JACKSON, Tenn. — April 27, 2020 — Union鈥檚 Department of Sociology and Family Studies will offer two new majors, criminal justice and forensic science, beginning in the 2020-2021 academic year.
The criminal justice major will consist of 39 hours of coursework with a 21-hour minor, and the forensic science major will consist of 80 hours with no minor.
鈥淥ur administration has data on students who apply to Union but choose to attend other universities and found that a significant number were going elsewhere to major in criminal justice,鈥� said Phil Davignon, chair for the and associate professor of sociology.
The interdisciplinary criminal justice coursework includes many classes already taught in the sociology, psychology, political science and social work departments, such as 鈥淐rime and Society,鈥� 鈥淛uvenile Justice,鈥� 鈥淎bnormal Psychology鈥� and 鈥淪ocial Deviance.鈥� Davignon said they will also hire a part-time instructor to teach a new criminal justice-specific class and add a class on criminology.
The forensic science major goes beyond the criminal justice courses by requiring science classes that will prepare students to work in a crime lab, Davignon said. The major will include 26 hours of chemistry, 16 hours of biology and eight hours of forensic science-specific coursework, in addition to hours in social science. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of forensic science technicians is expected to grow 17 percent by 2026.
鈥淲e consulted with a forensic scientist who worked with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, but now runs an independent lab, to create the curriculum,鈥� Davignon said. 鈥淭his curriculum qualifies students to work with either the TBI or the FBI.鈥�
Davignon said the mission of the new majors in criminal justice and forensic science emerges from Union鈥檚 four core values of being excellence-driven, Christ-centered, people-focused and future-directed. From a Christ-centered perspective, he said, criminal justice is not merely enforcing the laws of the state, but rather approaches justice from a holistic vision of bringing about the wholeness and peace God intends for all people.
鈥淪uch a peace cannot be brought about solely through the mechanisms of law enforcement, although members of law enforcement may work for this greater end if they are formed by an education that truly integrates faith and learning,鈥� Davignon said.
These new programs will also prepare students to work within the current climate of law enforcement, he continued, providing a greater emphasis on understanding people rather than simply describing law enforcement techniques, which are often learned on the job or through job training.
鈥淟aw enforcement as a discipline has been plagued by accusations and abuses of power, which have contributed to general distrust by the public,鈥� Davignon said. 鈥淔uture members of law enforcement will benefit from more savvy and grace-filled approaches, enabled through a better understanding of people and a desire to truly engage with and serve their communities.鈥