Offering the Bachelor of Science and the Associate of Science, UMA’s Justice Studies program prepares students for expanding opportunities in law enforcement--federal, state and municipal, paralegal positions–public and private, probation–state and federal, risk management and forensics. Program majors graduate with the advanced credentials employers in law-related fields increasingly prefer. Some of those employers are
The program offers a Justice Studies Minor, an ideal vehicle for non-majors interested in law school, and a Advocacy Minor to prepare students to advocate in administrative, legislative and public opinion forums. There are three certificates by which majors can obtain a credential in a particular specialty. They are: Community Policing; Forensics and Paralegal Studies.
Graduates in both the Bachelor’s and the Associate's program will be able to:
- Describe the roles and interactions of the legal, judicial, corrections and law enforcement professions in the U.S.
- Recognize the police role in historical perspectie and connect criminological theory to past, current and proposed practice.
- Find and identify the elements of any state or federal crime, using appropriate technology.
Students in the Bachelor’s program additionally will be able to:
- use critical thinking skills to illustrate how the Due Process Clause of the 14 th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution restricts state criminal law and police procedue in past decisions and apply those decisions to future hypothetical cases.
- compare the values in the criminal process of an international body, e.g. the International Criminal Court, or a foreign country to the United States' criminal justice values and assess the consequences of these differences.
- complete an internship and senior capstone project.
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 |
Preparing reports Developing detailed analysis for projects and programs Educating others |
| Supervision | Human Relations |
| Administering programs Supervising others Developing public policy |
Listening to clients Solving problems Representing others |
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.
