Justice Studies Program - Mission Statement

The Justice Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program that provides a comprehensive examination of justice, crime, and the law. Faculty teach and conduct research on a variety of topics reflecting their diverse social science backgrounds. Given the centrality of questions of government and the political process to questions of justice, crime, and the law, the Justice Studies Program at Georgia Southern University is housed in the Political Science Department.

Students majoring in the Justice Studies Program work toward a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies degree which fosters a broad understanding of the nature of justice, crime, and the law as well as the social, political, legal, philosophic, and historical context in which questions of justice are addressed both in the United States and around the world. Students are expected to develop not only knowledge but a commitment to public service, ethical consciousness, and leadership abilities. Through the course work in the Justice Studies Program, students are equipped to become proficient writers, critical and independent thinkers, and effective communicators. Graduates of the Justice Studies Program are prepared for professions within the criminal justice system, graduate school, and law school.

The Justice Studies Program recognizes that the issues of crime and justice are complex, controversial topics that are open to a number of different interpretations. As such, we are committed to an open intellectual environment that encourages teaching, scholarship, and discussion from a diversity of theoretical perspectives and research methodologies.

The curriculum of the Justice Studies Program reflects these values by offering a broad foundation of courses drawing on criminal justice, criminology, political science, sociology, public administration, and the law. The curriculum integrates these approaches to provide an understanding of the challenges of achieving justice in a complex society.