Courses and Syllabi
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.
Criminology Fall 2023
Undergraduate
Overview of the American system of criminal justice, covering theories of justice, criminal law, policing, courts and associated pre and post-trial legal processes, punishment and corrections, and juvenile justice. Required for all criminology majors and minors. Limited to three attempts.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Explores and evaluates how crime is defined and measured, and examines crime patterns and trends. Provides an overview and critical assessment of the major theories of crime causation. Notes: CRIM majors who are concentrating in criminal justice are strongly encouraged to take this course before or during the first semester of taking upper-level courses in the concentration. Limited to three attempts.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Introduces the relationship between law and society. Discusses theoretical perspectives from a number of social science disciplines. Promotes a foundational understanding of the concept of law and the origins, development, and role of law in society, particularly outside of formal legal institutions. Topics covered may include legal mobilization, law and social change, social movements, law and inequality, and law's relationship to social control. Notes: CRIM majors who are concentrating in Law and Society are strongly encouraged to take this course before or during the first semester of taking upper-level courses in the concentration. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces fundamental concepts of homeland security. Examines governmental actions designed to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from man-made and natural disasters. Focuses on efforts to align preparedness, incident management, and emergency response plans from various agencies (federal, state, local, tribal, private sector, and non-governmental). Notes: CRIM majors who are concentrating in homeland security and justice are strongly encouraged to take this course before or during the first semester of taking upper-level courses in the concentration. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Presents theories of juvenile delinquency and societal reactions to it, gender differences in rates and types, historical overview, development of juvenile justice system, and critical assessment of juvenile justice and its alternative. Equivalent to SOCI 302.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Analyzes ethical principles relevant for those working in criminal justice. Required for all criminology majors. Limited to three attempts.
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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Explores the significance of social inequality (especially race and gender inequality) for several crime and criminal justice issues. Examines variations in criminal offending and victimization, and explores disparities in criminal justice processing. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Studies the norms, laws, and systems for the promotion and protection of human rights. Provides a foundation for understanding historical, legal, political, economic, and ethical aspects of human rights. Examines ideological and cultural perspectives, sources of violations, the United Nations, regional and national mechanisms, special issues (e.g., women, torture, children, minorities), and the role of nongovernmental organizations. Limited to three attempts.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Introduces students to the structure, function, and process of the intelligence community including the basic skills in writing, research, and presentation used in intelligence analysis. Required for all intelligence analysis minors. Limited to three attempts.
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5 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Introduces the key analytical techniques used by entry-level analysts In the Intelligence community. Limited to three attempts.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Provides an introduction to research design, methods, and analysis in the field of criminology. Students learn to understand, interpret, and critique quantitative and qualitative research approaches, and become intelligent consumers of research. Notes: This course does not meet the College's IT requirements. Limited to three attempts.
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5 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Focuses on the analysis of locations that attract and repel crime, displacement of crime, and identifying and measuring crime concentrations. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Provides an introductory understanding of the definitions of hate crime; extremist groups and individuals; reporting, investigation, and prosecution of hate crimes; and hate crime policy and legislation. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces the legal authority, objectives, and guidelines of the counterintelligence discipline. Covers the investigative, defensive, offensive, and collection activities of the counterintelligence function. Notes: Elective course for the Intelligence Analysis minor. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Uses overview of psychological and criminological theories to apply behavioral science theory to practical application in forensic settings. Focuses on analysis of various crime scenes and characteristics of offenders. Limited to three attempts.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Fundamental issues relevant to contemporary public policing in America: role and history of police; impact on crime, disorder, and other social problems; discretion and its control; moral hazards; police legitimacy and public support; police culture and the police organization; and community policing. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Covers theories on forms of punishment systems; punishment and corrections as a product of historical, cultural, and political changes; differences by race and gender in punishment and corrections; problems of social control and violence in prisons; alternative rehabilitation; and community prevention strategies. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Studies the purposes and goals of community-based corrections and its various components, including pretrial diversion, probation, parole, and emerging alternatives to traditional incarceration. Addresses issues related to offenders returning to the community and critical issues facing jails, community corrections, and the management of offenders in community settings. Examines the role of community corrections within the broader correctional system. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores experiences of crime victims, distribution of the risks of victimization, and causes and consequences of victimization. Also considers nature and influence of victim's rights advocates. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Comparative inquiry into the models of legal and justice systems around the world. Considers how social and legal norms are created, and how different societies exercise powers of social control. Evaluates justice models in action, including law and courts, policing, corrections, and juvenile justice. Limited to three attempts.
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5 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Introduction to the elements of family law, and exploration of its influence on American social life and contemporary notions of justice. Topics include marriage and parenting, divorce, custody and support, nontraditional families, and domestic violence. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Studies the workings, advantages, and frailties of criminal courts, and explores whether the system works effectively and efficiently. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Study of community policing, particularly in the United States. Covers history and development of community policing, community relations, problem solving, and issues of organizational change. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Focuses on criminal investigations and the role of the criminal investigator in the criminal justice system. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Examines the legal, policy, prevention, enforcement, and political aspects of preventing gun violence in America. Considers the 2nd Amendment and its interpretation; explores patterns and trends in gun ownership and gun crime; reviews policies, regulations, and community-based efforts to reduce gun violence. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Studies First Amendment freedoms of speech, press, assembly, association, and religion; the right to privacy; and Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection. Equivalent to GOVT 423.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Studies constitutional law pertaining to the rights of the criminally accused from investigation and evidence through attorney, trial, and punishment stages at federal and state levels. Required for all criminology majors. Limited to three attempts.
