About Humanities and Justice
HUMANITIES AND JUSTICE MAJOR - Bachelor of Arts
The Humanities and Justice Major offers students the opportunity to explore fundamental questions about justice from a humanistic and multi-disciplinary perspective. Rooted in history, literature, and philosophy, Humanities and Justice prepares students for basic inquiry and advanced research into issues of justice that lie behind social policy and criminal justice as well as broader problems of social morality and equity. Its courses are designed to help students develop the skills of careful reading, critical thinking, and clear writing that are necessary for the pursuit of any professional career. This major provides an excellent preparation for law school and other professional programs, for graduate school in the humanities, and for careers in law, education, public policy, and criminal justice.
The Humanities and Justice curriculum involves a sequence of five interdisciplinary "core" courses in Humanities and Justice (designated with the 'HJS' prefix by the Registrar); six courses from a list of humanities courses in history, literature, and philosophy (HIS, LIT, PHI), chosen in consultation with a faculty adviser; and one course from a list of two which feature criminal justice issues as specific and central concerns (GOV, LAW).
Students must review their course of study with a faculty adviser in order to insure its breadth and coherence. The program coordinator will assign an adviser to each Humanities and Justice student.
Coordinator: Professor Bettina Carbonell, (212) 237-8702; (bcarbonell@jjay.cuny.edu).
Credits required. 36
Prerequisites: English 101-102 or English 101-201; one of the required general education courses in literature, history, or philosophy; one of the required general education courses in the social sciences.
Humanities and Justice Curriculum:
PART ONE. HUMANITIES AND JUSTICE REQUIREMENTS: (five courses) Subtotal: 15 credits
- Humanities and Justice 250. Justice in the Western Traditions
- Humanities and Justice 310. Comparative Perspectives on Justice
- Humanities and Justice 315. Research Methods in Humanities and Justice Studies
- Humanities and Justice 410. Text and Theory: Senior Prospectus
- Humanities and Justice 415. Research Project in Humanities and Justice Studies
PART TWO. THE DISCIPLINARY COMPONENT: (six courses) Subtotal: 18 credits
Students take six courses in one or more of the humanities disciplines (History and/or Literature and/or Philosophy) in order to explore how the fundamental assumptions, methods, and general subject matter of these disciplines relate to issues of "justice." These courses will be chosen by the student, with oversight by an adviser. In addition to the courses listed below, see the Humanities and Justice Course Schedule each semester for a complete list of designated electives. A minimum of 12 of the 18 credits must be taken at the 300-level or above.
Category A. History Courses
- History 219. Violence and Social Change in America
- History 224. A History of Crime in New York City
- History 227/228. American Constitutional History I & II
- History 277. American Legal History
- History 320. The History of Crime and Punishment in the United States
- History 325. Criminal Justice in European Society, 1750 to the Present
Category B. Literature Courses
- Literature 223. African-American Literature
- Literature 290. Special Topics
- Literature 313. Shakespeare
- Literature 315. American Literature and the Law
- Literature 316. Gender and Identity in Literary Traditions
- Literature 327. Crime and Punishment in Literature
- Literature 340. African American Experience in America: Comparative Racial Perspectives
- Spanish 208. The Theme of Justice in 20th Century Spanish Literature
Category C. Philosophy Courses
- Philosophy 203. Political Philosophy
- Philosophy 304. Philosophy of Mind
- Philosophy 310. Ethics and Law
- Philosophy 322. Judicial and Correctional Ethics
- Philosophy 326. Topics in the History of Modern Thought
- Philosophy 340. Utopian Thought
- Philosophy/Government 423. Selected Topics in Justice
PART THREE. TOPICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE: (1 course) Subtotal: 3 credits
- Government 375. Law, Order, Justice and Society
or
- Law 301. Jurisprudence
Major Total: 36 credits