Criminology and Criminal Justice (CRJ)

Criminal Justice (CRJ) Courses

CRJ 1113. The American Criminal Justice System. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours. (TCCN = CRIJ 1301)

Philosophy and history of criminal justice in America; examination of criminal justice agencies operating as an interacting system: police and security agencies, courts, and corrections. May be applied toward the Core Curriculum requirement in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: DL01 $75; LRC1 $12; STHC $18.

CRJ 2153. Criminological Theory. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours. (TCCN = CRIJ 1307)

A multidisciplinary survey of theories of crime causation and social control. Major topics covered include: theory construction, theory-methods, symmetry, evaluating theory, theoretical integration, and applied criminology. (Formerly titled "Nature of Crime and Justice.") Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 2213. Introduction to Policing. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours. (TCCN = CRIJ 2328)

An introduction to American policing organizations (public and private), history of policing, modern community policing practices, and important trends in law enforcement. Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Summer. Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 2513. Introduction to Corrections. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours. (TCCN = CRIJ 2313)

A study of the history, philosophy, and practice of corrections in America. Theories and practices of incarceration; legal and administrative issues surrounding imprisonment and the death penalty. (Formerly titled "Corrections: Theory and Practice.") Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 2623. Substantive Criminal Law. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours. (TCCN = CRIJ 1310)

Prerequisite: CRJ 1113. Jurisprudential philosophy and case study of common law and statutory crimes. Includes functions and development of substantive criminal law, elements of specific offenses, and defenses. (Formerly CRJ 3623. Credit cannot be earned for both CRJ 3623 and CRJ 2623.) Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 2813. Introduction to Courts and the Legal System. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours. (TCCN = CRIJ 1306)

Examines state and federal American court systems, their powers, remedies, limitations, and procedures; and the contributions of courts to governance. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: STHC $18.

CRJ 3013. Research Design and Analysis in Criminal Justice. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Provides students with an opportunity to be knowledgeable consumers of criminal justice research. Provides an overview of principles of scientific inquiry, research designs, and statistical concepts and techniques. Introduction to interpretation of data analysis and preparation of research reports. Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Summer. Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 3123. Investigations. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Examination of the investigative process. Focus on the history, structure, and success rates of investigation units, theories of investigation, and the information that is used to produce case clearances. (Formerly CRJ 4123. Credit cannot be earned for both CRJ 3123 and CRJ 4123.) (Formerly titled "Concepts of Investigations.") Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 3153. Crime Mapping I. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 1113. Restricted to Criminology and Criminal Justice majors only. This course is an introduction to the spatial aspects of crime through the exploration of theory, methods, and the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Further, this course will examine career prospects for those who are Criminology and Criminal Justice majors. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 3213. Managing Criminal Justice Organizations. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Examines bureaucratic, political and other characteristics of justice organizations through a review of theories of public administration and organizational behavior. Applies theories to problems and policies encountered in managing criminal justice agencies. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 3233. Introduction to Forensic Science. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Enrollment limited to upper-division criminal justice majors. This course will expose students to the nature of physical evidence and its part in our criminal justice system, an introduction to basic scientific and legal principles involved with the utilization of physical evidence, and exposure to specific items of physical evidence to include their components, manufacture, methods of analysis, and value in case work. (Formerly CRJ 3133. Credit cannot be earned for both CRJ 3233 and CRJ 3133.) Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 3533. Community Corrections. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

History, philosophy, and practice of community supervision of offenders. Examination of various intermediate punishments including boot camps, intensive probation supervision, electronic monitoring, restitution, and community service. (Formerly titled "Probation, Parole and Intermediate Sanctions.") Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 3563. Juvenile Justice. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Examination of the history of adolescence and the development of the juvenile justice system. An in-depth study of police, courts and corrections as applied to youth. Consideration of youth as both offenders and victims. Topics include child abuse, youth gangs, waiver/transfer of youth to the adult court and juvenile offending. Generally offered: Fall. Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 3573. Restorative Justice. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Provides students with a detailed study of the principles and practices of restorative justice aimed at creating a just peace within a community, a just public order for the community, vindication for victims and opportunities for accountability and restoration to offenders. Generally offered: Fall. Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 3643. Pretrial Diversion and Problem-Solving Courts. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

