our Justice Studies Program. Courses in computer science, investigations, and the social sciences will give you the broad background you’ll need, while an internship and electives in family violence, juvenile justice, and advocacy will allow you to specialize in the field that interests you most.
Offering the Bachelor of Science and the Associate of Science, UMA’s Justice Studies program prepares students for expanding opportunities in border patrol, paralegal positions–public and private, probation–state and federal, and risk management. Program majors graduate with confidence, knowing they possess the advanced credentials employers in law-related fields increasingly prefer.
Students in both the Bachelor’s and the Associate's program gain:
- A practical understanding of the functions of justice agencies.
- A developed awareness of the practitioner's role within the justice system.
- Preparation for employment in all levels of law enforcement; juvenile and adult correctional facilities, including probation; certain departments of the Department of Health and Human Services; victims' rights groups; criminal justice reform groups; industrial and commercial security; and the state warden service.
Students in the Bachelor’s program additionally gain:
- A comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system, with a particular focus on the development of leadership skills.
- The ability to apply management skills to a socially complex environment.
- A fundamental understanding of alternatives used globally for problem resolution that can provide innovation to a system with limited resources.
- The critical thinking skills to solve problems in an unstable geopolitical environment and to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
SKILLS YOU'LL ACQUIRE
The diverse Justice Studies field encompasses investigation theory, analysis, interpretation of laws and statutes, and the study of contemporary social issues. Education in problem-solving and systematic analysis prepares the student for many different types of public and private work.
A sampling of representative skills and abilities follows:
| Research & Analysis | Communication |
|---|---|
| Investigating Analyzing intelligence Researching legal issues Collecting evidence Analyzing statutory law | Speaking publicly Preparing reports Developing detailed analysis for projects and programs Educating others |
| Supervision | Human Relations |
| Administering programs Supervising others Training Developing public policy | Assisting the public Solving problems Representing others Being a role model |
Careers You Can Seek
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.
| Legal System | Business |
|---|---|
| Police Supervisor Corrections Manager Prison Warden Probation Officer Lawyer* Police Academy Instructor* Police Artist | Arbitrator* Security Consultant Private Investigator Polygraph Examiner Port Director Business Manager Corporate Board Member C.E.O. |
| Federal Law Enforcement | Public Interest |
| U.S. Marshall* FBI Special Agent* IRS Special Agent Border Patrol Officer Conservation Officer Defense Investigation Service DEA Agent Army Corps of Engineering | Lobbyist Criminal Justice Educator* Mediator Drug Abuse Prevention Coordinator Legislative Assistant Immigration Officer Victim’s Advocate Legislator |
* Graduate level study is generally required for these occupations.