Criminal Justice
The purpose of a criminal justice major within a liberal arts university is to develop in students the knowledge, values and ethical consciousness that are essential to becoming responsible leaders in criminal justice and related human services vocations.
The major offers broad foundational courses drawing upon sociology, political science, psychology, management, public policy, criminology and law. The departmental curriculum integrates the relevant multidisciplinary theory to provide a foundation for understanding contemporary criminal justice theory and practice. Through a combination of course work, internships and special research projects, graduates are prepared to enter a wide variety of vocations including public law enforcement and corrections agencies or to pursue graduate study in law, judicial administration, and other professions.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
42 credits minimum, 24 upper division. Criminal justice majors are required to complete an internship in a criminal justice agency or related area in their junior or senior year. (graded P/NC only)
CRIM 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 4 |
CRIM 276 | Criminal and Procedural Law | 4 |
CRIM 335 | Criminology | 4 |
CRIM 412 | Methods of Research and Statistics | 4 |
CRIM 460 | Senior Seminar: Criminal Justice Philosophy and Practice | 4 |
CRIM 492 | Internship | 2-4 |
Select five of the following: | 20 | |
Critical Issues in Policing | ||
Contemporary Corrections | ||
Violence & Victimization | ||
Criminal Psychology | ||
Juvenile Delinquency | ||
Deviance in U.S. Society | ||
Constitutional Law in Criminal Justice | ||
Substance Abuse | ||
Race,Ethnicity,Gender, and Crime | ||
Terrorism | ||
Selected Topics | ||
Independent Study | ||
Total Hours | 42-44 |
Courses
Lower Division
CRIM 101. Introduction to Criminal Justice. (4).
Introduces the student to the fundamental
concepts, institutions, and formal and informal
structures of American criminal justice. Includes
a description and analysis of standard measures
of criminal justice activity, crime reduction
strategies and contemporary suggestions for
improving criminal justice.
CRIM 105. Introduction to Law and Legal Process. (4).
Provides a critical understanding of the
historical and philosophical foundations of law;
topics include sources of legal tradition, the
impact of law on society, judicial
decision-making, and legal restraints and
impediments. The course will familiarize students
with electronic legal sources. Required for the
Legal Studies minor, not required for the
Criminal Justice major. (Cross-listed with
POLS 105).
CRIM 276. Criminal and Procedural Law. (4).
A study of the concepts of criminal and
procedural law as a social force; the historical
development of law and constitutional provisions,
legal definitions, classification of crime, case
law and methodology of the study of law.
Upper Division
CRIM 320. Critical Issues in Policing. (4).
Examines the social, legal and political issues
affecting policing in a democratic society,
including police accountability, responsibility,
community policing, individual and organizational
deviance, civil liability and the role of
technology. Students analyze contemporary
research as related to the police role.
CRIM 330. Contemporary Corrections. (4).
Examines current correctional practices
(diversion, community supervision,
institutionalization and special problems
confronting correctional efforts) in light of
historical, philosophical and social
developments.
CRIM 335. Criminology. (4).
The analysis of the nature, causes and
distribution of crime, with an emphasis on the
relationship between theoretical explanations of
crime and contemporary social responses.
Contemporary research supporting crime
control/prevention efforts is examined.
Prerequisite: CRIM 101 or permission
of instructor.
CRIM 340. Violence & Victimization. (4).
Victimology addresses the sources of violence,
the relationships between victims and
offenders, the interactions between victims and
the criminal justice system, and the social,
legal and institutional responses to violence and
victimization. There is specific focus on the
victims of violent crimes such as spousal abuse,
workplace violence, predatory crime, and
terrorism. Prerequisite: junior standing or
permission of instructor.
CRIM 341. Criminal Psychology. (4).
Students examine theory, research, law and case
studies to gain an understanding of the behavior
of violent offenders. Research into biological,
psychological and social causes is
examined and evaluated. Additional topics include
the role of the forensic psychologist, the
science of profiling and the definitions and use
of the insanity defense. Prerequisite: CRIM 101,
junior standing or permission of
instructor. (cross-listed with PSYC 341).
CRIM 350. Juvenile Delinquency. (4).
A study of the social and psychological factors
contributing to juvenile delinquency and the
societal and governmental attempts to prevent and
control individual delinquent behavior. The role
of the juvenile court and common intervention
strategies are also examined.
CRIM 355. Family Violence. (4).
