Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice & Legal Studies
The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice & Legal Studies at Dubois College is a dynamic,
equity-centered program focused on understanding, challenging, and reimagining the legal and
criminal justice systems. It prepares students to be leaders in law, advocacy, reform, and public
service through the study of legal theory, policing, incarceration, civil rights, and systemic
transformation.
Grounded in Black legal thought, abolitionist theory, and community-based justice models, the
curriculum emphasizes critical perspectives on law enforcement, courts, corrections, and legal
institutions. Students will analyze the historical and contemporary role of law in both perpetuating
and dismantling racial and economic injustice, and explore pathways to restorative justice and
systemic change.
This program equips students for careers in law, criminal justice, legal advocacy, social services, or
graduate education in law, criminology, or public policy.
Program Highlights
– Courses in criminal law, policing, courts, corrections, legal writing, and constitutional rights
– Critical analysis of mass incarceration, police reform, racial justice, and community safety
– Practical experience through internships, mock trials, and community engagement
– Preparation for law school, legal services, advocacy work, or public safety leadership
– Emphasis on abolition, restorative justice, and legal empowerment in Black communities
Degree Plan
Year 1 - Fall Semester
– Introduction to Criminal Justice
– College Writing & Communication
– African American Legal History
– Public Speaking for Legal Advocacy
– Quantitative Reasoning or College Algebra
Year 1 - Spring Semester
– U.S. Government & Legal Systems
– Sociology of Crime & Deviance
– Legal Research & Writing I
– Introduction to Policing & Society
– Elective (e.g., Media & Law, Youth Justice)
Year 2 - Fall Semester
– Criminal Law & Procedure
– Constitutional Law & Civil Rights
– Courts & Judicial Process
– Legal Research & Writing II
– Elective (e.g., Black Women & the Law, Law in Literature)
Year 2 - Spring Semester
– Corrections & the Carceral State
– Community Justice & Restorative Practices
– Race, Class & Criminalization
– Ethics in Criminal Justice
– Elective (e.g., Environmental Law, Criminal Investigation)
Year 3 - Fall Semester
– Law & Social Movements
– Evidence & Legal Analysis
– Internship I: Legal Aid Office, Court System, or Reform Organization
– Alternative Dispute Resolution
– Elective (e.g., Gender & Law, Immigration & Detention)
Year 3 - Spring Semester
– Juvenile Justice & Family Law
– Legal Advocacy & Public Policy
– Abolitionist Perspectives on Justice
– Critical Criminology
– Elective (e.g., Legal Technology, Human Rights Law)
Year 4 - Fall Semester
– Capstone Proposal: Legal Issue, Policy Reform, or Justice Project
– Internship II or Independent Legal Research
– Seminar in Law, Power & Resistance
– Law School & Graduate Preparation
– Elective (e.g., Comparative Legal Systems, Forensic Psychology)
Year 4 - Spring Semester
– Capstone Project: Legislative Toolkit, Legal Memo, or Justice Portfolio
– Public Interest Law & Legal Organizing
– Senior Seminar in Legal Studies & Social Change
– Career Development in Legal & Public Service Fields
– Elective (e.g., Civil Liberties, Advanced Legal Writing)