Academic Programs

Academic Programs

Academic Programs

The Law and Justice Studies program prepares students for professional careers in four major areas: law enforcement and security services, court services, corrections, and human services. Since many of the students who enter the program express an interest in preparation for graduate study and professional schools, the program also offers majors the rigorous preparation necessary to achieve such goals. An internship in an appropriate criminal justice or related agency is required in order to provide students with experience, making their class work more meaningful.
 
 
 
We also offer study abroad opportunities. You can read about a recent trip to Ireland as part of our International Terrorism course here. 
 

Bachelor of Arts in Law and Justice Studies

Course Requirements:

The Bachelor of Arts in Law and Justice Studies requires a total of 120 semester hours consisting of 31 semester hours of general education requirements, 12 semester hours of Rowan Experience courses, 23 semester hours of general education electives, 18 non-major requirements, and 36 semester hours of Law and Justice requirements. 

To fulfill the 36 semester hours (s.h.) of Law and Justice requirements, students must take:

A. Required Courses (24 s.h.)

Any ONE of the following:

  • LAWJ 05.200 Introduction to Corrections
  • LAWJ 05.201 Introduction to Courts
  • LAWJ 05.202 American Police
ALL of the following:
  • LAWJ 05.175 Survey of Criminal Justice
  • LAWJ 05.255 Criminal Law
  • LAWJ 05.369 Theories of Crime & Criminality -[See Prerequisite 1]
  • LAWJ 05.380 Criminal Justice Research - [See Prerequisite 2]
  • LAWJ 05.356 Criminal Justice Internship - [See Prerequisite 3]
  • LAWJ 05.401 Law and Human Rights (MC/G) - [See Prerequisite 1]
  • LAWJ 05.400's Seminar (Writing Intensive) - [See Prerequisite 4]
  1. Course Prerequisite: Survey of Criminal Justice (05.175) and any other 6 Law & Justice credits
  2. Course Prerequisite: Theories of Crime (05.369)
  3. Course Prerequisites: 24 s.h. (8 courses) in Law & Justice Studies & College Comp II
  4. Course Prerequisites: College Comp II (ENGL 01.112), Survey of Criminal Justice (LAWJ 05.275), Criminal Law (LAWJ 05.255), and Criminal Justice Research (LAWJ 05.380)

B. Law and Justice Studies Electives (12 Required s.h.)

Law & Justice Studies majors must take at least 12 s.h. in Law and Justice Studies electives from the following:

Policing

  • LAWJ 05.120 Introduction to Security
  • LAWJ 05.285 Criminal Investigation
  • LAWJ 05.290 Forensic Law
  • LAWJ 05.364 Critical Issues in American Law Enforcement
  • LAWJ 05.381 Crime Mapping and Crime Analysis I 
  • LAWJ 05.382 Crime Mapping and Crime Analysis II

Corrections

  • LAWJ 05.276 Parole, Probation & Community Corrections
  • LAWJ 05.324 Sentencing & Rights of Convicted
  • LAWJ 05.337 Treatment of the Offender
  • LAWJ 05.343 Offender Re-entry, Re-integration and Recidivism
  • LAWJ 05.342 Counseling & Guidance of the Offenders
  • LAWJ 05.395 The Incarceration Experience

Courts/Law

  • LAWJ 05.290 Forensic Law
  • LAWJ 05.305 Law and Evidence
  • LAWJ 05.310 Criminal Jurisprudence
  • LAWJ 05.312 Criminal Procedure II
  • LAWJ 05.320 Civil Aspects of Law Enforcement
  • LAWJ 05.335 Criminal Procedure I

Social Justice

  • LAWJ 05.205 Minorities, Crime, & Criminal Justice
  • LAWJ 05.210 Restorative Justice
  • LAWJ 05.220 Victimology
  • LAWJ 05.274 Criminal Justice & Community Relations
  • LAWJ 05.315 Criminal Justice & Social Conflict
  • LAWJ 05.330 Problems in World Justice
  • LAWJ 05.346 Women, Crime & Criminal Justice
  • LAWJ 05.379 The Political Prisoner
Terrorism, Homeland Security and Global Issues in Criminal Justice
  • LAWJ 05.280 Homeland Security 3 
  • LAWJ 05.323 Maritime Crime and Criminality
  • LAWJ 05.325 ​Comparative & International Issues in Criminal Justice
  • LAWJ 05.326 International Terrorism  
  • LAWJ 05.327 Terrorism in the US
  • LAWJ 05.330 Problems in World Justice​

Additional Law and Justice Courses

  • LAWJ 05.225 Media and Crime
  • LAWJ 05.229 Introduction to Gangs
  • LAWJ 05.250 Scholarship of Criminal Justice
  • LAWJ 05.288 Casino Crime
  • LAWJ 05.322 Drugs & Crime in America
  • LAWJ 05.325 Comparative Criminal Justice
  • LAWJ 05.350 Mass Murder
  • LAWJ 05.361 Introduction to Juvenile Justice
  • LAWJ 05.392 Criminal Justice Administration
  • LAWJ 05.415 Selected Topics in Criminal Justice

NOTE: Internships can be taken for 6 s.h.(as Criminal Justice Internship I and Criminal Justice Internship II) and the extra 3 s.h. can be used as Law and Justice Studies or Outside Free Electives.

