Law, Criminal Justice, and Society (BA)

Requirements

A minimum total of 120 credits is required for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Of this total, the LCJS major consists of 36 credits of core and specialization courses. CGS online offerings are marked with (Web) or (Hybrid) on the program page. See our General Education program page for the remaining degree requirements. The 36 LCJS major credits are distributed as follows.

Foundations (6 credits)

Two of the following three courses are required:

•  

•  

•  

Core Areas (15 credits)

Select courses according to the guidelines stated. Course selections must comprise a total of at least 15 credits.

Theories of Crime

Choose one of the following courses.

•  

•  

•  

Criminal Law

Choose one of the following courses.

•  

•  

Power, Inequality, and Social Change

Choose two of the following courses.

•  

•  

^{Note: or SOC 0471 Deviance and Social Control}

•  

^{Note: or PS 1201 Constitution and Civil Liberties}

•  
•  

•  

^{Special Topic: Critical Issues in CJ (section 75xx)}

^{Special Topic: Violence & Non-Violence (section 70xx) |}

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

^{Note: Effective Spring 2026, this course is offered under this category. It was previously listed under CJ Institutions.}

• Pitt Prison Education Project (PPEP) Course Codes and Topics Vary  

^{Credits: 3 to 6}

Criminal Justice Institutions

Choose one of the following courses.

•  

•  

•  

Electives (6 credits)

Choose two courses from list A or one course from each list A and B. Please keep in mind that course selections must comprise a total of at least six credits.

List A

•  

^{Note: Effective Spring 2026, this course is offered under this category. It was previously listed under Power, Inequality, and Social Change.}

•  

^{Effective Spring 2026, this course is offered under this category. It was previously listed under CJ Institutions.}

•  

^{Effective Spring 2026, this course is offered under this category. It was previously listed under CJ Institutions.}

•  

•  
•  

•  
•  

•  

•  

•  

•  
•  

•  
•  
• LCJS 1561 - JUVENILE DELINQUENCY or:
•  

•  

^{Note: This course is no longer offered. Students who previously completed this course may still count it toward major credit requirements.}

•  

^{Note: This course is no longer offered. Students who previously completed this course may still count it toward major credit requirements.}

•  

•  

•  

•  

• Any LCJS course not used to fulfill any other major requirement

^{Credits: 3 to 6}

List B

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  
•  

• NON-LCJS Any non-LCJS subject code that is included in this major and not used to fulfill any other major requirement.

^{Credits: 3}

Professional Skills (6 credits)

Select at least one course from each category. Course selections must comprise a total of at least 6 credits.

Research / Practical Skills Course

•  

^{Note: can be taken for up to six credits, and credits four through six can be applied to the Elective - List A requirement.}

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

^{Note: may be restricted to Psychology majors.}

•  

•  

Professional or Public-Oriented Writing Course

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

Capstone (3 credits)

•  

Writing Course

Students must complete at least one W-course in the major. LCJS 1700 Ethics in Criminal Justice will fulfill this requirement.

Program Notes

Grade Requirements

A minimum GPA of 2.0 in courses for the LCJS major is required for graduation.

Satisfactory / No Satisfactory Credit Option

Students may apply up to six credits of coursework taken on an S/NC basis to the LCJS major; however, the two foundations courses and the capstone must be taken for a letter grade. Student may apply up to nine credits if at least three of those credits are earned as part of a Study Abroad course that applies toward the major.

LCJS Subject Code

The LCJS subject code replaced both the ADMJ and LEGLST subject codes beginning Spring 2022.  If you have taken ADMJ or LEGLST courses prior to Spring 2022, review the Course Equivalency Chart