Westminster's Justice Studies Program

Why Study Justice at Westminster?

The Justice Studies program at Westminster treats justice as a broad category of social and political problems that includes issues relating to criminal justice, economic and social justice, human rights, and international justice. Justice programs are among the fastest growing in the country, and careers in the field are considered relatively recession-proof. Westminster developed this program with a strong inter-disciplinary approach to better meet the demands of current and future students, as well as those of potential employers. Key to this program is the interdisciplinary liberal arts approach to justice education that expands the depth and breadth of students' knowledge and experience.

Today, the competitive environment in which law and justice operate requires that persons entering or working in that arena possess a solid foundation in the cultural, historical, legal, and social aspects of justice studies as well as well-developed analytical and communication skills in order to be an effective practitioner, researcher, or teacher in our field. Graduates with a Justice Studies degree will be critical thinkers who possess a firm academic foundation in the liberal arts upon which is built a solid knowledge base of how justice, in its many forms, meets the needs of the American and global societies.

The Westminster Difference:

• Engage in independent research and experiential learning activities such as internships.
• The strong liberal arts foundation in justice studies provides solid ground for students interested in pursuing graduate degrees as well as a wide range of both traditional and non-traditional careers.
• Understand the nature of justice and why individuals and institutions may or may not behave in a just manner through interdisciplinary coursework in fields such as Anthropology, Economics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.
• Experiment with ideas in an environment rich with diverse opinions, cultures, and people.
• Gain a deep understanding of the cultural, social, political, ethical, and psychological inter-relationships out of which justice issues develop.