COURSE CURRICULUM

The Justice Studies major at San José State University is a 120-unit undergraduate program designed to provide students with a strong interdisciplinary foundation in law, justice systems, and social issues. The degree includes 25 units of lower division general education, 3 units of upper division GE, 2 units of physical education, and a writing requirement fulfilled through JS 100W. Students must also complete 6 units of American Institutions requirements, along with 33 units of university electives or an optional minor, allowing flexibility to explore complementary fields. The program begins with 6 units of major preparation, where students take an introductory course in justice studies, forensic science, legal studies, or human rights, along with a statistics course to build essential analytical skills. The core of the major consists of 45 units, including 24 units of required courses that cover key areas such as critical issues in justice, research methods, criminological theory, human rights, and inequality in the legal system. Students also complete a writing workshop, a senior seminar, and an experiential component such as an internship or community-based project, providing practical, real-world experience. An additional 21 units are completed across specialized categories, including theory, methodology, critical inquiry, and local or global justice issues, allowing students to explore topics such as cybercrime, immigration, gender and crime, terrorism, and forensic psychology. Optional experiential learning courses further enhance professional skills through internships, research, and applied projects. Overall, the program emphasizes critical thinking, research, and ethical reasoning, preparing graduates for careers in law enforcement, legal services, public policy, social advocacy, and research, while also providing a strong foundation for graduate or law school studies.