Catalog Course Descriptions
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Criminology Courses
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.
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.
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.
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.
Covers American judicial organization and operation, role of the Supreme Court in policy formation, and selected constitutional principles. Equivalent to GOVT 301.
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.
Explores relevant laws, disciplines, and skills required to pursue a successful career in computer forensics and cyber investigations. This course will be a real-to-life exposure of conducting computer forensic and cyber investigations, including hands-on demonstrations with computer forensic tools. Limited to three attempts.
Examines the development of crime policy, including the influence of crime trends, politics, public opinion, media, criminological theory, and empirical research. Considers the effectiveness of crime policy. Limited to three attempts.
Analyzes ethical principles relevant for those working in criminal justice. Required for all criminology majors. Limited to three attempts.
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.
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.
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.
Introduces the key analytical techniques used by entry-level analysts In the Intelligence community. Limited to three attempts.
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.
Focuses on the analysis of locations that attract and repel crime, displacement of crime, and identifying and measuring crime concentrations. Limited to three attempts.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Provides an in-depth examination of the law's role in social life to deepen students' appreciation of the law in action. Focuses on scholarly research that describes and explains how legal actors, processes, and institutions operate in the world Topics include: theories of legal change, law's relationship to class, gender, and race, and law, culture, and identity. Limited to three attempts.
Studies the workings, advantages, and frailties of criminal courts, and explores whether the system works effectively and efficiently. Limited to three attempts.
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.
Focuses on criminal investigations and the role of the criminal investigator in the criminal justice system. Limited to three attempts.
New developments in law enforcement's response to technical, legal, and social change. Examines law enforcement policies and practices in the past and present, and directions for the future. Limited to three attempts.
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.
Focuses on the study of law as an institution that continuously interacts with other social institutions at the individual, community, state, and federal levels. Examines how constitutional and statutory laws are interpreted by the courts to determine and define the law through contemporary, controversial, legal issues. Explores how the courts, using the law, resolve today's most controversial issues. Limited to three attempts.
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.
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.
Explains the management function for current and future criminal justice managers. Emphasizes communication, leadership skills, and organizational development. Limited to three attempts.
An overview of the definitions and elements of crimes, defense strategies, and the differences in criminal law across states. Limited to three attempts.
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.
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.
Theoretical and practical strategies for crime prevention and deterrence. Discusses social, environmental, and mechanical developments, police courts, and correctional elements of law enforcement in terms of current effectiveness and future potential for crime prevention. Limited to three attempts.
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.
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.
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.
Study Abroad. Course topics, content, and locations vary. May be used to fulfill requirements for different concentrations in the criminology, law, and society major depending on the topic. May be repeated when topic is different.
May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 12 credits.
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.
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.
Course includes readings and discussion of seminar papers, leading to a research project under the direction of a faculty member. Notes: Second of a two-course sequence. Subject varies. Oral exam on the research and report may be required. May be used to fulfill requirements for different concentrations in the criminology, law, and society major depending on the topic. May be repeated when topic varies. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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.
Supervised research experience with a professor in a non-classroom setting. Offers students an opportunity to gain valuable research experience and training in research. Students are required to work 45 hours (across the semester) per credit. Notes: May be used to fulfill requirements for different concentrations in the criminology, law and society major depending on the topic. Open to majors and minors in CRIM with 60 credits and permission of instructor and department. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Reading and research on a specific topic under the direction of a faculty member. Notes: May be used to fulfill requirements for different concentrations in the criminology, law and society major depending on the topic. Open to majors and minors in CRIM with 90 credits and permission of instructor and department. Written report is required; an oral exam or report may also be required. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
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.
Graduate
Examines structures, practices, and performance of organizations involved in administration of justice: law enforcement, courts and legal agencies, corrections, regulatory and related agencies, and private organizations. Equivalent to PUAD 509.
Examines police organizations, practices, strategies, and reforms; the functions and mandates of the police in democracies; research knowledge about policing and the impacts of policing; and policing in the context of the broader criminal justice system. May not be repeated for credit.
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.
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.
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.
Legal and ethical issues in the making and administration of criminal justice policy in the United States. Covers the legal framework governing each issue, competing values influencing policies and practice, and the history of legal reforms in the criminal justice system. Recurrent underlying themes are legalized discretion, gender and racial equality, due process, and procedural justice. May not be repeated for credit.
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.
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.
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.
Focuses on understanding legal doctrines that form basis of U.S. constitutional criminal procedural rights and how doctrines develop, why courts rule as they do, and evaluating strengths, weaknesses of rights. For MS Students. May not be repeated for credit.
