General Catalog 2007-2009
Criminal Justice
CJA101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Fall-Spring Semesters
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of criminal justice as an academic discipline, of the social and historical context of crime and justice in a democracy, and of the administration of America’s criminal justice system.
3 credit hours.
CJA102 Introduction to Security
and Asset Protection
Fall-Spring Semesters
An introduction to the theories, history, and contemporary practices involved in asset protection. Coverage includes private investigation and the security service industry. Student preparation for the Certified Protection Officer (CPO) examination will also be included. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA110 Juvenile Delinquency
Fall-Spring Semesters
The course covers the history and development of the concept of delinquency, nature and extent of delinquency, theories of delinquency, and environmental influences on delinquency. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA203 Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice
Fall-Spring Semesters
The course introduces students to the foundations of philosophical and moral thinking. These principles are then incorporated into criminal justice settings with cases and readings that focus on professional-oriented ethical issues encountered in the administration of justice. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA230/FCM200 Introduction to Criminalistics
Fall-Spring Semesters
This is the first course in the forensic science curriculum. It is designed as scientific overview of several areas of forensic science. Some of the areas of study are: history of Criminalistics, experts in the field of forensic science, fingerprinting, impression evidence, handwriting analysis, glass analysis, firearms, forensic serology, fire debris, and expert witnesses. Laboratory time is spent analyzing evidence discussed in several of these topics.
3 class periods.
1 three-hour laboratory (CJA231/FCM201).
4 credit hours.
CJA295 Criminal Justice Research
Methods I
Fall Semester
The course introduces students to research design most useful for the study of criminal justice problems, program evaluation, and policy analysis. The course will focus on the advantages and limitations and the appropriateness of specific methodological approaches. A grade of “2” or better is required. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA296 Criminal Justice Research
Methods II
Spring Semester
This course is a continuation of CJA295 and is the second part of the research methods statistics sequence. The course reviews descriptive and inferential statistical techniques appropriate for use in criminal justice research. Students will be required to use these techniques when analyzing criminal justice datasets. A grade of “2” or better is required. Prerequisites: CJA101 and CJA295.
3 credit hours.
CJA302 Criminal Law
Fall-Spring Semesters
An examination of the general principles of substantive criminal law including the general principles of criminal liability and the elements and defenses to criminal offenses. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA303/WGS303 Gender and Crime
Spring Semester
This course examines the variations of punishment and patterns in female criminality vs. male criminality across age, class, and race. This course will also review the strengths and weaknesses of theories of crime as applied to women as victims and offenders and explores the occupational segregation by gender in criminal justice professions. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA304 Legal Standards of Security/
Asset Protection
Spring Semester-Even-numbered years
An examination of federal, state and local laws, which impact upon the protection of assets and the conduct of investigations. Standards of professional practice, licensing, administrative regulations, civil liability and law relating to employment practices will be covered. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA305 Criminal Investigation
Fall Semester
This course examines the fundamental principles and practices of criminal investigation. Intelligence acquisition, surveillance, interviewing and interrogation, crime scene investigation, physical evidence, and the legal aspects of investigation will be addressed. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA310 Victimology
Fall Semester
This course will provide students with a global perspective on the study of victimology and an overview of the history, development, and current treatment of crime victims by the criminal justice system. Topics include victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child maltreatment, violence against the elderly, school and workplace violence, victims of hate crimes, and victims’ rights. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA311 Crime Prevention and
Physical Security
Fall Semester
This course involves a comprehensive and critical examination of practices used by business, government, and non-profit organizations to reduce the harm associated with violence, theft, and terrorism. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA323 Arson and Bomb Investigation
Fall Semester
Methods of scientific analysis are used in the investigation of fires, bombs and explosives, bullets and cartridges. Glass and document evidence are also examined. The value of the evidence and its presentation in court are discussed. Prerequisite: CJA230.
3 credit hours.
CJA334 Policing in America
Fall Semester
A critical examination of the historical development of law enforcement in Great Britain and America, policing reforms, the role of law enforcement in a democracy, and current trends and issues. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA336 Judicial Process
Spring Semester
The course uses a social science and policy analysis perspective to examine the history and structure of America’s adult courts, the interrelationship between the trial court and its social, economic, and political environments, as well as the major participants in the court, the trial process, and sentencing. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA337 Punishment and Corrections
Spring Semester
A review of the history of criminal punishment, rationales for punishment, correctional reforms, the structure of modern prison systems, community-based corrections, intermediate sanctions, and current issues. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA341 Criminal Procedure
Fall-Spring Semesters
A survey and analysis of United States Supreme Court decisions involving the constitutional rights of individuals in the criminal process and the remedies available for the violation of those rights. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA347 Community-Based Corrections
Fall Semester
An examination of the historical development of the major community-based correctional programs (probation and parole) and intermediate sanctions, the relationship between the community and correctional system, current community correctional programs, including restorative justice, as well as an evaluation of their efficacy utilizing the latest research findings and evaluation studies. Prerequisites: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA348 Juvenile Justice
Fall Semester
The course focuses on the contemporary juvenile justice system by reviewing and analyzing recent legal cases, research studies, evaluation reports, and public policy initiatives in the field of juvenile justice. Prerequisites: CJA101 and CJA110.
