Justice Systems (BS)

Affiliation: School of Social & Cultural Studies

THE MAJOR

The Justice Systems major seeks to achieve an integration of the sciences and social sciences in addition to presenting material unique to its own knowledge base. This is reflected in both the nature and content of the courses and in the degrees and backgrounds of the faculty teaching them. The program also provides a historical and cultural view of the material.

The mission of the Justice Systems program complements the mission of Truman State University. To achieve this, a Justice Systems major takes a core of courses reflective of the emphasis in the liberal arts and sciences. Many courses in the department, including but not limited to JUST 305, 307, 334, and 430, offer opportunities to strengthen public speaking skills in either individual or small group presentations. Students in JUST 408, many sections of JUST 410, and JUST 430 engage in writing about research. The BS degree requirement is also reflective of this arts and sciences emphasis. More specifically, the BS degree component is intended to strengthen the quantitative skills of each student. 

The goals of the Justice Systems program are:

• To provide students an excellent academic preparation for rewarding professional careers in the various components of the justice system;
• To provide students an excellent undergraduate preparation for entry into professional, graduate, and law schools;
• To make students more informed and better citizens and thus better able to respond to one of the greatest concerns of society – the problem of crime and our system of justice;
• To have a program of faculty scholarship and research which includes participation of undergraduate students;
• To provide public service to the community through the specialized areas of expertise of the faculty and staff.

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN JUSTICE SYSTEMS

To graduate with Departmental Honors in Justice Systems the student must meet the following criteria:

1. An overall Truman GPA of 3.50.
2. A GPA in the major of 3.75.
3. Leadership and pursuit of knowledge out of the classroom demonstrated by evidence in any of these areas:
   • Present research at an organized conference, such as Truman’s Student Research Conference, or at a regional or national conference related to Justice Systems.
   • Achieve a significant off-campus learning experience, such as
     • study abroad,
     • national service or
     • internship
   • Demonstrate leadership or excellence in a University activity, such as
     • Mock Trial, LAE, APS, forensics or athletics, or in a University or community organization or activity, or
     • through service learning beyond course requirements (such as an experience organized through a student organization and approved for the Co-curricular record).
4. Approval by the Justice Systems faculty.

Departmental honorees are noted as such on the graduation program and the honor is recorded on their transcript.

ADDITIONAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

At least 15 of the required credits in the major must be completed by taking courses at Truman.

For students changing into the major and/or students with a second major, course substitutions acceptable to another major may not be acceptable as a Justice Systems major.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: