Criminology and Criminal Justice (CRCJ)
Criminology and Criminal Justice Undergraduate Courses
CRCJ 1010 SURVEY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide an overview of the justice process and the criminal justice system in general. Concepts of crime and justice are discussed as well as the rights of individuals in a democratic society. The law enforcement, judicial, juvenile justice, and corrections systems are explored.
Distribution: Social Science General Education course
CRCJ 2030 POLICE AND SOCIETY (3 credits)
This course is designed to explore the role of the police in American society. Attention is given to the origins of policing, the nature of police organizations and police work, and patterns of relations between the police and the public. The values of a democratic society as they affect the law enforcement role are discussed.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, or permission
CRCJ 2110 CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to give you a greater understanding of the U.S. criminal courts system. In this course we will cover topics such as judges, lawyers, litigants, criminal and civil procedure, state and federal courts, and theories of judicial decision making. We will analyze these concepts, actors and institutions from a variety of perspectives. The course will include discussions of the constitutional rules and case law as they apply to the courts process.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, or permission
CRCJ 2210 SURVEY OF CORRECTIONS (3 credits)
This course provides an overview of the American criminal justice system correctional responses to criminal offending. We explore the history, philosophy, and law underlying corrections. We will focus on understanding risks and needs of offenders, treatment options and types of correctional sanctions in the U.S. These include, but are not limited to probation, jail, intermediate sanction, prison and the death penalty.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, or permisson
CRCJ 2220 COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS (3 credits)
This course is designed to familiarize the student with the most recent developments in community-based corrections. Discussion will focus on the issues related to implementation, management, effectiveness and challenges of community-based programs. Students will be provided a broad overview of the structure and functions of Community-based Corrections. By the end of the course, students should expect to understand the best practices in community corrections.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, or permission
CRCJ 2410 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (3 credits)
This course deals with the legal aspects of the investigation, arrest processes, and criminal trial proceedings, as well as the rules governing the admissibility of evidence in criminal court proceedings.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, or permission
CRCJ 2510 RESEARCH METHODS (3 credits)
The primary goal of this course is to facilitate your growth as both consumers and producers of research. We will explore a variety of methodologies (e.g., survey research/self-report, official stats/secondary data, quasi-experimental design, etc.) used in criminological and criminal justice research. Further, we will evaluate these methodologies within the context of design concerns such as: research purpose, operationalization, validity, reliability, and ethics.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, or instructor permission
CRCJ 3000 APPLIED STATISTICS AND DATA PROCESSING IN PUBLIC SECTOR (3 credits)
A course on the use of data and statistical methods to explore and make inferences about society, while critically considering the influence of context and the powers and limitations of quantitative evidence. (Cross-listed with PA 3000, SOWK 3000).
Prerequisite(s): MATH 1120 or MATH 1130 or MATH 1220 or MATH 1300 or MATH 1320 or an ACT of 19, or above or permission from the department.
CRCJ 3010 PHILOSOPHY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits)
This course is designed to critically evaluate concepts like "justice", "morality", "crime", "criminal", etc. These concepts are used every day, and yet we often take it for granted that their meaning is common knowledge. The reality is that arriving at a definition for a term like "justice" varies greatly depending on who you are talking to. When you consider that the overarching goal of our criminal "justice" system is to dispense justice, the definition of "justice" becomes supremely important. Unlike many other classes you will take, much of what we talk about in this class will have no clear cut answers. You will leave this course with questions, but hopefully you will be equipped with the tools necessary to evaluate those questions and form an educated opinion.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or instructor permission.
CRCJ 3100 WRITING FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits)
This is a writing course for all Criminology and Criminal Justice majors. Students will learn how to write effective cover letters, incident reports, position papers, and executive summaries.
Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1150, ENGL 1160, and CRCJ 1010. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: Writing in the Discipline Single Course
CRCJ 3310 CRIMINAL LAW (3 credits)
This course will examine the development of the criminal law, the elements and types of criminal offenses, as well as principles of criminal culpability.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or permission
CRCJ 3350 CRIMINOLOGY (3 credits)
This course is about facts and frameworks. The facts that we are interested in are facts about criminal behavior and the frameworks are theories that organize these facts in a coherent fashion. As we learn about criminological facts and the theories that organize these facts we will pay attention to research so that we understand how these facts are developed and how these theories are tested. We will also try to draw out the policy implications of the various facts and theories that we address.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or instructor permission.
