If you are passionate about justice and making a positive difference in the lives and safety of communities, then one of two specifically-designed majors in the legal field may be a good fit for you. Pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Administration of Justice degree, and add a specialty in either adult and juvenile corrections, cybercrime, law enforcement, or forensics. A Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies degree, by comparison, focuses on helping you to develop an understanding of the nature, content, and operation of U.S. law and legal institutions. For those with an interest in these topics but wanting to complete other majors, certificate and minor options are also available.
Administration of Justice
In American society, the justice system is a central social institution whose effects on individuals and social groups give it a pivotal role in our changing society. The Administration of Justice Program, offered by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, is an upper-division undergraduate program of interdisciplinary study in the liberal arts and sciences that leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. Students have the option to take some courses through Butler County Community College.
Degree Offered: BA
Credits: 120
Time to Complete: 2 to 4 years
Internship Required: Yes
Format: On campus and online
Locations: Pittsburgh and Butler County
*This major requires that you complete an internship at a facility outside the University, and that facility may require a criminal background check, Act 33/34 clearance, and perhaps drug screening to determine whether you are qualified to participate in the internship. Additionally, in order to become licensed or employed, many states will inquire as to whether the applicant has been convicted of a misdemeanor, a felony, or a felonious or illegal act associated with alcohol and/or substance abuse.
Legal Studies
The legal studies major is an interdisciplinary course of study that combines the theories and methods of several social science disciplines with law. The major is intended to help students develop an understanding of the nature, content, and operation of American law and legal institutions.
Degree Offered: BA
Credits: 120
Time to Complete: 2 to 4 years
Internship Required: No, but encouraged
Format: On campus and online
Location: Pittsburgh
Advanced Degree Option*
Master of Studies in Law
Students in the Legal Studies Program in the College of General Studies may obtain the MSL degree in a program in which credits obtained in the MSL program also count toward the bachelor's degree.
*Pending acceptance to the School of Law—completion of prerequisites does not guarantee acceptance.