Degrees BA in Administration of Justice
In American society, the justice system is a central, social institution. Its effects on individuals and social groups give it a pivotal role in a changing society.
The Administration of Justice (ADMJ) program, offered by the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), is an upper-division undergraduate course of interdisciplinary study in the liberal arts and sciences which leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. The goal of this baccalaureate program is to develop an understanding of the evolution, theory, structure, functioning, and processes of change in the total system of criminal justice in our society. ADMJ majors develop competence in one of three specialized areas:
1. Adult and Juvenile Corrections
2. Law Enforcement Practice
3. Forensics
Associated Job Titles: Correctional officer, parole officer, penologist, court administrator, probation officer, arson, ballisitcs, polygraph analysis, police officer, Postal Service investigator, FBI agent, security guard, credit investigator, loss prevention specialist, child welfare worker, child development specialist, and drug and alcohol counselor.
Curriculum (120 credits)
Many courses are offered in the evenings, on Saturdays, and at off-campus locations. Click here to check the University schedule of classes for courses offered each term. (Not all courses are offered every term.)
For course schedule and descriptions
For most undergraduate classes offered by the School of Arts and Sciences, College of General Studies, and College of Business Administration, visit:
http://www.courses.as.pitt.edu/
A minimum total of 120 credits (approximately 40 courses) are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Administration of Justice. Of this total, 30 credits (10 courses) make up the major which is satisfied by taking courses to complete the (A) Core Requirements, (B) Area of Concentration, and (C) Major Electives. The remaining credits required for the degree are outlined on the "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" sheet.
A. Core Requirements: 12 credits (four courses)
Administration of Justice
ADMJ 1400 Introduction to Criminal Law 3 cr.
ADMJ 0500 Introduction to Administration of Justice 3 cr.
ADMJ 1450 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice 3 cr.
ADMJ 1900 Pre-Service Internship 3 cr.
B. Area of Concentration: 9 credits (three courses)
Choose one of the three areas of specialization. All courses listed under that area are required.
1. Adult and Juvenile Corrections
Administration of Justice
ADMJ 1220 Deviance and the Law 3 cr.
ADMJ 1300 Introduction to Corrections 3 cr.
Psychology
PSY 1205 Abnormal Psychology
(prerequisite: PSY 0160 Personality) 3 cr.
2. Law Enforcement Practice
Administration of Justice
ADMJ 1200 Introduction to Law Enforcement 3 cr.
ADMJ 1265 Advanced Topics in Criminology 3 cr.
ADMJ 1410 Introduction to Criminal Procedure
(also offered as LEGLST 1141) 3 cr.
3. Forensics
Administration of Justice
ADMJ 1100 Crime Scene Investigation 3 cr.
ADMJ 1115 Criminalistics 3 cr.
Legal Studies
LEGLST 1230 Psychology and the Law 3 cr.
C. Major Electives: 9 credits
Choose three additional courses from the following:
1. Adult and Juvenile Corrections
Administration of Justice
ADMJ
0100 Society and the Law 3 cr.
ADMJ 0600 Introduction to Criminology 3 cr.
ADMJ 1100 Crime Scene Investigation 3 cr.
ADMJ 1115 Criminalistics 3 cr.
ADMJ 1118 Criminalistics Lab 3 cr.
ADMJ 1130 Minority Issues in Criminal Justice 3 cr.
ADMJ 1200 Introduction to Law Enforcement 3 cr.
ADMJ 1205 Introduction to Police Management 3 cr.
(also offered as SOC 1443) 3 cr.
ADMJ 1220 Deviance and the Law 3 cr.
ADMJ 1225 The Juvenile Justice 3 cr.
ADMJ 1230 White Collar Crime 3 cr.
ADMJ 1235 Organized Crime 3 cr.
ADMJ 1236 International Organized Crime 3 cr.
ADMJ 1242 Gender, Race, Class, and Crime 3 cr.
ADMJ 1245 Terrorism 3 cr.
ADMJ 1265 Advanced Topics in Criminology 3 cr.
ADMJ 1300 Introduction to Corrections 3 cr.
(also offered as LEGLST 1141) 3 cr.
ADMJ 1425 Principles of Homeland Security 3 cr.
ADMJ 1900 Service Internship 1-6 cr.
ADMJ 1901 Independent Study 1-3 cr.
Transfer Credit Agreement:
Transfer credit agreements have been established between criminal justice programs at many of the community colleges within the state and the Administration of Justice Program at the University of Pittsburgh. The agreements give a course-by-course outline of the associates degree program and the equivalent course or requirement fulfilled for CGS. Courses transfer if graded "C" or better. For a copy of the transfer agreement for a specific community college, contact CGS.
Police Academy Certification:
Students may receive up to 15 transfer credits for completion of Pennsylvania Municipal Police Academy Act 120 or State Police Cadet Training. Certification coursework is equivalent to ADMJ 0500, ADMJ 1400, ADMJ 1410, and two ADMJ elective courses.
Graduate School Option:
Students with a QPA of 3.5 or better planning to pursue graduate work may want to consider the graduate school option for early admission to their graduate program. The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) offers an early admission option for Administration of Justice majors in CGS. Contact CGS for details.
Minor requirements:
Students interested in a minor, rather than a major, in Administration of Justice should check with their academic advisor. For CGS students, the minor would be professional elective coursework. For School of Arts and Sciences students (A&S), the minor would be non-A&S elective course work. For the minor, students must complete five courses (15 credits) with at least three courses from the University of Pittsburgh. A 2.0 average is required in the minor.
Minor courses:
ADMJ 0500 Introduction to Administration of Justice 3 cr.
ADMJ 1400 Introduction to Criminal Law 3 cr.
ADMJ electives 9 cr.
Payment plans
MasterCard and American Express are accepted for tuition payment.
If employed, check with your company's human resources office to see if you qualify for company tuition benefits.
Optional Payment Plan is available for participants who are eligible to extend tuition payments over a longer period of time.
download pdf