CRIMINAL JUSTICE (CJ)

Associate Professor: Ross (Chair)

Assistant Professor: Kurtz

Visiting Assistant Professor: Smith

Part-time Instructors: Anderson, Robbins, Thompson

Criminal Justice is an interdisciplinary social science program. Course work leading to this baccalaureate degree will provide students with strong communication and analytical skills. This is accomplished through a critical and in-depth interdisciplinary analysis of the causes of crime, formal and informal efforts at preventing and controlling crime, and treatment of the field of criminal justice as an applied social science where students are taught to integrate theory construction with practical application. The Criminal Justice program offers opportunities for internship and practicum experiences in the field, and prepares students for careers in law enforcement, court services, institutional and community-based corrections, treatment and counseling services, and for further education at the graduate level. The Criminal Justice program also prepares students for activist and leadership roles in their communities by exploring core issues related to quality of life, security and freedom. 

The major in Criminal Justice consists of 10 courses, distributed as follows:  

A. Criminal Justice core courses (four courses):

CJ 100             Introduction to Criminal Justice

CJ 201             Policing and Society

CJ 203             Correctional Systems

CJ 447             Research Methods in Criminal Justice  

B. Courses in the social, psychological, philosophical, and political dimensions of crime, law and justice (six courses):

PHIL 218         Issues in Criminal Justice

PSY 116          Abnormal Psychology

SOC 300         Criminology  

Two courses from:

PSCI 331 Civil Rights and Liberties

PSCI 332 Courts and the Criminal Justice System

PSCI 335 Law and Society

SOC 305 Sociology of Law

One course from:

CJ 204             Youth, Deviance and Social Control

SOC 222         Introduction to Human Services

SOC 331         Sociology of Gender

SOC 334         Racial and Cultural Minorities  

C. Criminal Justice Practicum (strongly recommended, but not required for the major) Majors should seek advice concerning course selection from their advisors or the criminal justice coordinator, and should note course prerequisites in planning their programs.  

Minor in Criminal Justice 

A minor in criminal justice consists of five courses: CJ 100, CJ 201, CJ 203, PSCI 332, and SOC 300. A student may substitute another relevant course for one of the required courses with consent of the criminal justice coordinator.  

Writing Intensive Courses  

The following courses, when scheduled as W courses, count towards the writing intensive requirement: CJ 447, PHIL 218, and SOC 331.

100

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE

This course explores the role of law enforcement, courts and corrections in the administration of justice; the development of police, courts and corrections; the scope and nature of crime in America; introduction to the studies, literature and research in criminal justice; basic criminological theories; and careers in criminal justice.

201

POLICING AND SOCIETY

Who are the police and what is policing? Exploration of these questions provides a context for critical inquiry of contemporary law enforcement in the United States. Attention is given to law enforcement purposes and strategies, the work force and work environment, and why sworn officers do what they do. Emphasis is also placed on being policed and policing the police. Treatment of these issues enables exploration of basic and applied questions about the projection of state power in community relations, including those related to homeland security. Prerequisite: CJ 100.  

203

CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS

This course presents an overview of offenders, punishment, correctional ideologies, and societal reaction to crime. The historical and philosophical development of the correctional system is examined. The primary emphasis is on critical analysis of contemporary correctional programming for adult and juvenile offenders in the United States. Other social issues and structures directly related to corrections are explored. Prerequisite: CJ 100.  

204

YOUTH, DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL

This course is designed to provide the student with a general understanding of juvenile deviance and state processes intended to interrupt youth deviance and juvenile delinquency, particularly in the juvenile justice system. Students will explore historical perspectives, deviant juvenile subculture, underlying philosophies, the formal processes and organization of juvenile justice systems, promising prevention/treatment approaches and juvenile probation practices. Students will be asked to think critically and offer solutions or strategies to a range of dilemmas confronting the juvenile justice system, including the transfer of juveniles to adult status and the movement to privatize juvenile justice services. Prerequisite: CJ 100 or consent of instructor.  