CRCJ 3370 JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND JUVENILE JUSTICE (3 credits)
This course has been designed to provide and expose students to a broad base of information about juveniles, youth in need of supervision, youth crime and how these areas are handled within the juvenile justice system in the United States. This course will examine the juvenile justice system and the role of family, peers, school, courts, law enforcement, corrections, and the broader community as it pertains to the life of a juvenile.
CRCJ 3380 RACE, ETHNICITY, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits)
This course provides a survey of minority groups and their experiences with regard to crime and criminal justice in the United States. This course will focus on racial and ethnic minorities as victims, as offenders, as defendants, and as criminal justice professionals.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; OR instructor permission. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course
CRCJ 3390 WOMEN, CRIME AND JUSTICE (3 credits)
This course focuses on women's experiences in the criminal justice system. The course will examine women's experiences as victims of crime, as offenders, as prisoners, and as criminal justice professionals. (Cross-listed with WGST 3390)
Prerequisite(s): WGST major; CRCJ or WGST minor; CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160 and 45 credit hours; or instructor permission.
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course
CRCJ 3410 LAW AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY (3 credits)
Law and the Black Community provides an in-depth examination of the racialized American legal process as it pertains to and affects African Americans in the U.S. From the formation of the U.S. Constitution to present day, this course analyzes intersections of race, law, politics and culture, and explores the administration of justice and Black experiences through a critical legal perspective. (Cross-listed with BLST 3410, PSCI 3410).
Prerequisite(s): BLST 1000 OR CRCJ 1010 OR Junior standing OR instructor permission.
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course
CRCJ 3970 INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits)
A minimum of 160 hours of experiential learning with criminal justice agencies. The internship program integrates learning with service. It allows students to learn occupational skills and competencies and develop professional relationships with organizations involved in the criminal justice sector, at the same time, students will apply criminological theories to their work. The internship prepares students to demonstrate the integration of professional ethics and values, knowledge and skills, and the capacity to think critically and constructively.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, 75 credit hours completed, GPA of 2.5, and permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
CRCJ 3980 RESEARCH INTERNSHIP (3 credits)
This course will provide advanced student majors and minors with experience conducting research in the area of criminology and criminal justice. Students work under faculty supervision to complete research tasks that integrate learning with service. Tasks may include reviewing relevant literature, development of survey instrument(s), data collection, data entry and analysis, and presentation of findings.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, 75 credit hours completed, GPA of 2.5, and permission of instructor.
CRCJ 4000 MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (3 credits)
This course focuses on the intersection of individuals with mental health, substance abuse, and/or severe and persistent mental illness diagnoses and the criminal justice system. Students will examine how individuals become involved in the criminal justice system and how the criminal justice system and other social services respond to their involvement.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; OR instructor permission
CRCJ 4030 CRIMINAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION (3 credits)
This course covers contemporary concepts, principles and theories of organization and administration as they relate to criminal justice agencies. The historical development and modern principles of policy administration are also contrasted. The primary goal of this course is to identify the basic structure and function of criminal justice organizations, while paying particular attention to how criminal justice organizations are managed and led.
CRCJ 4060 CRIMINAL JUSTICE ETHICS (3 credits)
The principal objectives of this course will focus on creating an awareness of the ethical issues and dilemmas present in the criminal justice system, as well as the development of a more informed ability or basis to address them.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
CRCJ 4110 BIOSOCIAL CRIMINOLOGY (3 credits)
This course is designed to acquaint students with the biological, genetic, and environmental origins to criminal and antisocial behavior. Toward this end, we will examine an array of topics including personality development, brain functioning, and the biosocial basis of crime. Discussion will also center on the manner in which various environmental influences operate through biological mechanisms to influence criminal behavior across different stages of the life course. Particular emphasis will be placed on using empirical-based research to understand the etiology of antisocial and criminal conduct and issues pertaining to the criminal justice system.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or instructor permission.
CRCJ 4130 SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR (3 credits)
This course is designed to investigate the etiology of many forms of norm-violating conduct. Emphasis will be placed on rule-breaking behavior as defined in the criminal statutes. (Cross-listed with CRCJ 8136).
Prerequisite(s): Upper-division CRCJ major; CRCJ minor; CRCJ 1010 and jr/sr standing; or instructor permission.
CRCJ 4210 INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to provide you with a practical and theoretical understanding of Institutional Corrections.
