Justice Studies Department Faculty
Justice Studies Students: Northeastern Illinois University
NEIU Students with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan at the UN
Welcome to Justice Studies! We offer a distinctive major that focuses on all aspects of justice. We ask questions about injustice, and examine how institutions, including the criminal justice and legal systems, are involved in promoting justice and injustice. We focus on issues in the Chicago area, but we also look at the whole world, examining immigration, human rights, housing, homelessness, gangs, the media and culture, policing, prisons and jails, and all kinds of violence.

COVID-19 Adjusted Hours and Services

There will be no face-to-face classes offered by the Justice Studies Department in the Summer 2021 semester. All courses will be online or remote learning. Fall 2021 will offer a mix of in-person and online courses.

Summer 2021 Justice Studies Course Schedule

FALL 2021 JUSTICE STUDIES COURSE SCHEDULE

The Justice Studies Department faculty and staff are working remotely until further notice. There will be minimal on-campus presence during this time. Below are faculty and staff available to assist current and prospective students. We encourage students to email with any Justice Studies Department questions or concerns.

Justice Studies Department Chair

CAST Coordinator and Justice Studies Advisor

Office Administrator

  • Ymelda Viramontes

What is Justice Studies?

The Justice Studies Department at NEIU focuses on questions of social justice and the study of structural and intersecting inequalities. We examine how injustices are perpetuated by social systems and institutions, including the criminal legal system. Our courses help students understand the root causes of economic and social injustice, oppression, inequalities, discrimination and other harms. We deeply examine how racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia and other dimensions of inequality are more than just the product of individual attitudes; they are built into the structures of U.S society and global systems.

Majors learn about how people across history and different contexts have struggled to create more just societies through studying theories of justice and social change. Students learn about using law, community organizing, political action, and the creation of alternative social spaces to work on transforming society in the direction of justice.

Before graduating, all majors must participate in an internship in an organization that promotes social justice.

The Justice Studies departments offers a major (39 credit hours) and three minors: Social Justice (for non-majors only), Criminology (for majors and non-majors), and Child Advocacy Studies (CAST, for majors and non-majors).

All Justice Studies majors take six required courses plus eighteen credit hours of electives. Please consult with a department academic advisor about the sequence of courses.

If you would like more information, please contact the Justice Studies Department at (773) 442-4790 or justice-studies@neiu.edu.

Advising

Every Justice Studies Department major and minor is assigned an advisor to help understand the curriculum's requirements and make choices about selecting courses. Justice Studies advisors are very knowledgeable about how our curriculum fits into the "big picture" of your studies at Northeastern, and want to help you be efficient in sequencing your courses and getting the most out of the major, based upon your interests and goals. 

Justice Studies Academic Advisors

Pre-Law

Because the Justice Studies curriculum examines issues of justice, injustice, and social harm, it provides an excellent introduction to key issues and concepts that are used by lawyers, and many of our graduates pursue law school after graduation.

If you are considering law school as a possibility, it is recommended that you contact David Nissim-Sabat, Coordinator in the College of Arts and Sciences, as soon as possible. He is NEIU's pre-law advisor, whose job is to help you be successful in gaining admission to law school. You can contact him by email at d-nissimsabat@neiu.edu. 

Student Clubs

Getting involved in students clubs is a great way to meet people with similar interests, and also provides a wonderful opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge, and to prepare for life after college.

Justice Studies Club

The activities of the Justice Studies Club focus on working with local groups in Chicago and beyond to address ongoing justice issues, and to help those who are suffering through natural disasters.

As a club closely affiliated with the Justice Studies major, club members frequently work with Justice Studies faculty to help its members attend professional conferences, such as the Justice Studies Association (JSA) annual conference, and the Peace & Justice Studies Association (PJSA) annual conference.

For more information, contact justice-studies@neiu.edu.

Pre-Law Society

Northeastern's Pre-Law Society is focused on helping students learn about the practice of law, and about the process of getting into law school. It frequently hosts presentations by law schools and talks by practicing attorneys. Members also meet to learn how to best prepare to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). 

For more information, contact the society's advisor, David Nissim-Sabat.

Careers

The focus of the Justice Studies major at Northeastern is not limited to criminal justice concerns. It examines the historical, legal, and social obstacles to creating a more just society. Therefore, students earning a bachelor's degree in Justice Studies can avail themselves of a wide variety of fields that include government agencies, legal institutions, and community service and not-for-profit organizations that examine social and legal justice practices. The curriculum provides academic and experiential training for students to pursue careers in a variety of areas. Please check out "What Can I do With a Major in Justice Studies" for career suggestions.