340

PROBATION AND PAROLE

This course provides an in-depth study of community-based corrections programs and their impact on the offender, the criminal justice system, and society. Particular attention is given to offender diagnostics and classification, treatment and supervision needs, pre-sentence and pre-parole investigations, casework planning, applicable laws, and corrections policies. Prerequisite: CJ 100 or consent of instructor.  

341

CRIME PREVENTION

Students examine crime prevention and control policies, programs, and procedures to determine what works and why. The focus is on social, situational, and environmental sources of crime. Crime prevention measures focus on reducing crime by re-creating physical design, by empowering citizen organizations, through programs that build safe communities, and through programs in place among “at risk” populations in schools, neighborhoods, and homes. Prerequisite: CJ 100 or consent of instructor.  

342

ORGANIZATIONAL CRIME

Three major areas of organizational crimes are covered, including traditional organized crime, crimes of the corporate world, and crimes committed under auspices of the government. Examples of topics include international organized crime cabals, drug trafficking and money laundering by the CIA, political bribe taking, government brutality and physical/economic coercion, civil rights violations, and crimes situated in the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and service trades. Prerequisite: CJ 100 or consent of instructor.  

345

SPECIAL TOPICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

This is a seminar for advanced students offered in response to student request and faculty interest. This course may be repeated for additional credit with approval of the criminal justice coordinator, but only when course content differs. Sample topics include the death penalty, hate crimes, civil liability in criminal justice, justice in the media, environmental crime, etc. Prerequisite: CJ 100 or consent of instructor.  

347

CRIMINAL JUSTICE FORENSICS

This course is an exploration of the history and application of forensic sciences that provides a wide overview of the many subfields within this discipline. Specifically, this course provides the student with an understanding of key definitions, theoretical frameworks, and forensic science’s role within the contemporary law enforcement environment. In addition, the course addresses the impact that this developing field has had on society as a whole. Prerequisite: CJ 100 or consent of instructor.

447

RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Students learn social science methods, research design and implementation, and evaluation of contemporary research in criminal justice. Topics covered include the logic of causal order, sampling theory, qualitative and quantitative design, data collection, and proper analysis of data. This course is a how-to-do research course that requires students to conduct original research projects under supervision. Students actively engage in content analysis, behavioral observation, survey and interview-based research, and limited quasi-experimental design studies. Emphasis is placed on conducting field research and communicating research in writing. Each student prepares a literature review and written research proposal that can be carried out while placed with a criminal justice agency on practicum (CJ 448). Prerequisites: CJ 100, CJ 201, and CJ 203, or consent of instructor.  

448-449

CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTICUM

Students are placed with criminal justice agencies, providing opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in an organizational setting, encouraging development of professional skills, helping students identify and clarify career interests, and providing opportunities to conduct hands-on field research. Each student completes an original research project under supervision of the instructor with input from the on-site agency representative. Students will prepare a comprehensive, formal, written research paper on an appropriate topic. Prerequisite: CJ 100 or consent of criminal justice coordinator.

470

INTERNSHIP (See index)

Students desiring an internship in criminal justice must get considerably advanced approval by the criminal justice coordinator. Criminal justice internships normally will not be approved for semesters during which practicums are also available. Internships are intended as a four-credit-only course. However, under unusual circumstances, up to 12 credits may be approved by the criminal justice coordinator. An example of an appropriate 12-credit internship is the FBI Honors Internship Program, which requires relocation to Washington, D.C., and participation in a full-time program that runs the duration of the summer. Prerequisite: CJ 100. 

N80

INDEPENDENT STUDY (See index)

This course represents an opportunity to pursue specific interests and topics not usually covered in regular courses. Through a program of readings and tutorials, the student will have the opportunity to pursue these interests and topics in greater depth than is usually possible in a regular course. Prerequisite: CJ 100 and consent of criminal justice coordinator.  

N90

INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR DEPARTMENTAL HONORS (See index)