The M.S. in Justice, Law and Society merges the central concerns of the undergraduate degrees offered in DJLS: justice policy and the interdisciplinary study of law. The concentration in Justice and Public Policy begins from a foundation in social science research methods with coursework on issues in criminology and criminal justice. Students primarily interested in the interdisciplinary study of law can choose either the Law and Society concentration, which combines social science and humanities perspectives on law, or the concentration in Jurisprudence and Social Thought (new for Fall 2008), which offers analytical training as a foundation for coursework in law and humanities. 

The M.S. in Justice, Law and Society serves as both a terminal degree and a pre-doctoral degree. Students who wish to pursue careers in justice or related agencies will find the public policy thrust of the program to be of most immediate interest, but courses offered in the other two concentrations, which bear directly or indirectly on the justice system, will be germane to them as well. Conversely, students with a primary interest in advanced graduate work in the interdisciplinary study of law will find it helpful to be grounded in the practical considerations raised by the Justice and Public Policy concentration. In each of the areas of concentration, there will be an emphasis on understanding, evaluating, and, where appropriate, conducting research. Graduates who go on for doctoral or professional study will be equipped to pursue rigorous graduate programs that emphasize Justice or Law and Society, as well as in programs that merge the concerns.

 

The M.S. in Justice, Law and Society is an interdisciplinary program focusing on the foundations and structure of institutions of justice and law. Students receive a thorough grounding in both empirical and theoretical approaches to public policy issues and take a concentration in either justice and public policy, law and society, or jurisprudence and social thought.

The concentration in justice and public policy provides a theoretical grounding in criminology and course work in criminal justice, including corrections and policing. This concentration prepares students for a variety of practitioner and research positions in criminal justice, or for advanced graduate work in criminology or criminal justice.

The concentration in jurisprudence and social thought emphasizes philosophical and comparative perspectives on law, providing students with an appreciation of the nature and structural foundations of law and a firm grounding in analytical thought. This concentration serves students who have a background in either the liberal arts or law and are interested in combing the two.

The concentration in law and society provides an interdisciplinary perspective on the role of law in society, including the theoretical foundations of law, the relationship between law and the social sciences, and broad issues of social justice. This concentration prepares students for positions in policy research and analysis or for advanced graduate work in law and society.

Admission to the Program

In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of scholastic achievement in their last 60 credit hours of undergraduate work, test scores and two letters of recommendation.

Concentrations

Justice and Public Policy, Jurisprudence and Social Thought, or Law and Society

Degree Requirements

• 33 credit hours of approved graduate work with at least 18 credit hours at the 600 level
• Written comprehensive examination in one of the concentration areas, justice and public policy, jurisprudence and social thought, or law and society. Students must complete foundational seminars and electives in the relevant area before taking the examination.
• Research requirement:

Justice and Public Policy: JLS-680 Introduction to Justice Research I and JLS-681 Introduction to Justice Research II with grades of B or better

Jurisprudence and Social Thought: JLS-603 The Rule of Law and Due Process and JLS-604 Foundations of Knowledge with grades of B or better

Law and Society: JLS-680 Introduction to Justice Research I and JLS-681 Introduction to Justice Research II; or JLS-797 Master’s Thesis Research, with grades of B or better

Course Requirements

• Two foundational courses from the following:

JLS-601 Law and Social Sciences (3)

JLS-602 Legal Theory (3)

JLS-607 Concept of Justice (3)

JLS-609 Criminological Theory (3)

JLS-610 Justice and Public Policy: Controversial Issues (3)

• JLS-680 Introduction to Justice Research I (3) and JLS-681 Introduction to Justice Research II (3)

or

JLS-603 The Rule of Law and Due Process (3) and JLS-604 Foundations of Knowledge (3)

or

JLS-797 Master’s Thesis Research (6)

Justice and Public Policy (21 credit hours)

• 12 credit hours from the following:

JLS-504 Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice (3)