Competing conceptions of law, political systems, and social control. Intellectual traditions behind social control, its definitions, and mechanisms for regulating public and private behavior, by both individuals and organizations in society. For MS Students. May not be repeated for credit.
How justice organizations behave at lowest levels, where service is delivered and discretion is greatest (suspects, victims, witnesses, police officers, prison guards, parole officers, attorneys, and others who interact with the justice system). For MS students. May not be repeated for credit.
Covers the social institutions and processes involved in punishment, control, and behavior change. Reviews the consequences of different policies and organizational approaches. For MS students. May not be repeated for credit.
History, theory, and techniques of crime analysis and crime mapping. Includes routine activities, pattern, and rational choice theories. Review of data types. Application of crime analysis to crime control tactics, strategies, and administration. May not be repeated for credit.
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.
Examines the concentration of crime at places, including geographic, environmental, and sociological features that attract or repel crime. Discusses theoretical explanations, crime prevention strategies, and the measurement of crime concentrations. For MS students. May not be repeated for credit.
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.
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.
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.
Examines social science approaches to the law and the social processes that affect the behavior of legal actors and institutions. Includes theory and research in the law and society tradition. May not be repeated for credit.
Focuses on understanding legal doctrines that form basis of U.S. constitutional procedural rights and how doctrines develop, why courts rule as they do, and evaluating strengths, weaknesses of rights. May not be repeated for credit.
Competing conceptions of law, political systems, and social control. Intellectual traditions behind social control, its definitions, and mechanisms for regulating public and private behavior, by both individuals and organizations in society. May not be repeated for credit.
Role, influence, and effects of U.S. courts in creating constitutional norms and interpreting them. Special attention to First and Fourteenth Amendments, Commerce Clause. Analyzes leading court cases. May not be repeated for credit.
Understanding and evaluating criminal justice policies, practices, and structures in an organizational context. Draws on organizational theory and empirical research to explore the challenges and opportunities to shape criminal justice processes and outcomes. Equivalent to PUAD 790.
How justice organizations behave at lowest levels, where service is delivered and discretion is greatest (suspects, victims, witnesses, police officers, prison guards, parole officers, attorneys, and others who interact with the justice system). Equivalent to PUAD 723.
Examines leadership theories, and explores fundamental questions about leadership in justice and security organizations today. May not be repeated for credit.
Covers the social institutions and processes involved in punishment, control, and behavior change. Reviews the consequences of different policies and organizational approaches. May not be repeated for credit.
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.
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. May not be repeated for credit.
Examines the concentration of crime at places, including geographic, environmental, and sociological features that attract or repel crime. Discusses theoretical explanations, crime prevention strategies, and the measurement of crime concentrations. May not be repeated for credit.
Explores theories of punishment and sentencing practices. Examines political, sociological, criminological, and organizational influences on sentencing processes and decisions. May not be repeated for credit.
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.
Practical exploration of assessment techniques used in evaluating need for and consequences of justice programs and policies. Design and measurement, interpreting and presenting results. Equivalent to PUAD 791.
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.
Focuses on the theory and application of multivariate regression methods as applied within the justice field. Topics include tests for and consequences of violating assumptions of the generalized linear model, dummy coding of categorical variables, testing of interaction effects, logistic regression, ordered and multinominal logit, and missing data analysis. May not be repeated for credit.
Discusses the methodological, statistical, ethical, and practical concerns associated with experimental research designs in criminology. May not be repeated for credit.
Student-initiated research project supervised by instructor. Students must work with a justice organization to conduct useful research and produce a policy-oriented white paper. May not be repeated for credit.
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.
Independent reading at doctoral level on specific topic related to justice, law, or crime policy as agreed to by student and faculty member and approved by coordinator of CRIM program. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 15 credits.
Introduces doctoral students to research, scholarship and teaching practices in the field to promote their professional development. Notes: Required for Ph.D. students. May not be repeated for credit.
Research on approved master's thesis topic under direction of thesis committee with approval of chair. Notes: Minimum 3, maximum 6 credits for doctorate. Maximum of 6 credits of CRIM 799 applicable to masters degree requirements. May be repeated within the degree.
Work on a research proposal forming basis for doctoral dissertation. Notes: Minimum 3, maximum 6 credits for doctorate. Maximum of 24 credits of CRIM 998/CRIM 999 applicable to doctoral degree requirements. May be repeated within the degree.
Doctoral dissertation research and writing under direction of student's dissertation committee. Notes: Minimum 12, maximum 21 credits for doctorate. Maximum of 24 credits of CRIM 998/CRIM 999 applicable to doctoral degree requirements. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 21 credits.
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.
