The Administration of Justice major is designed to be a multi- and inter-disciplinary program that prepares students for entry into career opportunities associated with the administration of justice and qualifies them for promotion to supervisory and management positions within various fields, including (but not limited to) law enforcement and court operations. As a multi- and inter-disciplinary program, the ADJU major is designed to fulfill the aspects of a liberal education by drawing on the strengths and distinctive aspects of both the liberal arts and professional programs at Catawba College.

Within the ADJU program, students will gain the following:

• An understanding of the political institutions and issues confronting the justice system
• An understanding of the sociological and psychological theories and issues associated with the justice system, including the use of research methods and analysis
• An understanding of theories and approaches of management, organizational behavior, and ethical considerations to assume decision-making and leadership roles in the administration of justice
• An understanding of the theories and applications of forensic science
• Development of the analytical and conceptual skills and capabilities necessary to understand and apply solutions to relevant, practical policy issues involving the administration of justice in society

While housed in the Department of History and Politics, the ADJU major calls on courses from a variety of departments. Below is the listing of courses (with number of semester hours listed) required in the ADJU major:

• POLS 1101: Introduction to American Politics (3)
• POLS 2200: State & Local Politics (3) OR POLS 2111: State Politics (3) OR POLS 2111: Local Politics (3)
• POLS 3320: Bureaucratic Politics (3)
• POLS 3330: Judicial Politics (3)
• POLS 4201: Practicum (3) or PSYC 4201: Practicum (3)
• ADJU 2200: Criminal Law (3)
• POLS or ADJU elective (3)
• SOC 1501: Social Problems (3)
• SOC 2101: Crime and Delinquincy (3)
• SOC 2301: Social Science Research (3) OR PSYC 2221: Data Analysis for Behavioral Sciences (3)
• SOC 2401: Social Inequalities (3)
• SOC 3101: Majority-Minority Relations (3)
• PSYC 2350: Adolescent Psychology (3) OR PSYC 3980: Behavior Modification (3)
• PSYC 3480: Abnormal Psychology (3)
• MGT 2501: Principles of Management (3)
• MGT 2565: Organizational Behavior (3)
• PHIL 2170: Ethics (3)
• CHEM 1136: Forensic Science (4)

In addition, it is strongly encouraged that ADJU majors obtain a level of conversational expertise in a foreign language, particularly Spanish.

For more information, please contact Dr. Michael Bitzer, coordinator of the ADJU program, at:

• 334-C Hedrick Administration Building
• politics [at] catawba.edu
• Office: (704) 637-4117