BS in Justice Studies

Justice studies is a multidisciplinary approach to the scientific study of the causes, consequences, and prevention of crime and its social control, with a particular interest in promoting social justice. Justice studies students at Clemson will develop a broad understanding regarding the interconnections between crime, justice, human behavior, social environments, and governmental policy. We offer both a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in justice studies (Requirements vary with catalog year. Please consult the curriculum information sheets available on our advising page for more details). Our core curriculum provides students with courses in sociology and criminal justice, giving students a social science foundation as applied to understanding issues concerning the causes and consequences of crime and our efforts to control crime, including public policies and programs. Additional courses allow students to explore such topics as juvenile delinquency, criminal evidence, computer crime, social class and poverty, and globalization and social change. Our faculty members are from a variety of disciplines, including criminology/criminal justice, sociology, anthropology, and social work, but all are committed to understanding how social structure and processes influence human behavior and developing ways to improve and maximize social justice for all. Upon completion of the justice studies major, our students will have developed critical and independent thinking and problem-solving skills that prepare them for careers in a range of criminal justice, social service, and human service professions, as well as providing strong readiness for graduate study or law school.