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5 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Explains the management function for current and future criminal justice managers. Emphasizes communication, leadership skills, and organizational development. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
An overview of the definitions and elements of crimes, defense strategies, and the differences in criminal law across states. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Philosophical perspectives, historical context, technological developments, and institutional changes that surround controversies about privacy and surveillance in contemporary society. Explores public and private institutions conducting surveillance, how they calculate and manage risk, and legal constraints on surveillance activities. Equivalent to GOVT 460.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines the effect of 9/11 on law enforcement organizations in the United States and explores the evolving relationship between the military, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the post-9/11 era. Emphasis on understanding the entire framework of homeland security in the United States and the unique issues faced by local law enforcement. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Explores origins of terrorism, tracing development from early states to a modern mode of conflict. Presents national, regional, and global perspectives. Limited to three attempts.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Preparation for internship in a justice organization or justice-related work activity. Students develop a relationship with a prospective internship sponsor and develop a plan for the internship and the research to be reported. Notes: This course is only open to students majoring in Criminology, Law and Society, and should only be taken by students who intend to complete an internship. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Application of classroom learning to an applied justice setting. Students maintain daily journals, conduct research, and deliver written and oral reports. Notes: Before enrolling, students must have a plan approved by the instructor. Seminars are held several times during the semester for discussion and oral presentation. Minimum of 45 hours of on-the-job work time required for each credit. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 15 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Recent developments in the field. Notes: Topics vary. May be used to fulfill requirements for different concentrations in the BS in criminology, law, and society depending on the topic. May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 15 credits.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Course includes readings, individual or group projects, and discussion of seminar papers. Notes: First of a two-course sequence; subject varies. May be used to fulfill requirements for different concentrations in the criminology, law, and society major depending on the topic. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Provides an in-depth examination of a historical and contemporary issues facing criminology and law and society scholars. Focuses on the philosophies, practices, and procedures used by individuals and organizations and uses a variety of materials, experiences and resources. Limited to three attempts.
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15 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Recent developments in the field. Notes: Topics vary. May be used to fulfill requirements for different concentrations in the BS in criminology, law, and society depending on the topic. May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 15 credits.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Graduate
Examines the role that science and research play in criminal justice agencies, policies and practicecs. Includes understanding the strengths and limitations of the evidence-based practices framework, reviewing evidence about the effectiveness, fairness, theoretical underpinnings, and efficiency of various policies and practices to deal with crime and justice issues, and understanding how research is translated into policy and practice. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces students to the art and science behind implementing policies in today's criminal justice organizations. While considering effective, best, and evidence-based practices, students will learn about both processes and outcomes related to adopting, adapting, implementing and sustaining reform in justice agencies. Key concepts include technology transfer, transportability, uptake, diffusion, fidelity, and change. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores theory and evidence of various approaches to leadership and management as applied in justice organizations. Examples of leadership approaches include, trait, skills, style, contingency, path-goal, transformational, servant, team, and psychodynamic. Practical aspects of coping with the risks of leadership are included. Involves case studies and student self analysis using diagnostic tools. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Methods of scientific inquiry applied to criminal justice issues. Includes formulation of research questions, logic of inquiry, research design, observation, measurement, and introduction to social statistics and applications to criminal justice data analysis. Learn to critique research and present data in agency reports. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
The major principles and approaches of program evaluation applied to crime and justice policies. Presents a conceptual framework for problem evaluation. Explores issues and methods for developing evaluation questions and assessing various aspects of program theory, operation and outcomes. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Student-initiated research project supervised by instructor. Student will identify a client criminal justice organization or stakeholder group and conduct useful research on an issue of interest to that organization or group, producing a policy-oriented white paper suitable for delivery to the organization or group. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores political context of crime policy. Examines influence of public opinion, interest groups, scientific community, and other political forces. In-depth, case-study comparison of several crime policies. For MS students. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Recent developments in the field or topics not covered by regularly listed courses. The course content varies. For MS sudents. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Overview of important public values and classical and contemporary theories for understanding how these values apply to the criminal justice process. Equivalent to GOVT 726.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Summarizes key principles and development of major criminological theories and evaluates the state of the empirical evidence for each one. Provides a critical assessment of different perspectives and identifies weaknesses and gaps. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores the theoretical and empirical support for crime and justice interventions and policies, and examines the translational link between research and criminal justice practices. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces logic and methods of scientific inquiry in justice, law, and crime policy. Includes conceptualization of research questions, observation, measurement, research design, and principles of causality. Evaluation of extant research according to scientific principles. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Focuses on descriptive and inferential statistical methods and theory with application to problems within the justice field. Explores the logic of inferential statistical methods in general and null hypothesis significance testing in particular. Covers widely used statistical procedures within the applied social sciences. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Discusses the methodological, statistical, ethical, and practical concerns associated with experimental research designs in criminology. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Recent developments in field, or topics not covered by regularly listed courses. Notes: Topics vary. May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 15 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Recent developments in field, or topics not covered by regularly listed courses. Notes: Topics vary. May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 15 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
