Majors & Minors
Everything to learn about a Justice Studies major or minor: what's required, what courses look like, and how internships work.
Majors & Minors4 programs — pick the one(s) that apply to you
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Justice Studies Major 39 credits
Required: JUST 101 202 348 301 345 350 plus 6 Justice Studies electives.
Recommended course sequence
| Order | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | JUST-101 Intro to Social Justice | 3 cr |
| 2nd | JUST-202 WIP: Justice & Inequality | 3 cr |
| 2nd | JUST-348 Research Methods | 3 cr |
| 3rd | JUST-301 Theories of Justice | 3 cr |
| 4th | JUST-345 Practicum | 3 cr |
| 5th | JUST-350 Field Work Seminar | 6 cr |
| Anytime | 6 electives | 18 cr |
JUST-202 fulfills WIP. JUST-350 fulfills 1 of your 3 ELE courses.
JUST-350 internship, explained
Alongside weekly class meetings, JUST-350 students complete 180 hours interning at a social-justice-focused organization. Monthly time sheets are signed by your supervisor, who also completes an end-of-term evaluation.
In the preceding semester (JUST-345 Practicum), you'll apply to internships under your professor's guidance — the goal is to be accepted before JUST-350 begins. See the list of recommended internships ↗, or ask your professor about one not listed (it should be social-justice focused, 180 hours, and a true internship rather than a volunteer role).
Do courses need to be taken in order?
There's a recommended order based on prerequisites, but exceptions can be made case-by-case if it would otherwise delay graduation.
Transfer credits
Max 9 transfer credits (about 3 courses), subject to advisor approval.
Social Justice Minor 18 credits
Required: JUST 101 202 348 301 plus 2 electives.
Order, overlap & transfer credits
1st: JUST-101 · 2nd: JUST-202 & 348 · 3rd: JUST-301. Electives anytime. Max 3 transfer credits.
Can't be combined with the Justice Studies Major — too much overlap in required courses.
Criminology Minor 18 credits
Required: JUST 201 202 348 312 plus 2 electives.
Order, overlap & transfer credits
1st: JUST-201 · 2nd: JUST-202, 348, 312. Electives anytime. Max 3 transfer credits.
Can be combined with the Justice Studies Major — but only JUST 202 & 348 can double-count; everything else must be separate courses.
Pre-Law Minor 18 credits
Required: JUST-205 Law & Society, PHIL-201 Logic 1, PSCI-320 Constitutional Law, plus 3 electives in 2+ departments.
Which courses count as electives
See the visual overview ↗, spanning Business Law, Communication/Media, English, History, Justice Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology. Full list: course catalog ↗ · Pre-Law Minor site ↗.
Max 3 transfer credits, subject to advisor approval.
CoursesCatalog, current offerings & Gen Ed options
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Full course catalog
See the full list of course descriptions ↗. Not every course is offered each semester — if one you're excited about is offered, consider enrolling!
This year's offerings
Gen Ed options for non-majors
- JUST 101 Introduction to Social Justice
- JUST 109 First Year Experience: Justice in Chicago
- JUST 205 Law & Society