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Online Bachelor's Degree in Justice Studies: Rehabilitation, Advocacy and Justice

Support Families Impacted by the Justice System

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  • Duration 3.5 years
  • Cost per Credit $410
  • Credit Hours 120

Program Benefits

  • Respond to the needs of women, children and families impacted by the justice system
  • Access courses on your schedule through a fully online, asynchronous classroom
  • Explore your professional interests through diverse elective courses in a program that accepts up to 90 transfer credits
  • Gain experience through hands-on learning opportunities and choose from 6 start dates

Respond to the Diverse Needs of Families in Your Community

Become prepared to facilitate families through community and social services with the online BA in Justice Studies: Rehabilitation, Advocacy and Justice program from The American Women’s College of Bay Path University (TAWC). You’ll evaluate various real criminal justice cases to better understand the justice system and the rehabilitation needs of those incarcerated in women’s jails, prisons and juvenile facilities.

An Online Curriculum That Supports Your Goals

3.5 Years

120 Total Credits

The online Rehabilitation, Advocacy and Justice degree program requires the completion of 120 total credits, including TAWC’s undergraduate core courses, major courses and a selection of electives to be chosen based on your professional goals.

To view the complete list of program courses, visit the curriculum for all justice studies programs.

Required Rehabilitation, Advocacy and Justice Major Courses

This course will be an introduction to the criminal justice system in the United States. Crime, criminals, victims, explanations of criminal behavior, law and the criminal justice system, policing strategies, police and the law, courts and courtroom workgroups, proceedings before trial, conviction by trial and guilty pleas, sentencing, community corrections, prisons and jails, prison life and juvenile justice are the topics that will be covered.

The scope of victimology, gauging the extent of criminal victimization, the costs of being a victim, remedying the plight of victims, restorative justice, victimization at work and school, and victim rights will be studied. Criminology and crime theory, different perspectives— classical, biological, psychological, and sociological – and measuring crime will be examined.

Prerequisite: CRJ 120

The basic organization and objectives of the American correctional system will be examined. Local, state, federal and private sector correctional systems and practices will be studied. Special categories of correctional clients – male, female, juvenile, sex offenders, mentally and physically disabled or challenged, geriatric, and HIV – will be considered.

Prerequisite: CRJ 120

This course will explore the different roles and responsibilities of the probation and parole officer in the criminal justice system. Emphasis will be placed on understanding an integrated model of supervision, developing of effective treatment plans, aftercare services, sanctions for non-compliance. The interplay between the police, prosecutors, judges, prison personnel, probation and parole officers will be examined.

Prerequisite: CRJ 120

The purpose of this course is to give the student dual insight into offender treatment and victim advocacy through a holistic approach to restorative justice. During this course, students will examine a variety of social issues that contribute to the rise in adult offenders, treatment of the criminal population, and opportunities for victims in terms of acknowledgement, acceptance, and recovery.

This course will consist of an overview of the juvenile justice system in the U.S. The history and origins of juvenile court, causes of delinquency, the legal rights of juveniles, juveniles and the police, juvenile court trials and dispositions, juveniles in adult court, probation and dispositional alternatives, juvenile corrections, custodial sanctions and parole, and restorative justice will be considered.

Prerequisite: CRJ 120 and Junior or Senior status

Ethical dilemmas frequently encountered by professionals–police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, parole officers, court officers, judges and correctional officers–within the criminal justice system will be thoughtfully explored within a discussion based classroom setting.

Prerequisite: CRJ 120 and Senior status

This course will discuss social issues that impact the concept of Justice. How does Justice impact such important issues as health, race, ethnicity, work, economic equity, equality, war, terrorism, and the environment? Students will be challenged to look at modern problems and issues and be aware of their impact on society.

This course is an introduction to analyzing conflicts to arrive at peace and justice. It examines conflicts from a variety of social justice perspectives. The course focuses on the ways that understanding people and organizations impact conflict and how organizations shape methods that may encourage or discourage conflict or peace. Such important issues as the economy, politics, the legal system, educational system, and the family may all be considered as points of conflict and resolution. The course also examines race, class, sex, and gender dynamics of justice within these institutions and how they encourage or discourage peace. The instructor will focus on contemporary concerns as noted by the instructor and students at the beginning of the term.

Prerequisite: GOV 100 and JUS 103

The Advocacy Leadership course is designed to produce future leaders and advocates in Justice with the skills to become forces of social and organizational change. Students will engage in discussions that promote how to get to know and understand their community as well as how to create organizational engagement and develop a mission in communities, justice organizations, business and political power structures as well as community organizing, and advocacy skills. This course will help develop a set of advocacy skills that can be applied to her future practice and/or community involvement including how to challenge people to create change, understanding mission as well as synergistic collaboration between community and the student’s organization. The student will learn to create an environment to develop creative change in organizations and society.

Prerequisite: GOV 100 and JUS 103

Each student in every concentration of Justice Studies will develop a project, paper, presentation or creative combination of media and other resources to exemplify and articulate their learning in their field. Students will use scholarly research, social realization during four years of exploration, new learning acquired and areas of future interest culminating in the student’s graduation. The student will discuss past learning and new areas to explore in their future.

This course is designed to facilitate students’ development of a nuanced understanding of how race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, and ability affect the operations of and experiences within the US criminal justice system by educating students on the serious issue of wrongful convictions. It focuses specifically on the issues affecting cases of those who are actually innocent of the offense(s) for which they have been convicted and incarcerated. It is an interdisciplinary course that examines this problem from the broad perspectives of law, criminal justice, public policy-making, psychology, forensic science, and race and gender studies.

