Division of Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Course Descriptions

CRJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice This course offers a comprehensive survey of the administration and organization of criminal justice from arrest through final adjudication.  The course begins with an overview of the criminal justice system followed by in-depth discussions on crime, victimization, and criminal justice policy.  Students are introduced to the evolution of the various components of the criminal justice system (police, prosecution, courts, and corrections), the effects of each component, and the role of discretion in each.  3 credits. CRJ210 Law and Society An introduction to the American judicial system and the main themes and events of American constitutional law since 1787.  It introduces terms and concepts of law and legal history, focusing on three recurring themes in American public life – liberty, equality, and property.  Readings consist mostly of original court cases, especially from the U.S. Supreme Court, but with a focus on the historical connections between those cases and broader social, political, and cultural trends.  Prerequisite: CRJ101.  3 credits. CRJ220 Criminal Law Discusses the rules, principles, and doctrines of criminal liability in the United States.  The historical development, limits, and functions of the substantive criminal law.  Addresses moral, philosophical, constitutional, and public policy considerations in the use of criminal sanctions to regulate conduct.  3 credits. CRJ230 Drugs and Society Examines the issues revolving around drug use and abuse within American society.  Themes include the role of societal definitions and social responses to drugs, socio-historical perspectives on drug consumption and control, the structure of the legal and illegal drug industry, and competing models of public policy.  3 credits. CRJ240 Professional Writing for Criminal Justice Examines forms of professional writing and formal communication within the criminal justice field.  Students receive extensive experience in the format, structure, and content of writing on criminal justice issues.  The communication component focuses on developing multi-media presentation skills in the topical areas.  Prerequisite: CRJ101 and sophomore standing or approval of instructor.  3 credits. CRJ250 Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Class Provides students with an opportunity to analyze the roles of race, ethnicity, gender, and class in crime and criminal justice systems.  Covers historical and theoretical frameworks for understanding the relationship between socio-demographic factors and criminal justice.  3 credits. CRJ260 Deviance and Social Control This course provides students with an opportunity to examine issues of deviant behavior and the mechanisms for control within society.  The historical and cultural context of deviance will be discussed along with various theories/assumption on why people feel the need to define, control, and engage in deviant behavior.  The course will involve both lecture and interactive discussion based on assigned readings, individual perspectives, and current events.  Ultimately, you should gain a more comprehensive understanding of the evolving issues within this area, as well as the basis of some personal perceptions and social responses.  3 credits. CRJ261 Mass Murderers and Serial Killers This course examines the types of men and women who commit multiple murders and what compels them to do so (e.g., childhood experiences, mental illness, fanaticism).  Discussion topics focus on psychological, sociological, and biological aspects as well as law enforcement and societal responses to serial murder.  3 credits.   CRJ262 Cops and Robbers on Film An examination of images of crime and justice portrayed in the American cinema.  Special attention is paid to the social and historical forces that have shaped popular representations of good and evil during the modern era.  3 credits. CRJ270 Victimology Study of risk factors in crime victimization, the impact of crimes upon victims, and the role of the victim in the event and within criminal justice system.  3 credits. CRJ280 Juvenile Justice Considers the problems surrounding the legal definition and handling of juveniles who encounter the criminal justice system as offenders, clients and victims.  Attention is devoted to the study of the special legal categories and procedures established for juveniles, the challenges facing professionals providing juvenile services, and the most significant directions of legal and social change affecting youth in our society.  3 credits. CRJ281 Policing in America Introduces the fundamentals of culture, organizational structure, philosophy, and problems associated with contemporary police organizations and their practices in the United States.  The course traces the history, evolution, and organization of the police in the United States and examines the role of police in society, structure and culture of police organizations, function and activities of the police, and police deviance and accountability.  3 credits. CRJ282 Corrections Examines the concept of punishment and its form, function(s), and enforcement throughout history, with an emphasis on current sentencing policies and procedures and their impact on the corrections system.  Explores the operation, structure, clientele, and issues confronting the institutions, agencies, and programs encompassing the corrections system including jails, prisons, and probation and parole.  3 credits. CRJ283 Criminal Justice Administration Provides students with an overview of issues related to criminal justice organization and management within public administrative systems.  These include the manner in which criminal justice agencies deal with crime and criminological issues, as well as how such agencies are organized and managed to find ways to deal with the crime problem in the context of economic, social and political factor.  Students become familiar with the operations of criminal justice organization and management, and how individuals navigate and work with criminal justice agencies to address crime-related issues.  3 credits. CRJ284 Criminology Focuses on the role of crime and criminals in society.  It provides a fundamental knowledge of criminological theories that offer widely varying explanations for criminality.  The course explores the nature and dynamics of crime, criminals, victims, society, law, and policy as each theory of crime causation conceptualizes them.  Through critical analysis, students will be able to identify how and why certain theories about crime are adopted at particular times in history and in certain circumstances, and assess their policy implications in light of social justice principles, and inform their understanding of the justifications offered for subsequent governmental responses to crime.  