JLS-517 Victimology (3)

JLS-526 Domestic Violence (3)

JLS-550 Drugs, Crime, and Public Policy (3)

JLS-596 Selected Topic: Nonrecurring with permission of advisor

JLS-607 Concept of Justice (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-608 The Constitution and Criminal Procedure (3)

JLS-609 Criminological Theory (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-610 Justice and Public Policy: Controversial Issues (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-638 Race and Justice in America (3)

JLS-643 Advanced Seminar in Policing (3)

JLS-672 Terrorism, Crime, and Public Policy (3)

JLS-676 Theories of Punishment (3)

JLS-686 Advanced Seminar in Corrections (3)

JLS-687 Law, Deviance, and the Mental Health System (3)

• 9 additional credit hours from the following or other approved justice, law and society courses:

PUAD-606 Foundations of Policy Analysis (3)

PUAD-610 Management Analysis (3)

PUAD-616 Legal Basis of Public Management (3)

PUAD-633 Financial Aspects of Public Management (3)

PUAD-654 Organizational Diagnosis and Change (3)

Jurisprudence and Social Thought (21 credit hours)

• 12 credit hours from the following or other approved law and society electives:

JLS-535 Gender and the Law (3)

JLS-596 Selected Topic: Nonrecurring with permission of advisor

JLS-601 Law and Social Sciences (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-602 Legal Theory (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-603 The Rule of Law and Due Process (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-604 Foundations of Knowledge (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-606 Legal History Seminar (3)

JLS-607 Concept of Justice (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-608 The Constitution and Criminal Procedure (3)

JLS-610 Justice and Public Policy: Controversial Issues (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-615 Law and Human Rights (3)

JLS-630 Advanced Seminar in Legal Theory (3)

JLS-631 Advanced Seminar in Social and Political Theory (3)

JLS-638 Race and Justice in America (3)

JLS-648 Law and Religion (3)

JLS-650 Constitutionalism in Historical Perspective (3)

• JLS-676 Theories of Punishment (3)
• 9 additional credit hours from the following or other approved justice, law and society courses:

GOVT-674 Constitutional Law and Politics (3)

HIST-651 Era of the Revolution and Constitution (3)

PHIL-520 Seminar on Ethical Theory (3)

PHIL-525 Seminar on Modern Moral Problems (3)

PHIL-641 Philosophy of the Social Sciences (3)

SIS-621 International Law and the Legal Order (3)

Law and Society (21 credit hours)

• 12 credit hours from the following:

JLS-535 Gender and the Law (3)

JLS-596 Selected Topic: Nonrecurring with permission of advisor

JLS-601 Law and Social Sciences (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-602 Legal Theory (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-603 The Rule of Law and Due Process (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-604 Foundations of Knowledge (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-606 Legal History Seminar (3)

JLS-607 Concept of Justice (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-608 The Constitution and Criminal Procedure (3)

JLS-610 Justice and Public Policy: Controversial Issues (3) (if not used for requirement above)

JLS-615 Law and Human Rights (3)

JLS-630 Advanced Seminar in Legal Theory (3)

JLS-631 Advanced Seminar in Social and Political Theory (3)

JLS-638 Race and Justice in America (3)

JLS-648 Law and Religion (3)

JLS-650 Constitutionalism in Historical Perspective (3)

JLS-676 Theories of Punishment (3)

• 9 additional credit hours from the following or other approved justice, law and society courses:

GOVT-523 The Art and Craft of Lobbying (1–4)

GOVT-540 Political Parties, Interest Groups and Lobbying (3)

GOVT-541 The Politics of Mass Communication (3)

GOVT-674 Constitutional Law and Politics (3)

HIST-651 Era of the Revolution and Constitution (3)

PHIL-520 Seminar on Ethical Theory (3)

PHIL-525 Seminar on Modern Moral Problems (3)

PHIL-641 Philosophy of the Social Sciences (3)

SIS-621 International Law and the Legal Order (3)