Majors & Minors
Bachelor's of Arts in Political Science
The political science major at John Jay introduces students to the principal fields of inquiry in political science. With a special commitment to criminal justice and public service, the government major permits students to explore in depth the links between the study of political science and the study of law and justice. The Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science helps prepare students to assume positions of leadership in their communities and gives them the opportunity to strengthen their understanding of the relationship between political action and the quality of life within the communities in which we live and work. As globalization increasingly presents us with both challenges and opportunities, the government major also affords students the chance to explore international relations and other political and social systems. (Prerequisites and Requirements, Admissions)
Advisor: Professor Jennifer Rutledge, jrutledge@jjay.cuny.edu, 646.557.4710
Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society
The Law and Society major offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of law and legal institutions, their impact on society, and society's impact on them. The major is organized around the central theme of understanding law as an instrument of political and social change and questions concerning how law matters in people's lives; how law and law-like systems of rules empower and constraining individuals, groups, organizations and communities; and how the structures and values in social institutions shape and are shaped by law. (Prerequisites and Requirements, Admissions)
Advisor: Professor Jean Carmalt, jcarmalt@jjay.cuny.edu, 212.237.8232
Minor in Political Science
Earning a political science minor for students who majored in criminal justice, international criminal justice, or legal studies demonstrates to graduate and professional schools and/or potential employers that students have also had substantial exposure to the discipline of political science in their undergraduate studies.
Advisor: Professor Jennifer Rutledge, jrutledge@jjay.cuny.edu, 646.557.4710
Bachelor of Arts in International Criminal Justice
The major in international criminal justice introduces students to the nature and cause of crime at the international level and to the mechanism for its prevention and control. Components of the criminal justice system as they apply to transnational and international crime are studied, as well as the impact of international law and human rights in addressing crimes against humanity. The major is intended to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for careers in which the globalization of crime plays an important role. It also is designed to prepare students for advanced work in graduate and professional school.(Prerequisites & Requirements, Admissions Information) For the ICJ FAQ's, click here.
Coordinator: Professor Veronica Michel, vmichel@jjay.cuny.edu, 212.621.3733
Minor in Human Rights
The Human Rights Studies minor will introduce students to some of the key conceptual, ethical and methodological approaches to the study and practice of human rights. In particular, it will address key concepts, principles and norms, such as human dignity, non-discrimination, equality, due process, empowerment, human security, human development, and accountability; it will expose students to diverse disciplinary and methodological approaches to the study and practice of human rights from a domestic as well as an international perspective; it will familiarize students with the evolution of international human rights norms both in theory and practice, the latter through the study of pivotal events in the history of human rights, such as the anti-slavery and anti-slave trade campaign, the Civil Rights Movement, the Campaign Against Apartheid, the transnational movement spawned by the Helsinki Final Act, and, more recently the campaign to establish the International Criminal Court and the launching of the Millennium Development Goals; it will train students how to use the human rights framework in order to analyze and assess critical developments in key issue areas of global concern; and it will provide students with internship opportunities so as to hone their advocacy skills in addressing the challenges of an increasingly complex and interconnected world. This minor can be paired with several majors, including Gender Studies, Global History, Humanities and Justice, International Criminal Justice, and Political Science.
Advisor: Professor Charlotte Walker-Said, cwalker-said@jjay.cuny.edu, 212.237.8758