CRCJ 4400 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (3 credits)
This course examines the criminal justice system response to domestic violence/intimate partner violence. A focus on the interactions between battered victims and components of the criminal justice system, as well as the role of the community in addressing and preventing this violence serves as the foundation for this course. Students will also gain insight into factors contributing to the incidence of intimate partner violence, explore the background/history of domestic violence.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or permission
CRCJ 4410 VICTIMOLOGY (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to the topics and issues that are pertinent to the study of victimology. Students will learn about the prevalence, predictors, and consequences of various forms of victimization, including child abuse, intimate partner violence, rape and sexual assault, stalking, and homicide over the life-course. In addition, students will learn about the nature of criminal justice victimization data, and the issues related to the measurement and costs of victimization.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or permission.
CRCJ 4420 CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT (3 credits)
This course addresses issues related to child abuse and neglect investigation, intervention and prevention efforts facilitated through criminal justice system processes. Course content discusses the history of child maltreatment, definitional challenges, statistical trends, physical and behavioral indicators, mandatory reporting, investigative processes, intervention strategies and prevention efforts.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or instructor permission
CRCJ 4430 HUMAN TRAFFICKING (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide students with a systematic introduction to the study of human trafficking. Students will learn about what constitutes human trafficking, theories of victimization as they apply to trafficking, debates about the language and definitions surrounding sex trafficking and prostitution. Students will discuss the prevalence, predictors, and consequences of various forms of trafficking and critically assess efforts related to measurement, intervention, and prevision.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or permission.
CRCJ 4440 VICTIMS' RIGHTS AND SERVICES (3 credits)
This course focuses on the experiences of victims of crime through the criminal justice system, from reporting the crime to case closure. Students will learn about the types of victim services and advocacy throughout various points of the criminal justice system (e.g., police, courts, corrections), as well as about the history of victims' rights and the development of victim services over time.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010
CRCJ 4450 SEXUAL VIOLENCE (3 credits)
This course will examine the complicated nature and dynamics of sexual violence. Students will learn about the nature and extent of sexual violence. Data and measurement issues will be addressed as well as the history of system responses to sexual violence and victimization.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours or instructor permission
CRCJ 4510 VIOLENCE (3 credits)
This course will examine the social, political and psychological aspects of violence. It will identify various analytical approaches to the study of violence: identifying violent groups, reviewing societal response to violence, and examining police and governmental responses to reduce or control violence. Please note that a core competency of this course is critical thinking. Critical thinking requires students to think through situations, facts, and issues in an open-minded and objective way in an effort to analyze and evaluate information in an informed manner.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or instructor permission
CRCJ 4520 DRUGS AND CRIME (3 credits)
Drugs and Crime is an introduction course to the major facts and issues concerning criminal justice and drug-taking behavior in America. It is specifically designed to provide the means for understanding (1) the multiple challenges that drug abuse brings to our society, (2) the drug control policies we have enacted to meet those challenges, (3) the range of international and domestic law enforcement efforts and drug control strategy, and (4) the systems of criminal justice that have been established to deal with the prosecution of drug law offenders.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours or instructor permission
CRCJ 4530 SEXUAL OFFENDING (3 credits)
In this course students will learn about sex offenses, sex offenders, and the responses of the criminal justice system. This course will examine applications of theory to sex offending, trends and patterns of behavior, characteristics of sex offenders, and the psychological and legal responses to sex crimes.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours or instructor permission
CRCJ 4540 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS (3 credits)
This course examines the processes, practices, and people involved in the investigation of criminal acts, highlighting recent developments in policy, tactics and technology. We explore theoretical approaches to investigating various crimes, examining how aspects of each approach can benefit investigators. We will analyze, discuss, and learn how to complete thorough investigations that will ensure best chances for successful case prosecution in court.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010
CRCJ 4550 GANGS AND GANG CONTROL (3 credits)
This course will examine criminal street gangs, including these gangs' members, activities, underlying dynamics, and the roles that drugs and sex trafficking play in gang activity. We will consider the history and proliferation of gangs in the United States, common characteristics of U.S. gangs across different regions, how gangs obtain their power and the connection between street gangs and prison gangs. Lastly, we will evaluate multiple methods employed by communities and law enforcement to control and defeat criminal street gangs.
