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Justice Studies
Degree Programs
- Bachelor of Arts with a Comprehensive Major in Justice Studies-Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Arts with a Comprehensive Major in Justice Studies-Legal Studies
General Studies
The General Studies requirements for Chadron State College are available on a separate page for easy reference. You may want to open the page in a new window or tab.
The Justice Studies program provides the student with instruction in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. The program focuses on the building of knowledge in the areas of law enforcement, criminology, law, paralegal studies, courts, juvenile justice, forensic sciences, and corrections from a social science perspective. The program strives to promote basic principles of justice that enhance the criminal justice and legal professions and benefit the community at large. The program seeks to produce students who are critical and ethical thinkers, knowledgeable about issues of crime, law and justice, and appreciative and mindful of their civic and social responsibilities to provide service and leadership in their communities. The program provides students with the professional and academic preparation necessary for entry-level positions in public and private sectors. The program also provides students with the preparation necessary for successful graduate study and endeavors to provide professionals with career-enhancing educational experiences.
Student Learning Outcomes – Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice curriculum prepares students for professional criminal justice careers; for graduate work in areas such as political science, sociology, and criminal justice; and for various professional schools including law, social work, public administration and business administration. Students will:
- Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.
- Identify the principal components of the criminal justice system and recognize the interrelationship within and between those components.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the role of law, both substantive and procedural, as a central feature in the criminal justice system.
- Recognize and describe the scope of the crime problem, theoretical explanations of crime and delinquency, and how our understanding of these concepts affects system processes.
- Understand the importance of ethics and ethical behavior in the pursuit of justice.
- Recognize issues related to effective policing in American society.
- Possess a foundational knowledge in the principles of scientific investigation of crime.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the differing arrays of people and cultures as they relate to the justice system.
- Possess an awareness of the goals, successes, and challenges of institutional and community corrections.
- Recognize issues that have traditionally confronted the justice system and identify prevailing trends, attitudes, advances and policies that will have an impact on the principal institutions of the criminal justice system.
Student Learning Outcomes – Legal Studies
The Legal Studies Program prepares non-lawyer personnel to perform support services for professionals in law firms, government offices, trust departments, real estate offices, accounting firms and other law related activities. Under a lawyer’s supervision, Legal Assistants or Paralegals are expected to perform a wide variety of functions. These include interviewing clients and witnesses, researching legal authority, analyzing factual and legal situations, preparing documents and forms, and managing offices. The curriculum also prepares students for graduate work in Legal Studies or law. Legal Studies students will:
- Possess a comprehensive understanding of selected areas of substantive and procedural law.
- Acquire organizational, computer literacy, writing, oral communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrate an ability to analyze problems, to formulate and evaluate logical alternative solutions, and to construct and evaluate logical arguments in support of specific positions.
- Understand the ethical dimensions of the paralegal profession.
- Demonstrate appropriate and effective legal research and writing skills.
- Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of law office organization, accounting systems, and the role performed by lawyers and non-lawyers.
Honors Seminars
The Justice Studies Department offers Honors Seminars within the major. Students with a 3.25 grade point average or above are eligible to take part in the Honors Seminars. Students completing all 12 hours of the program will receive special graduation recognition.
The Degree of Bachelor of Arts with a Comprehensive Major in Justice Studies-Criminal Justice
A student must complete the following program in addition to the General Studies requirements:
Core Requirements
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CJ 231 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 232 | Police in America | 3 |
| CJ 236 | Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| CJ 336 | Multicultural Issues in CJ | 3 |
| CJ 337 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| CJ 339 | Criminology | 3 |
| CJ 434 | Senior Seminar in CJ | 3 |
| CJ 436 | Seminar: Comparative CJ | 3 |
| CJ 441 | Ethical Issues in CJ | 3 |
| Law Enforcement Focus* | 6 | |
| Law Focus* | 6 | |
| Juvenile Justice Focus* | 6 | |
| Corrections Focus* | 6 | |
| Forensic Sciences Focus* | 6 | |
| Total hours | 57 | |
| *Focus Areas: A student must complete six (6) hours in each of the following five areas: Law Enforcement: CJ 233, 238, 321, 435, 437 Law: CJ 331, 333, 334, 433, 438 Juvenile Justice: CJ 322, 332, 432, 439, 440 Corrections: CJ 234, 338, 430, 431, 443 Forensic Sciences: CJ 235, 323, 444, 445, 450 |
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| Students who wish to complete an emphasis area in the program (Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Law Enforcement; Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Law; Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Corrections; Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Juvenile Justice; Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Forensic Sciences) must complete four courses listed in the focus area. | ||
The Degree of Bachelor of Arts with a Comprehensive Major in Justice Studies-Legal Studies
Student must complete the following in addition to the General Studies requirements.