For more details on the requirements for the B.A. major in Law and Justice Studies, including information on the 84 remaining semester hours of general education requirements, Rowan Experience courses, general education electives, and non-major requirements, see the Undergraduate Catalog.

Minor in Law and Justice Studies

Course Requirements:

A minor consisting of 21 s.h. in Law and Justice Studies is available to all students. All students minoring in Law and Justice Studies must take the following classes:

  • LAWJ 05.175 Survey of Criminal Justice
  • LAWJ 05.255 Criminal Law
  • LAWJ 05.369 Theories of Crime and Criminality

In addition, students must take any four additional Law & Justice Studies courses. Students must earn a C- or better in all courses for the minor.

To declare a minor, go to the University Advising Center, Room 323, Savitz Hall 856-256-4459.

Questions? Contact:

University Advising - https://sites.rowan.edu/student-success/advising/ 
Yajaira Flores (if you have 0-57 credits) - floresy@rowan.edu 
Ivelisse Silva (if you have 58 or more credits) - silva@rowan.edu or 

CUGS in Crime Mapping and Crime Analysis

The Certificate of Undergraduate Study (CUGS) in Crime Mapping and Crime Analysis provides students with a foundation in the study of crime patterns and trends and introduces students to the tools and techniques utilized by crime analysts serving law enforcement agencies. The certificate serves students interested in pursuing careers in crime analysis and law enforcement by providing the requisite background necessary to understand how crime analysis is conducted, how such analyses support the mission of law enforcement agencies, and how completed analyses can be applied in the field. Technical classes that provide the student with proficiencies in geographic information systems and other tools used by analysts are supplemented with coursework that details how crime analysis has impacted the field of law enforcement and how police consume the products of crime analysis.

The five-course (15 credits) certificate begins by completing the following courses:

  • LAWJ 05.365 Critical Issues in American Law Enforcement
  • LAWJ 05.385 Crime Mapping and Crime Analysis I
  • GEOG 16.160 Intro to Mapping and GIS

Upon completion of these three courses, students may begin pursuing the remaining two advanced courses:

  • GEOG16260 Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems
    • GEOG16160 Intro to Mapping and GISis a prerequisite
  • LAWJ05386 Crime Mapping and Crime Analysis II
    • LAWJ05385Crime Mapping and Crime Analysis I is a prerequisite
    • In addition, students have two options to fulfill the second prerequisite:
      1. Students may treat GEOG16260Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems as an additional prerequisite that they must successfully complete before enrolling in LAWJ05386 Crime Mapping and Crime Analysis II.
      2. At the discretion of Dr. Evan Sorg (sorg@rowan.edu), the certificate director, students can potentially waive this prerequisite and enroll in GEOG16260 Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems and LAWJ05386 Crime Mapping and Crime Analysis II during the same semester, in effect treating the courses as co-requisites.

CUGS in Community Corrections (15 s.h.)

Offered through the Department of Law and Justice Studies, The Certificate of Undergraduate Studies (CUGS) in Community Corrections provides students seeking careers in criminal justice to be more competitive in the marketplace.  As we realize the budgetary and societal costs associated with imprisonment, along with high recidivism rates among those released from prison, there has been a growing emphasis on community-based corrections in the United States.  The curriculum addresses the current direction of community corrections and prepares students to enter this rapidly changing field upon graduation.  The courses selected were designed to emphasize the core of evidence-based practices in the field of community corrections and risk reduction/behavior change-focused course work.  These courses provide students with a well-rounded understanding of community corrections and the ability to tailor the program to meet their own individual interests and career goals.

The requirements include the following courses:

  • LAWJ 05.276 Parole, probation and community corrections
  • LAWJ 05.322 Drugs and crime in America
  • LAWJ 05.337 Treatment of the offender
  • LAWJ 05.340 Offender re-entry, reintegration, and recidivism

Students may choose from one of these three courses to fulfill the required 15 s.h. and tailor the program to meet their specific areas of interest and career goals.

  • LAWJ 05.200 Introduction to corrections
  • LAWJ 05.210 Restorative justice
  • LAWJ 05.361 Introduction to juvenile justice

To be awarded the CUGS in Community Corrections, students must complete all courses required for the CUGS in Community Corrections with at least a 2.0 average.