CRCJ 4560 HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS (3 credits)
This course is designed to present an overview of the crime of homicide. Attention is given to homicide data, theories of why homicides occur, types of homicide, investigating/solving homicides, prosecuting homicide cases, and the impact on co-victims and society as a whole. Students will use critical thinking skills while exploring various investigative techniques.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160 and 45 credit hours; or instructor permission
CRCJ 4710 COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS: ENGLAND (3 credits)
This is a specialized course which provides a comparison of the criminal justice systems of the United States and the United Kingdom. The design of the course allows for an exploration of how the American system developed from the British system and why social and cultural factors influenced the differences/similarities in their development.
Prerequisite(s): Upper-division CRCJ major or CRCJ minor and permission of the instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
CRCJ 4750 INTERNATIONAL CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits)
This course analyzes the dynamics of criminality and the social response to criminality across countries. Differences in crime and justice between developed and developing countries and between socialist and capitalist nations are emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or instructor permission.
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course
CRCJ 4760 TERRORISM (3 credits)
This course is designed to assist the student in developing an understanding of terrorism as a political crime. It includes an examination of the social, political and psychological aspects of this behavior.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or instructor permission.
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course
CRCJ 4770 ORGANIZED CRIME (3 credits)
This course will deal with issues surrounding the phenomena of organizational crime. The student will be exposed to theories, concepts, case studies and issues relating to this topic. Organizational crimes are some of the most dangerous to American society and range from the commonly known offenses of gambling and narcotics trafficking to the more subtle and sophisticated crimes of extortion, commercial bribery, and political corruption.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; or instructor permission
CRCJ 4780 WHITE COLLAR CRIME (3 credits)
This course is designed to examine those illegal acts committed by nonphysical means and by concealment or guile, to obtain money or property, to avoid the payment or loss of money or property, or to obtain business or personal advantage.
CRCJ 4790 CYBER & COMPUTER CRIMES (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to cybercrime. Cybercrime is an extremely broad term that encompasses a wide variety of criminal behaviors. Specifically, this course is designed to introduce students to the following: how the digital world has influenced crime, theories related to cybercrime, types of cybercrimes, the implications of computer crimes and cyber-terrorism, privacy and freedom of speech in the context of the digitial world, and the challenges cybercrime poses for our criminal justice system.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours or instructor permission
CRCJ 4800 SPECIAL TOPICS (3 credits)
This course is a topical approach that explores various aspects of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Topics and disciplines will vary from term to term. Course description will be announced in advance. This course will be devoted to the exploration and analysis of contemporary problems in the criminal justice system.
Prerequisite(s): Upper-division CRCJ major; CRCJ minor; CRCJ 1010 and jr/sr standing; or instructor permission.
CRCJ 4950 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-3 credits)
Students explore a topic of interest under the close supervision of a faculty member. The student and faculty member work together to establish a plan of study which may include independent reading and writing, applied activities, research activities and products, and/or other activities deemed appropriate. The student is responsible for selecting a possible topic of study before contacting the faculty member.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1160, and 45 credit hours; instructor permission. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
CRCJ 4960 ISSUES IN CRIME AND JUSTICE (3 credits)
This is a capstone course. Each student will identify and explore a contemporary issue relevant to crime and justice policy. Students will develop multimedia packages designed to educate and advocate for their chosen policy action (e.g., adoption, reform, replacement). The purpose of the course is to allow students to integrate their previous course experiences and skills, independent research, and community stakeholder engagement (via interviews) into an activity that demonstrates critical thinking, synthesis, and evaluation.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ majors with senior standing, OR permission of the instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
CRCJ 4970 SENIOR HONORS PROJECT/THESIS (3-6 credits)
An independent research project supervised by School faculty. The senior honors project must be approved by the CPACS Honors Coordinator.
CRCJ 4990 APPLIED SENIOR ASSESSMENT (1 credit)
This course is intended to give students an opportunity to reflect on their curricular and personal development during their undergraduate career. Students will have the opportunity to develop several career development artifacts. It is also used as a tool to help monitor progress toward the SCCJ's student learning outcomes (SLOs) and identify needed changes.
Prerequisite(s): Graduating seniors must register for and complete CRCJ 4990 in the term in which they plan to graduate. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
CRCJ 4999 SENIOR ASSESSMENT (0 credits)
This assessment tool is part of the School's Student Outcomes effort. It is designed to monitor the School's performance and to identify changes needed. Graduating seniors must register for and complete CJUS4999 - Senior Assessment in the term in which they plan to graduate.
Prerequisite(s): Students must register for CJUS 4999 in the term in which they plan to graduate. Not open to non-degree graduate students.