3 credit hours.
CJA349 Comparative Criminal Justice
Fall Semester
Examines the incidence of crime, measures of crime, and criminal justice policies and procedures from a comparative perspective. While the primary focus is on a comparison between the United States and other common-law countries, additional countries are also examined. Prerequisites: CJA101 and junior standing.
3 credit hours.
CJA360, CJA361 Experiential Learning in Criminal Justice
Fall-Spring-Summer Semesters
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the field of criminal justice as a profession. Each student will complete a minimum of 120 hours in an assigned field placement so that he/she can obtain familiarity with one area of the criminal justice field. Students will be expected to reflect critically on their field experience, using their knowledge of theory and policy. Students are limited to a maximum of 6 credit hours. Each credit hour requires 40 hours of field placement. Prerequisite: An application is required during the semester preceding the academic term in which the student desires to perform the experiential learning; approval of the instructor prior to the beginning of the internship; minimum GPA 2.00; and junior/senior standing. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.
3 or 6 credit hours.
CJA362/FCM362 Crime Scene Processing
Fall-Spring Semesters
This hands-on course focuses on the proper methods of processing a crime scene to find the physical evidence, protect it, document it, package it and transport it to the laboratory facility. Scene security, sketching, photography, evidence packaging and fingerprint processing will be covered. Mock crime scenes will also be used as teaching aides. Prerequisite: FCM200/CJA230.
3 credit hours.
CJA364 Policing Communities
Spring Semester
This course examines the ways through which police services are delivered to communities. The underlying philosophies guiding police service delivery and specific strategies will be discussed and assessed by examining recent empirical research studies. Attention will be paid to contemporary law enforcement reforms such as community policing, zero-tolerance policing, and problem-oriented policing and how these reforms are translated into police practice. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA380 Special Topics in Criminal Justice
Fall-Spring Semesters
An intensive examination of a specialized topic in the field of criminal justice. Topics will vary according to the instructor. May be taken more than once provided the subject matter is not repeated. Maximum of 6 hours of credit.
3 credit hours.
CJA383 White Collar Crime
Spring Semester
The course will introduce students to a variety of topics and issues in the white collar crime area. The course will examine types, causes, and the measurement of white collar crime. Specifically, the course will review the debate regarding the definition of white collar crime, overview the costs of the white collar and corporate crime society, examine the various theories of white collar criminality and explore the use of criminal sanctions to address this type of criminality. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA386 Death Investigation
Fall Semester
This course will provide students with an understanding of basic death investigation scene techniques, death investigation procedures, and laws pertaining to death investigation. Various types of death will be discussed with an emphasis on the death investigator’s role. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA401 Security Planning and Supervision
Spring Semester (odd-numbered years)
This course focuses on the human resource management aspects of security/asset protection. Selection, training, and supervision of protective services personnel will be covered. Student preparation for completion of the security supervisor program will be included. Prerequisite: CJA101.
3 credit hours.
CJA403 Conflict Analysis and Management
Spring Semester (even-numbered years)
This course explores the fundamentals of conflict analysis and its management, settlement, or resolution in a variety of settings, including the administration of justice. Also, the course is designed to develop student skills in the analysis of conflicts using negotiation, mediation, collaborative problem solving, and other processes and techniques. Prerequisites: CJA101 and junior standing.
3 credit hours.
CJA405 Substance Abuse and the Criminal Justice System
Spring Semester
The course will explore the nature of the drug-crime relationship and provide an overview of the history and development of drug control policies in America. Prerequisites: CJA101 and junior standing.
3 credit hours.
CJA491 Senior Seminar
Fall-Spring Semesters
This capstone criminal justice course provides students with the opportunity to integrate and synthesize previous coursework in criminal justice. Drawing upon this knowledge, students will be required to engage in significant research, demonstrating proficiency in the use of criminal justice information resources, research methodologies, and statistics. Prerequisites: CJA101, CJA295, CJA296, and 12 additional hours in Criminal Justice.
3 credit hours.
CJA498, CJA499 Independent Study
Independent study or research on a selected subject in criminal justice under the direction of a faculty member with the approval of the program coordinator. Prior to registering for the course, a student must prepare a written proposal and secure an individual faculty member’s approval. May be repeated for a maximum of three hours credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and criminal justice coordinator, junior/senior standing, and 12 hours in criminal justice.
1-3 credit hours each semester.
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