This course will familiarize students with the history of pretrial diversion, traditional, and specialty or problem solving courts. Focus will be on the roles of the court "families" in these courts, and the course will provide an overview of their structure, decision-making processes, pretrial proceedings sentencing practices, as well as similarities and differences. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 3713. Ethics in Criminal Justice Practice. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Survey of major schools of ethics theory; sources of ethical and philosophical foundations for criminal justice functions; common quandaries confronting officers, supervisors, and executives in justice organizations. Examines the role of criminal justice within modern civil societies. Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 4153. Crime Mapping II. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: CRJ 1113 and CRJ 3153. Restricted to Criminology and Criminal Justice majors only. This course provides an advanced understanding of the spatial analysis of issues related to criminal justice and crime mapping. Students will ask and investigate spatial problems, display and present spatial information, and conduct and report spatial research in areas relevant to criminal justice. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 4303. Victimology. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. This course will familiarize students with victimology concepts, theories, and literature as a field of study within criminology. Topics may include nature and incidence of victimization, victim and offender relationships, victim justice, victim rights and services. Consideration may be given to responses to victims with special needs and crime prevention strategies. (Formerly titled "Victims and the Justice System.") Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 4403. Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. This course examines experiences of racial and ethnic groups in the criminal justice system. Topics include: the nature and extent of overrepresentation by racial and ethnic minorities as justice system clients, culture-specific crime and victimization patterns, research evidence and theoretical explanations for these patterns. (Formerly CRJ 4313. Credit cannot be earned for both CRJ 4403 and CRJ 4313.) Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 4413. Contemporary Police Practices. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. A survey of leading research-based law enforcement practices for crime prevention and problem solving. This course covers a variety of policing strategies for crime control including community policing, problem solving, evidence-based practices, and police-community relations. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 4443. Special Topics in Policing. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. Considers special topics in policing and crime prevention not ordinarily evaluated in depth in other courses. May be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. (Formerly titled "Special Topics in Policing and Crime Prevention.") Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 4453. Drugs and Crime. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. An overview of the scope and role of drugs in society and the relationship between illicit substances and crime. Leading theories of drug use and enforcement will be surveyed. Major topics include: the social construction of drug issues, the war on drugs, drug control policy, and the function of drugs in popular cultural mediums. Contemporary topics to be examined include: asset forfeiture, the confidential informant role in drug enforcement, drug ethnography, corrections-based substance abuse treatment, and drug enforcement strategies. Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 4463. Gender and Crime. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. This course examines gender differences in criminal offending and victimization. Topics also include traditional and gender-specific theories offered to explain female involvement in crime, the experience of female victims and offenders in the criminal justice system, and women working in the criminal justice system. (Formerly CRJ 4313. Credit cannot be earned for both CRJ 4463 and CRJ 4313.) Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 4603. Institutional Corrections. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. This course introduces students to theory and research in the areas of institutional corrections and penology. Topics include the history of the use of incarceration in the United States, the influence of sentencing philosophies and practices on incarceration, the organization and management of prisons, and critical issues related to prison staff and inmates. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 4633. Constitutional Criminal Procedure. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. A procedurally oriented discussion of criminal law, including law of arrest, search and seizure, preliminary examination, bail, the grand jury, indictment and information, arraignment, trial, and review. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 4653. White Collar Crime. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. Study of the theory, nature, scope, and impact of occupational, political, and organizational/corporate crime. Comparison of white-collar crime to street crime. Examination of the structural foundations for these types of crimes and current and future systems for control of white-collar crimes. Generally offered: Fall. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 4663. Special Topics in Corrections. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. Considers special topics in corrections not ordinarily evaluated in depth in other courses. May be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor's degree. (Formerly titled "Special Topics in Corrections and Juvenile Justice.") Generally offered: Spring. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 4703. Life Course Criminology. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. Life course criminology has developed into a leading theoretical framework for studying criminal offenders. This course provides an overview of age-graded explanations of antisocial conduct and cutting-edge empirical research on the causes of antisocial behavior during various developmental periods including childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The role of both biology and the environment in explaining antisocial conduct over the lifespan is emphasized, and the implications of this research for developing age-appropriate interventions are explored. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 4833. Violent Crime. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. Examination of various forms of violence including homicide, robbery, assault and rape. Discussion of major theories of violent personal behavior and examination of historical and current data on violent crime. Consideration of rates of violent crime, how these rates have changed, and factors that contribute to violent crimes. Generally offered: Spring. Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 4843. Study Abroad: International Criminal Justice. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. A lecture/seminar course associated with a study abroad program related to the study of cross-cultural differences in crime and applications of criminal justice systems and practice. Involves international travel and field trips. May be repeated for credit when the destination country varies. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 4863. Special Topics in Courts. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. Considers special topics in courts and adjudication not ordinarily evaluated in depth in other courses. May be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree (Formerly titled "Special Topics in Legal Issues and Adjudication.") Generally offered: Fall. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 4912. Independent Study. (0-0) 2 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher and permission in writing (form available) from the instructor, the student’s advisor, the Department Chair, and Dean of the College in which the course is offered. Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a tenured/tenure-track faculty member (this course may not be taken under the direction of an Adjunct Instructor). Students are encouraged to approach this course with a specific topic in mind. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Course Fee: STHC $6.

CRJ 4913. Independent Study. (0-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher and permission in writing (form available) from the instructor, the student’s advisor, the Department Chair, and Dean of the College in which the course is offered. Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a tenured/tenure-track faculty member (this course may not be taken under the direction of an Adjunct Instructor). Students are encouraged to approach this course with a specific topic in mind. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Course Fee: STHC $18.

CRJ 4933. Internship in Criminal Justice. (0-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: CRJ 1113, CRJ 2153, CRJ 3013, and consent of academic advisor and internship coordinator; students are encouraged to complete at least 90 semester credit hours prior to enrolling in this course. Supervised experience in an administrative setting that provides the opportunity to integrate theory and practice in justice-related agencies. May be repeated for credit in a subsequent semester when agency setting varies, but not more than 6 semester credit hours will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Summer. Course Fees: CJIF $65; STHC $18.

CRJ 4953. Special Topics in Criminal Justice/Criminology. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. An organized course offering the opportunity for specialized study not normally or not often available as part of regular course offerings. May be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. (Formerly titled "Special Studies in Criminal Justice.") Generally offered: Spring, Summer. Course Fees: STHC $18; DL01 $75.

CRJ 4993. Honors Thesis. (0-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 with a grade of "C-" or higher. Enrollment limited to candidates for Honors in Criminal Justice during the last two semesters; completion of honors examination and approval by the honors program coordinator. Supervised research and preparation of an honors thesis. May be repeated once with advisor’s approval. Course Fee: STHC $18.