3 credits. CRJ290 Research Methods This course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of scientific research as applied in the fields of criminology and criminal justice.  Topics include the philosophy of science, the role of theory in research, ethical issues involved in research, operationalization and measurement, the basics of research design, sampling, survey research, field research, evaluation research, interpreting data, and other topics.  Through lectures, group discussions and readings, students become familiar with the scientific methods that are necessary for systematic analysis of crime trends, offender behavior, program effectiveness, and public attitudes about crime and justice.  Prerequisites: CRJ101 and CRJ240.  3 credits. CRJ292 Forensic Science Provides students with knowledge and skills in the application of scientific principles and technological applications to further the purpose of justice in the study and resolution of criminal, civil and regulatory issues.  3 credits. CRJ300 Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis Focuses on analytical and statistical software applications and procedures relevant to crime and criminal justice data.  Includes qualitative and quantitative techniques to develop students’ knowledge, practical skills, and understanding of descriptive and inferential statistics in criminal justice and related social science research.  Prerequisite: CRJ290.  3 credits. CRJ310 Community Corrections Consideration of the full range of nonincarcerative sentencing options.  Analysis of the theoretical and practical implications of the maintenance of offenders in the community, including the range of community resources available to the correctional system.  Prerequisite: CRJ 282.  3 credits. CRJ311 Interpersonal Skills for CRJ Students gain a precise understanding of communication techniques and procedures that are fundamental to law enforcement and corrections.  Prerequisite: CRJ 281 & 282.  3 credits. CRJ314 Defensive Tactics/Skills This course is designed to provide students with an appropriate understanding of specific issues related to conflict and crisis management within the criminal justice field.  Students gain a precise understanding of response procedures and use of force techniques that are fundamental to law enforcement and corrections. Prerequisite: CRJ 281 & 282.  3 credits. CRJ315 Criminal Justice Ethics and Professionalism This course is designed to provide students with an appropriate understanding of ethical issues within the criminal justice system.  These include a focus on police officers and offenders, correctional officers and inmates; the human services approach; and the range of respectful conduct elements in the context of diversity in the workplace.  Prerequisite: CRJ 281 & 282.  3 credits. CRJ340 Emergency Preparedness This course is designed to provide students with practical knowledge on various emergency prevention and response procedures and practices within law enforcement and for correctional facilities [as they pertain to fire safety and emergency first responder medical services].  Prerequisite: CRJ 281 & 282.  3 credits. CRJ320 Internship I Field experience in a local, state or federal criminal justice or private security agency.  Includes orientation, observation, conferences, and work experience.  Students will complete a minimum of 200 clock hours in the field during the semester.  Prerequisites: CRJ 101, 110, 210, 220, 230, 240, 201, 301, 310, 330, and 350; minimum GPA of 2.5 in major.  Restricted to majors.  3 credits. CRJ340 Corporate and White Collar Crime Introduces students to a various topics and issues in the areas of corporate and white-collar crime.  Examines a variety of special topics such as definitional issues, the nature and extent of white-collar crimes, detection, measurement, crime types, case studies, the etiology of offending, and adjudication and sentencing.  3 credits. CRJ360 Law and Psychology This course focuses on applications of psychology to the administration of justice.  Drawing from the areas of social, cognitive, developmental, clinical, and neuropsychology, students critically examine the trial process.  The law’s informal theories of human behavior will be compared to what psychologists know on the basis of theories and research.  A number of controversies will be discussed, including the practice of scientific jury selection, jury deliberation and decision-making, police interrogations and confessions, use of the polygraph as a lie-detector test, eyewitness testimony, repressed and recovered memories, the use of hypnosis, child witnesses in sex abuse cases, the death penalty, the insanity defense, and the role of psychologists as trial consultants and expert witnesses.  3 credits. CRJ370 Advanced Topics in Criminal Law This seminar will significantly expand upon a range of select issues examined in CRJ220 (Introduction to Criminal Law).  These include the nature of criminal law and how it can be distinguished from the civil law; the kinds of conduct that are properly subject to criminal sanctions; whether it is appropriate to apply sanctions to conduct that is harmful only to self; the basic principles that govern the assignment of criminal liability; the importance of causation; the distinction between justification and excuse defenses; and some of the theoretical issues that surround specific offenses such as murder and manslaughter, rape, and theft.  3 credits. CRJ400 Advanced Professional Writing for Criminal Justice This course significantly expands upon various writing methods examined in CRJ240 (Professional Writing for Criminal Justice) and provides students with the opportunity to enhance their professional writing capacity.  3 credits. CRJ420 & 421 Internships II & III Field experience in a local, state or federal criminal justice or private security agency.  Includes orientation, observation, conferences, and work experience.  Students will complete a minimum of 200 clock hours in the field during the semester.  Prerequisites: CRJ320 Internship I and minimum GPA of 2.5.  May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.  Restricted to majors.  3 credits. CRJ430 Current Issues in Criminal Justice Detailed exploration of various issues in policing, crime, corrections, criminal behavior, juvenile, or general criminal justice.  Prerequisites: CRJ101, 240, 290 and junior standing or approval of instructor.  3 credits. CRJ440 Criminal Justice Seminar Capstone course consisting of development and production of a senior level research paper grounded in relevant criminal justice literature.  Emphasis on integration of knowledge acquired in previous courses.  Prerequisite: all required CJ core courses must be completed.  Restricted to majors.  3 credits.