This course explores a wide range of personality, behavioral, and cognitive disorders. The symptoms, etiology, and dynamics of various disorders are studied, and a variety of therapeutic theories and techniques are discussed.

Prerequisite: PSY 101

Criminal behavior is studied in the context of societal and genetic influences on personality formation. Juvenile delinquency and the early expression of anti-social behaviors are discussed. The psychological aspects of violence, addiction, and how mental illness contributes to criminal behavior are addressed. Gender issues related to crime are presented. An external community experience is incorporated to provide an opportunity to apply course content and learning to real world issues.

Prerequisite: PSY 240 and junior or senior status

This course focuses on the psychological aspects of female offenders with an emphasis on gender and criminological theorizing, female juvenile delinquency, females as offenders, mental illness in corrections, and females in prisons. Issues such as sexism, racism, social class inequality, cultural factors, addiction, relationships, and victimization are explored in the context of understanding what psychological issues contribute to female involvement in crime, society’s perception of women offenders, and special considerations related to females within the criminal justice system. An external community experience is incorporated to provide an opportunity to apply course content and learning to real world issues.

Prerequisite: PSY 150, PSY 240, and junior or senior status

This course explores various forms of domestic violence and abuse including neglect and physical, sexual, and emotional abuse among intimate partners and children. Issues pertaining to culture, sexual orientation, family dynamics, abuse of elders and the disabled, and the cycle of abuse are reviewed. Key issues related to treatment and community resources are addressed. Students will also investigate the etiology of abuse.

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or PSY 101 and junior or senior status

The BA in Justice Studies: Rehabilitation, Advocacy, and Justice program requires 32 major electives:

  • Experiential Elective (3 credits)
  • General Electives (29 credits)

Learn more about which courses apply to these credits by speaking with an enrollment counselor.

What You’ll Learn

The online Bachelor’s in Justice Studies: Rehabilitation, Advocacy and Justice degree program will prepare you to support women, children and families impacted by the justice system. From rehabilitation needs to advocacy in the court system, you’ll learn the best methods for supporting the vulnerable in your community.

By Graduation, You’ll Have Skills to:

Rehabilitation, Advocacy and Justice Career Opportunities

The need for justice studies experts is on the rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the social service field to grow 10% through 2031, creating more than 20,000 new positions for community managers alone.1,2 With the online Rehabilitation, Advocacy and Justice degree program, you’ll become qualified for community management roles and positions in human service assistance, legal advocacy and more.

Explore Careers

Learn from Industry Experts

At The American Women’s College, your learning is expanded by the rich workplace experience our faculty bring to the classroom. Faculty are professionals who hold an array of titles in the fields they teach. Their involvement in the day-to-day challenges of their role and industry brings curriculums to life with real-world examples as you connect what you learn to what they share.

Faculty Spotlight

Each faculty member at TAWC incorporates real industry experience into each lesson. As a student, you’ll receive personalized, one-on-one support and graduate fully prepared to face the challenges of your chosen field.

Emily Thompson, MA, Director, Liberal Studies, Communications & Justice Studies

Emily Thompson began her teaching career in 2012 with the English department at Northern Virginia Community College. This formative experience instilled a passion for equity-minded pedagogical practices that make higher education as accessible as possible to all learner populations. Emily carried this passion for equity and accessibility when she joined The American Women’s College as an Academic Director in 2016. She strives to apply a student-centered mindset to every aspect of her academic programs.

Emily holds an MA in English Literature from George Mason University and is a Ph.D. Candidate at UMass Amherst, specializing in English Renaissance drama and theatre history. Her other areas of interest include performance studies, body studies, affect theory, posthumanism, and decolonized pedagogy. Her dissertation studies the affective encounters between stage and spectator during staged bodily violence in Tudor and Stuart tragedy.

Choose Your Major

Customize your BA in Justice Studies degree by choosing a major designed to help you achieve your professional goals.

BA in Justice Studies: Public Safety and Justice

Learn to protect your community against disasters, civil liberty violations and national security concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore our frequently asked questions for in-depth answers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, reach out to us.

Choosing a major for your degree allows you to gain career-ready skills in a specific area of expertise. These specialty skills will allow you to stand out among other professionals in your field and better compete for the position you want.

You’ll complete 120 total credits to earn the online BA in Justice Studies: Rehabilitation, Advocacy and Justice degree. You can review courses now.

The online BA in Justice Studies degree can only be taken either online or on campus. The traditional on-campus BA in Justice Studies program also offers several majors. This allows you to study in the times and locations that are best for you throughout your entire program without a requirement of ever coming to campus.

The requirements for the online BA in Justice Studies program include:

  • Submit your application
  • Submit official high school transcripts. College transcripts are also required if applicable
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • You can learn more about our admission requirements on our admissions page

Yes. All students of the online BA in Justice Studies program are required to take the same undergraduate core courses. This provides the flexibility to change majors during the program without the risk of losing credits.

Those who hold an online BA in Justice Studies: Rehabilitation, Advocacy and Justice degree often pursue career titles such as community manager, victim advocacy specialist or rehabilitation specialist. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, salaries for community managers alone can reach up to $118,650 annually. Learn more about your career options by visiting our careers page.

Visit our FAQ page

Sources

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Community and Social Service Occupations.” Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/home.htm.
  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Social and Community Service Managers.” Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm.