The Master of Arts in Justice Studies
Program Description
The Master of Arts degree program in Justice Studies (MAJS) provides a broad understanding of justice, crime, and law. It provides tools for reasoned appraisal of how the justice system works and what policies underlie it. The program familiarizes students with legal and justice ideas, justice institutions, and legal processes. It draws on a variety of disciplines, subjects, and research methodologies for its core knowledge. Our students work closely with faculty with established reputations as scholars, teachers, and practitioners. Program requirements include proseminar, quantitative methods, applied research methods, theories of justice, criminology, internship, project and 2 electives. Students can apply to do a master's thesis in place of a project.
Program Cost:
Students pay 1/2 semester tuition for the August courses (first summer), 1 semester tuition for both fall and spring semesters and 1/2 semester tuition for the second summer course.
Financial Aid:
In order to qualify for assistantships and work study, students must complete the FAFSA form before March 1st. We have at least 3 assistantships available which provide a stipend for 20 hours of work, free tuition for the fall and spring semesters, and free health insurance. Graduate students with work study can apply for positions as teaching assistants and research assistants. Loans are available through UNH Financial Aid.
Application Deadlines:
March 1st for students who want financial aid
April 15th for students not interested in financial aid
Program Requirements
The Master of Arts in Justice Studies requires that students complete a minimum of 9 courses (36 credit hours) in Justice Studies from the following list:
Required courses:
JUST 901 – Proseminar
JUST 905 – Quantitative Research Methods
JUST 907 – Applied Research Methods
JUST 830 - Theories of Justice
1 of the 3 listed below:
SOC 815 - Criminological Theory
SOC 880 - Social Conflict
SOC 921 - Crime and Conflict
AND EITHER:
JUST 897 – Culminating Project (worth 4 credit hours)
JUST 950/951 - Internship (worth 4 credit hours)
OR
JUST 899 – Thesis (worth 8 credit hours)
ELECTIVES:
Choose 2 courses if taking JUST 899 (Thesis) or 2 courses + JUST 950/951 (Internship) if taking JUST 897 (Culminating Project) from the following list (no more than 1 from any Department other than Justice Studies):
EDUC 951 – Law and regulations affecting the education of students w/disabilities
EDUC 967 – Legal aspects of school administration
EDUC 968 – Collective bargaining in public education
FS 894 – Families and the law
HMP 940 – Legal strategies in health care
HMP 950 – Ethics and health care
HIST 809 – U.S. Legal History Special Topics: Crime and Punishment in Argentina
HIST 949 – Law and Society in American History
JUST 950 – Internship
JUST 951 - Research Internship
JUST 965 – Advanced Topics in Justice Studies
JUST 995 - Independent Study
POLT 801 – Courts and public policy
POLT 803 – Urban and metropolitan politics
POLT 861 – International Law
PSYC 954 – Advanced Seminar in Social Psychology: Justice, Injustice and Stigma
SW 979 – Social Work and the Law
SOC 815 – Criminological Theory
SOC 880 – Social Conflict
SOC 921 – Crime and Conflict
SOC 976 – Violence in the Family
Graduation Requirements
Must complete and pass 36 credits
Must receive a B- or better in all courses (anything below a B- is considered failing)
Any student who fails 2 courses will be dismissed from the MAJS Program
Must have a GPA of a 3.0 or better in order to be eligible to file Intent to Graduate Form
Useful links
see our course offerings page for the list of approved graduate courses
JUST 995, Independent Study, guidelines
JUST 995, Independent Study, agreement
Graduate School's Academic Calendar (deadlines, etc.)