This course examines the ramifications of family
violence as well as the broad issues surrounding
domestic violence from an interdisciplinary
perspective. Violence against women typologies
and theories such as cycle of violence, dominance
and control are among the sociological and
psychological perspectives covered and crimes
such as battering, sexual assault, child abuse,
and elder abuse are analyzed in a broad social
and political context. The legal perspectives on
proactive arrest policies, restraining orders,
and anti-stalking legislation that have emerged
across the United States also are examined.
Special attention is given to how these crimes
affect women, men, children, and elders, and how
the criminal justice system may better address
the needs of victims and offenders.
Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of
instructor.
CRIM 370. Deviance in U.S. Society. (4).
Introduces students to sociological concepts of
deviance, social control, social power, and
identity construction/management. Focusing on the
topic of deviance, an explanation of how groups
of people have the power to shape and apply
social definitions of "normalcy" and "morality"
will provide an analytical lens through which to
look at the consequences for those labeled as
"deviant." Minimum of sophomore standing.
(cross-listed with SOC 370).
CRIM 404. Constitutional Law in Criminal Justice. (4).
Emphasizes Supreme Court decisions and
constitutional issues relevant to the Fourth,
Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth amendments.
Students are expected to research and present
cases from the text and other legal sources.
Prerequisite: junior standing or permission of
instructor. (cross-listed with POLS 404).
CRIM 410. Substance Abuse. (4).
An overview of drug use in a historical and
social context, primarily in the United States.
The course covers alcohol and other controlled
substances, paying particular attention to the
implications of past and current drug use
practices and policies for criminal justice
agencies. Prerequisites: CRIM 101 and
junior standing.
CRIM 412. Methods of Research and Statistics. (4).
The study of the major methods of research used
in social inquiry. Emphasis is on the use of
social surveys, qualitative interviews, data
analysis and interpretation. The students will
also make use of the computer by applying
statistical software to data entry and analysis,
finding patterns in the data, testing hypotheses
and presenting findings using tables and graphs.
Prerequisites: CRIM 101 and junior
standing.
CRIM 420. White-Collar Crime. (4).
This course will provide students with a critical
examination of white-collar crime and deviance,
its impact on society, and what might be done to
address this social problem. Cross-listed with
BUS 420.
CRIM 430. Race,Ethnicity,Gender, and Crime. (4).
This course critically examines the impact of
race, ethnicity, and gender on crime and how the
criminal justice system operates within these
contexts. Also examines the impact of perception,
stigmatization, theory, law and social policy on
minorities and women as offenders, victims, and
practitioners.
CRIM 440. Terrorism. (4).
The course focuses on the violence of terrorism
and the strategic uses and justification of
violence in political and religious life. The
course explores the ideology and methods of
terrorism by and against governments. An
examination of legal and extralegal policies
designed to counter terrorism are explored.
Prerequisites: junior standing or permission of
instructor. (cross-listed with POLS 440).
CRIM 445. Legal Reasoning. (4).
This course is designed for junior and senior
students interested in law school, graduate
school in public policy, or any profession
touched by the law. (cross-listed with POLS 445).
CRIM 451. Forensic Investigations. (4).
Forensic investigations will familiarize students
with the process of criminal and forensic
investigations as they relate to the criminal
justice process. Students will learn the various
applications in criminal investigations which
include forensics, interview/interrogation,
search and seizure, use of DNA, policies and
procedures. We will study the legal aspects of
investigations and rules regulating the
documentation, collection and analysis of
evidence. We will explore the various
investigative techniques used to detect, prevent,
and study crime and behavior. This is a
lecture-based and discussion course, so we will
rely upon both audible and visual learning
theories. The text will be used during lecture
hours, but the reading assignments occur outside
of class hours. Supplemental materials will be
distributed in class and/or posted upon the class
website. There will also be several experiential
learning activities outside of the classroom.
These will be announced in advance.
Cross-listed with PSYC 451.
Prerequisite: CRIM 101 or PSYC 200 and junior or
senior standing.
CRIM 460. Senior Seminar: Criminal Justice Philosophy and Practice. (4).
A social, political, legal and philosophical
examination of contemporary criminal justice
policy. Includes analysis of ethical issues
confronting the police, courts and corrections
and their impact on criminal justice
practitioners, clients and the public.
Prerequisites: senior standing, completion of all
required major courses.
CRIM 482. Selected Topics. (1-4).
CRIM 490. Independent Study. (1-4).
CRIM 492. Internship. (2-4).
Criminal justice majors are required to complete
an internship in a criminal justice agency or
related area in their junior or senior year.
(graded P/NC only).
Professor
Meadows |
Associate professor
Lim |
Assistant professors
George | ||
Lucas |