Core Requirements
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACTG 241 | Accounting Principles I | 3 |
| IST 130 | Introduction to Computer Applications | 3 |
| LS 231 | Introduction to Legal Studies | 3 |
| LS 232 | Litigation/Civil Procedures | 3 |
| LS 238 | Legal Research & Writing I | 3 |
| LS 337 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| LS 338 | Legal Research & Writing II | 3 |
| LS 390 | Internship | 3 |
| LS 436 | Ethics/Professional Responsibility | 3 |
| Commercial Focus* | 9 | |
| Litigation Focus* | 9 | |
| Public Law Focus* | 9 | |
| Total hours | 54 | |
| *Focus Areas: A student must complete nine (9) hours in each of the following three areas: Commercial: LS 332, 343, 434, 435, 444 Litigation: LS 233, 331, 334, 432, 433 Public Law: LS 235, 236, 333, 431, 438 |
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Minors in Justice Studies
Criminal Justice
A student must complete the following program in addition to the General Studies requirements and a major in another area.
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CJ 231 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 232 | Police in America | 3 |
| CJ 236 | Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| CJ 337 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| Plus three hours from three of the focus areas (Law Enforcement, Law, Corrections, Juvenile Justice, or Forensic Sciences) as outlined in the description of the Criminal Justice major program | 9 | |
| Total hours | 21 | |
Legal Studies
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LS 231 | Introduction to Legal Studies | 3 |
| LS 238 | Legal Research & Writing I | 3 |
| LS 337 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| LS 436 | Ethics/Professional Responsibility | 3 |
| Plus three hours in each of the focus areas (Commercial, Litigation, and Public Law) as outlined in the description of the Legal Studies major program | 9 | |
| Total hours | 21 | |
Pre-Law
Students in pre-law should select from a broad base of courses at the undergraduate level. The practice of law normally requires a bachelor’s degree, three years in graduate law school, and successful completion of the bar exam of the jurisdiction in which the law school graduate wishes to practice.
There are no specific course requirements and no particular majors for entrance into law school. Students are encouraged to follow their interests and talents, and choose a major that is right for them. Particular attention should be paid to the assertive skill areas that include language and communication skills, creative and critical thinking ability, and an understanding of human institutions and values.
Legal Studies and Criminal Justice programs are popular majors for pre-law students and provide a thorough understanding of the legal system they will be practicing in upon completion of law school. Students are encouraged to take certain law courses, to consider declaring a double major and to participate in college and community activities in preparation for admission to law school.
Students receive individual advising on LSAT preparation and law school selection from Justice Studies faculty and are encouraged to meet with visiting representatives from area law schools.
Visit the LSAT Website: www.lsat.org
Academic Certificate Program
Paralegal
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LS 231 | Introduction to Legal Studies | 3 |
| LS 238 | Legal Research and Writing I | 3 |
| LS 338 | Legal Research and Writing II | 3 |
| LS 436 | Ethics/Professional Responsibility | 3 |
| Elective I* | 3 | |
| Elective II** | 6 | |
| Total hours | 21 | |
| *Elective I: Choose three (3) hours from LS 232, 233, 332, 434. **Elective II: Choose six (6) hours from LS 235, 236, 331, 334, 343, 431, 432, 433, 435 |
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