ADJ Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find my academic advisor?
At Prince William campus: Bull Run Hall, Room 304.
At Fairfax campus: Robinson A, Rm 218 (on Wednesdays)
Please call 703-993-8314 to schedule an appointment ahead of time.

What are the curriculum requirements for Administration of Justice majors? Click here

Where can I get a blank copy of the ADJ worksheet/requirement sheet? Here

How can I check my degree progress?
You can check your degree evaluation online at Patriot web. (This is an unofficial degree evaluation. Please report any discrepancies to your academic advisor).

Where do I find out more about which classes apply to general education requirements?
First, you should run a Patriot web degree evaluation. This will tell you which requirements have been met and which ones have not been met. In many cases the degree evaluation lists the classes you should take. For those where options are not spelled out, please see the general education requirements within the college.

Which Math course can I take to fulfill the Quantitative reasoning requirement?
ADJ majors must complete Math 108 or higher or STATS 250 to fulfill the QR requirement. Students entering Mason in Fall 2007 or later may complete Math 106 or higher or STATS 250 to fulfill the QR requirement.

Which ENGL 302 should I take as an Administration of Justice Major?
While any ENGL 302 sections complete this general education requirement, we strongly recommend that you take a Social Science section, because they are designed to help you become better writers in your major. You can spot a Social Science section of ENGL 302 by the letter ‘S’ in front of the section number. (If all Social Science sections are full, then you may wish to consider a Humanities section, which is marked by an ‘H’ in front of the section number. Of course, if you prefer, you may take a Natural Science section.)

What is the minimum grade I can get in an ADJ course?
Students in catalog years prior to 2007 must pass all ADJ courses with a 'C' or better to apply these course to the major. If your grade is below a 'C' you must repeat the ADJ course or take another ADJ course in its place.

The 'C' rule in ADJ courses does not apply to students entering Mason in Fall 2007 or later. Students in catalog years 2007 or later only need a passing grade in ADJ courses to apply to the major.

When should I take ADJ 300?
You are recommended to take ADJ 300 after you have completed ADJ 100.

What are ADJ 490 courses?
ADJ 490 courses are special topic courses in Administration of Justice emphasizing recent developments in the field of Administration of Justice. Content varies every semester.

How many ADJ 490 courses can I take?
You can anywhere from 0-5 ADJ 490 course/s in the major. ADJ 490 courses apply to different categories within the major. Please refer to the ADJ 490 course list, which also indicates the distribution area that each ADJ 490 course satisfies.

What must I do to enroll in the Internship program?
If you choose the Internship program as your concentration, you must complete following courses successfully before enrolling in this course:

ADJ 100 (offered fall and spring),
ADJ 300 (offered fall, spring, and summer),
ADJ 479 (offered fall and spring), and
At least 15 credits of other upper-level courses required for the ADJ major.
ADJ 480 (offered fall, spring, and summer)

Ideally, ADJ 479 will have been taken the semester before the internship is conducted. If the student does not take ADJ 480 the semester following completion of ADJ 479, the student is required to provide the instructor with an updated contract and research plan for approval (no additional credit hours given) before enrolling in this class. Students may not begin an internship until they have received approval from the internship instructor for that internship (usually acquired while taking ADJ 479). In addition, students must take one 3-credit substantive topics course that is relevant to the student's internship experience. This is any course that satisfies ADJ requirements for the major and may be taken before or after ADJ 480 is taken.

What is the ADJ Honors Program?
The Administration of Justice Honors Program gives qualified ADJ students a special opportunity for an exceptional educational experience. Only students who have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement are eligible to apply. An announcement will be made to ADJ majors, and applications accepted, in the Spring of each year, for enrollment during the next academic year. ADJ Honors students enroll in two small honors seminars (one per semester, normally during the senior year), working closely with an ADJ faculty member on cutting-edge justice issues. Please contact the ADJ program at 703-993-8314 for more information.

Are we required to have a Minor?
No. This depends on your interests, both academically and professionally. See a list of minors in the department, approved courses, and list of minor coordinators.

Can I minor in something that overlaps with the Administration of Justice Major?
Yes. In fact, you can double-count courses between the major and a minor, altough at least 8 credits have to be unique for the minor; i.e. must not be double-counted. See a list of the minors in the department, approved courses, and list of minor coordinators.

Will I be able to graduate within four years if I add a minor?
It depends. If you don’t have too many electives, then probably yes. If you switched to your major late, or took too many electives, then a minor might mean some extra classes. Work with the minor coordinator and your faculty adviser to determine whether you can complete a minor without going over the 120 credits.