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Dr. Kim Marino, Chair marinok@wcsu.edu White Hall 126B, Midtown Campus (203) 837-3973 (203) 837- 3908 (fax)
Charlene Jenkins, Secretary parksc@wcsu.edu White Hall 126, Midtown Campus (203) 837-8340 (203) 837- 3908 (fax)
Faculty
Mission
The administration of justice and law in the United States today is as pervasive as the law itself. Accordingly, the mission of the Division of Justice and Law Administration (JLA) is to provide an integration of substantive and practical education in courses of study designed to prepare students for a variety of career choices in law, public service, social systems and private enterprises.
The division has as its primary purposes: A) to enhance the students’ abilities to reason, to communicate in written and verbal form, and to engage in scholarship; B) to fulfill students’ career goals in the areas of the administration of justice, the regulatory, protective or rehabilitative services, or the law-related professions; and C) to assist students in pursuing undergraduate and graduate level education in law, criminology, public administration, rehabilitation services, criminal justice and associated areas.
The Division of JLA offers the bachelor of science degree, a Minor in Justice Administration, and numerous undergraduate elective course offerings.
Learning Outcomes
A JLA graduate should be able to:
History
The Division of Justice and Law Administration (originally called The Department of Criminal Justice) was founded by Prof. Solomon Gross and Dr. Frank Muska in 1976, with a $14,000 grant from the Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. The entering class numbered fourteen students. The department broadened its academic focus to a multi-option format, e.g., Law Enforcement, Legal Studies, Criminology, Corrections, Probation, Parole, and Offender Rehabilitation, Paralegal Sequence, and Homeland Security. Dr. Muska chaired the department from 1978-1982, followed by Dr. Harold B. Schramm (now Professor Emeritus), 1982-1991. Succeeding Chairs, Dr. David Whelan, 1991-1993, Dr. David Machell (now professor Emeritus), 1993-2003, Dr. Michael Foley (now Professor Emeritus), 2003-2009, Professor Charles Mullaney (now Professor Emeritus), 2009-2015, Dr. Anthony Markert (now Professor Emeritus), 2015-2017, Dr. George Kain (now Professor Emeritus), 2017-2021, and Dr. Kim Marino as the incumbent Chair grew and managed the Division to its current status as one of the largest majors at Western Connecticut State University. Over 300 students currently major and minor in Justice and Law Administration. They are taught by a faculty of 10 full-time faculty, assisted by 24 part-time faculty. JLA typically offers 45-50 courses each semester, catering to a diverse body of students who seek to enter the varied fields of law and justice. JLA graduates work in law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels, the legal profession, corrections services, social service agencies, private security, education, and myriad other professions.
Degrees in Justice and Law Administration
BS in Criminal Justice BS Criminal Justice: Corrections, Probation, Parole & Offender Rehabilitation option BS Criminal Justice: Criminology option BS Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement option BS Criminal Justice: Legal Studies option BS Criminal Justice: Homeland Security option
Minor Justice & Law Administration
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (B.S.)
BS Criminal Justice: Corrections, Probation, Parole & Offender Rehabilitation Option
Description: The mission of the Division of Justice and Law Administration (JLA) is to provide an integration of substantive and practical education in courses of study designed to prepare students for a variety of career choices in law, public service, social systems and private enterprises.
Degree Requirements All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Required Courses in the Major: 54 SH.
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad2425/academic-programs-degrees/
Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.
Sample Four Year Plan: BS Criminal Justice – Corrections, Probation, Parole and Offender Rehabilitation option Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
BS Criminal Justice: Criminology Option
Sample Four Year Plan: BS Criminal Justice: Criminology option Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
*Students who enrolled in a 3 SH First Year Navigation course do not need to add a free elective.
BS Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement Option
Sample Four Year Plan: BS Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement option Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
BS Criminal Justice: Legal Studies Option
Sample Four Year Plan: BS Criminal Justice – Legal Studies option: Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
BS Criminal Justice: Homeland Security Option
Sample Four Year Plan: BS Criminal Justice: Homeland Security option Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
Additional Requirements of the Division of Justice and Law Administration
The Division of JLA is a unit of the SPS, yet because of its division status, it maintains some difference in its requirements from departments of the SPS. All requirements not delineated here are covered under the requirements of the SPS.
Admission to the Division of Justice and Law Administration
JLA adheres to the admission standards/requirements of the SPS.
Good Academic Standing and Graduation Requirement
In order to continue in good standing and graduate from the JLA Division and the SPS, a student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.
The Division of JLA adheres strictly to the following policies of the SPS: academic probation and suspension, readmission to the SPS, other academic policies and course loads for full-time students.
Minor in Justice & Law Administration (18 SH) Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.
Required Courses (9 SH): JLA 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice I JLA 150 Introduction to Criminal Justice ll JLA 322 Constitutional Law
Three (3) Approved JLA courses selected under the supervision of a JLA adviser (9 SH)
To be accepted for the minor, a student must have an overall average of 2.0 or better. An average of 2.0 in all minor courses must be maintained to fulfill the requirements for the minor.
