Program Overview
Justice Studies Program
The Justice Studies program at the University of New Hampshire is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines issues related to justice, law, and society. Students in this program think critically about national conversations concerning justice, including race and policing, cybercrime, the opioid crisis, juvenile delinquency, sexual and interpersonal violence, immigrants and refugees, wrongful convictions, and bullying.
Program Overview
All majors in the Justice Studies program participate in applied or research internships in New England or Washington, D.C. Many students also spend a semester studying in Budapest and participating in Mock Trial. Graduates of the program excel in various positions, including FBI agents, federal probation and parole, police officers, victim/witness advocates, prison wardens, police prosecutors, attorneys, and juvenile justice advocates.
Courses
The Justice Studies program offers a range of courses, including:
- JUST 401: Introduction to Justice Studies
- JUST 405: Technology, Crime, and Society: A Forensic Exploration of High-Tech and Digital Crime
- JUST 410: Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention (SHARPP) Peer Advocacy
- JUST 501: Research Methods
- JUST 505: Breaking Down Breaking Bad: The Analysis of Hollywood Crime and Justice
- JUST 520: Girls Gone Bad: Delinquent Girls in Cultural Context
- JUST 535: Homicide
- JUST 550: Mock Trial
- JUST 551: Mock Trial
- JUST 591: Forensic Psychology
- JUST 595: Special Topics
- JUST 601: Internship
- JUST 701: Senior Seminar
- JUST 795: Reading and Research
Course Descriptions
JUST 401 - Introduction to Justice Studies
Overview of justice studies as the study of law and law-like systems. Includes literature from both the law and society, and criminology. Topics will include morality versus legality, the American legal civil and criminal system, torts, and adult versus juvenile justice.
JUST 405 - Technology, Crime, and Society: A Forensic Exploration of High-Tech and Digital Crime
This course addresses the ways in which technology, crime, and law converge in the wider society in the twenty-first century. While emerging technologies bring great benefits, they also bring unintended and unforeseen consequences. This course uses a social science orientation to explore a new and evolving field of forensic technology.
JUST 410 - Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention (SHARPP) Peer Advocacy
SHARPP Peer Advocacy is designed to provide the training and development of peer advocates to work directly with survivors of interpersonal violence while staffing SHARPP's 24/7 support line. Under NH state law (NH RSA 173:C), to have confidentiality as an advocate, individuals must successfully complete a minimum of 30-hours of specialized training and complete 6 hours of annual continuing education.
JUST 501 - Research Methods
Overview of the various methodologies used in justice studies research: quantitative, qualitative, and legal. Topics include issues of design such as ethics, reliability, and validity measurement. Students will design and write up research proposals using one of the methods reviewed in the course.
JUST 505 - Breaking Down Breaking Bad: The Analysis of Hollywood Crime and Justice
In this course, we will consider the intersections of justice studies, crime/delinquency, policy/law, and media. Employing case studies, we will critically analyze depictions of crime, criminals, and law enforcement in popular culture.
JUST 520 - Girls Gone Bad: Delinquent Girls in Cultural Context
This course explores the important and under-studied intersection between gender/girls and delinquency. Who is the typical female delinquent? What causes her to get into trouble? What happens to her if she is arrested? Topics include the extent and nature of adolescent girl's delinquency and theoretical explanations for delinquency.
JUST 535 - Homicide
Introduces to theory and research in homicide studies, including a review of the origins of and social responses to homicide.
JUST 550 - Mock Trial
Participation in American Mock Trial Association intercollegiate competition. Study and preparation for trial of national case (criminal or civil, alternate years). Year long course, 2 credit hours per semester.
JUST 551 - Mock Trial
Participation in American Mock Trial Association intercollegiate competition. Study and preparation for trial of national case (criminal or civil, alternate years). Year long course, 2 credit hours per semester.
JUST 591 - Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology is one of the fastest growing sub-fields in psychology and in fact one of the fastest growing disciplines in the world of social science. This course is designed to cover the various roles and issues that constitute the science of forensic psychology and to help student deepen their understanding of the various roles forensic psychologists play in the real world.
JUST 595 - Special Topics
Special topics of advanced study in Justice Studies. Selected offerings reflect faculty expertise in teaching and research. May be repeated in different topic areas.
JUST 601 - Internship
Weekly class meeting and a semester-long field internship in justice studies (e.g., law enforcement, corrections, victim advocacy, criminal or civil courts etc.) or a research internship working with a UNH faculty member or in a campus research lab. Placement must be approved by the justice studies internship coordinator.
JUST 701 - Senior Seminar
Advanced material in which the instructor has specialized knowledge through research and study. Topics may include the death penalty, terrorism, psychology of the jury, ethics and morality, immigration, therapeutic jurisprudence, and juveniles tried as adults.
JUST 795 - Reading and Research
An independent study that is arranged by the student and supervised by a Justice Studies faculty member. Course requirements include: assembling and reading a substantial bibliography in the field; completing several written assignments and in some cases participating in hands-on experiences such as data collection and analysis.
Faculty
The Justice Studies Department Faculty at the University of New Hampshire are dedicated to providing students with a comprehensive education in the field of justice studies.