Administration of Justice (BA)

Administration of Justice Major Ranked #2 in Pennsylvania

scale of justiceThe College of General Studies Administration of Justice major has been ranked as the second best program in Pennsylvania by Zippia, a career  services and job search platform. Zippia's ranking has taken into account data on the quality of the Criminal Justice Program and how students perform after college, among other criteria.  See Best Colleges In Pennsylvania For Criminal Justice Majors. Zippia has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, Fortune, CNBC and the NY Times, and other major publications. This is the third year Zippia has ranked programs.  October 2019


Our administration of justice program is an upper-division undergraduate course of interdisciplinary study in the liberal arts and sciences that 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. Administration of justice majors develop competence in one of four specialized areas:

  • Adult and Juvenile Corrections
  • Law Enforcement Practice
  • Forensics
  • Cybercrime

An administration of justice minor is also available.

Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits (approximately 40 courses) for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in administration of justice. Of this total, 30 credits make up the major, which is satisfied by taking courses to complete the core requirements, area of concentration, and major electives.CGS online course offerings are marked with (Web) or (Hybrid) on the program page. The remaining credits consist of General Education Requirements. Other related courses are offered by the anthropology, political science, psychology, and sociology departments.

Important: Changes to ADMJ Courses

Beginning Spring 2022 (2224), Administration of Justice courses have been renumbered and retitled with LCJS as their subject code. These courses count the same as their former ADMJ or LEGLST equivalent for Administration of Justice majors and minors.

View Course Equivalency Chart   See LCJS Course Descriptions

Core Requirements: (12 credits)

The following four courses are required.

  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1400, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1200, effective Spring 2022
Note: Cross-listed with LEGLST 1140
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1590, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: Hybrid
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1900, effective Spring 2022
Area of Concentration: (9 credits)

Choose one of the four areas of specialization. All courses listed under a given area are required.

Adult and Juvenile Corrections

  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1310, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1420, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Formerly PSY 1205 Abnormal Psychology

Law Enforcement Practice

  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1410, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1110, effective Spring 2022
Approved Substitute:ADMJ 0600
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1210, effective Spring 2022
Note: Cross-listed with LEGLST 1141

Forensics

  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1440, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1500, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1510, effective Spring 2022

Cybercrime

  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1520, effective Spring 2022

Choose two of the following four courses:

  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1531, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1521, effective Spring 2022
  •  
  •  
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1570, effective Spring 2022
Note: Cross-listed with PUBSRV 1425
Major Electives: (9 credits)

Choose three additional courses from the following list:

  •  
Title Change as of Fall 2021: ADMJ 0100 INTRODUCTION TO LAW, CRIMINAL JUSTICE & SOCIETY
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 0100, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1100, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1440, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1500, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1501, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1410, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1572, effective Spring 2022
  •  
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1310, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1430 effective Spring 2022
  •  
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1540, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1520, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1530 effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1531, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1521, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1550, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1571, effective Spring 2022
  •  
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1110, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1420, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1560, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1210, effective Spring 2022
Note: Cross-listed with LEGLST 1141
  •  
Note: Cross-listed with PUBSRV 1425
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1570, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1590, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: Hybrid
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1900, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1599, effective Spring 2022
  •  
Format: F2F and Web
Note: Replaced by LCJS 1510, effective Spring 2022
  •  
  • Pitt Prison Education Project (PPEP) Course Codes and Topics Vary 

Program Planning Checklist

Use the Administration of Justice BA checklist (PDF)  to plan and track your progress in the major.

Opportunities Within This Major

Internships

Supreme Court PoliceReal-world experience in the criminal justice system is important to your success. As part of the program, you’ll have the option to complete an internship within a local agency or facility.

Learn more about internships »

Study Abroad

Student holding a book

We encourage CGS students to consider spending a break, semester or summer abroad. The Global Seminar on Wrongful Conviction in London will give you a global perspective on courts and corrections.

Explore study abroad opportunities »

Career Outlook

An undergraduate law and criminal justice degree supports a wide range of career pathways. These include:

Criminal justice and related occupations
♦ correctional officers (*)
♦ crime analyst
♦ forensic science technicians (*)
♦ police and detectives (*)
♦ private detectives and investigators (*)
♦ probation officers and correctional treatment specialists (*)
♦ adult basic and secondary education (*)
♦ mental health counselors (*)
♦ paralegal and legal assistants (*)
Governmental and non-governmental criminal justice analysis and reform organizations

♦ Bureau of Justice Statistics (governmental)
♦ National Institute of Justice (governmental)
♦ The Marshall Project (non-governmental)
♦ Prison Policy Initiative (non-governmental)
♦ Vera Institute of Justice (non-governmental)

Advanced degrees in law and the social sciences

♦ Law school
♦ Ph.D. programs in Criminology & Criminal Justice

​Want to know more about the pay and job growth outlook for various occupations? Explore the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook (those marked with a * above have dedicated listings in this handbook).

Connect with CGS Career Services to learn about current and future employment opportunities within this major.

Note

Requirements are subject to change. Check with a CGS academic advisor before registering.