Course Descriptions

Please refer to the current Academic Bulletin for the most updated list of course descriptions for this major.

CJC 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice
3 Semester Credit Hours

A survey course designed to introduce the student to the criminal justice system. This course includes an introduction to law and law enforcement activities, the jurisdiction of local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel and adult correctional facilities. Offered every semester.

CJC 210 Criminal Investigation
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course is to make the student familiar with criminal investigation techniques and the investigation principles and procedures in the identification and apprehension of criminals. Offered every other year.

CJC 230 Global Perspective on Crime and Justice
3 Semester Credit Hours

Broad overview of global crime and justice issues, legal traditions, and perspectives on law, human rights, and punishment.
Prerequisite: CJC 100 or permission of instructor. Offered every other year.

CJC 301 Practicum in Criminal Justice**
1-3 Semester Credit Hours

Supervised experience in a criminal justice agency. This course may be repeated, but no more than 6 hours of credit earned in CJC 301 may be applied to either major area requirements or minimum degree requirements.
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Can be a service-learning course – see your advisor. Offered every semester.

CJC 310 Critical Issues in Policing
3 Semester Credit Hours

An overview of policing which focuses on critical issues, which have historically affected police departments and the delivery of police services in the United States.
Prerequisite: CJC 100. Offered every year.

CJC 325 Forensic Psychology
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course will examine one of psychology’s newer specialty areas: forensic psychology. The course will provide an overview of the many interactions between psychology and the law. Students will learn about forensic psychology as a career path and about psychological assessment as it is applied in the legal system.

The course will also focus on forensic evaluations re: civil commitments, competency to stand trial, and criminal responsibility (insanity defense) as well as psychological and psychiatric testimony and the limitations of psychological expertise in the legal system. Cross-listed with PSY 321.

Prerequisite: PSY 101 or PSY 301. Offered every other year.

CJC 340 Courts and Procedure
3 Semester Credit Hours

Advanced study in the procedural aspects of criminal law; process of enforcement,
investigation, pre-trial and trial procedures, sentencing, appeals and
post-convictions review. Focuses on civil right and liberties, arrest, search
and seizure, right to counsel and sentencing. This is a procedural due process
course. Prerequisite: CJC 100. Offered every year.

CJC 344 Minority Relations
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course focuses on minority-dominant group relations with emphasis upon
race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation, and disabilities. Issues
include prejudice, discrimination, conflict, and social justice. Students will
be challenged to discuss, debate, and explore complex and potentially controversial
in a communal context. This course is cross-listed with SOC 308. Offered every year.

CJC 345 Juvenile Delinquency
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course is an analysis of the nature, types and theoretical explanations of
juvenile delinquency. The methods of treatment and the juvenile justice system
are the focal points of this course. This course is cross-listed with SOC 364.
Prerequisite: CJC 100 or permission of instructor. Offered every Spring.

CJC 347 Drugs, Crime and Justice
3 Semester Credit Hours
This course is designed to explore a variety of issues surrounding illicit
substances drawing upon relevant historical, social, cultural accounts within
American Society. Utilizing methodological and theoretical frameworks students
are provided with an introduction to the study of illicit drug use and the role
of the criminal justice system in controlling these behaviors. Students will explore
aspects of why and how people take drugs, crimes that are directly associated with
drug use, and drug trafficking; focusing on contemporary legislation, policy,
education and prevention techniques. Critical thinking and written expression of
that thinking will be emphasized. Offered every other year.

CJC 350 Criminology
3 Semester Credit Hours

An introduction to the principal theories of criminal behavior and an application
of these perspectives to various types of crime. This course is cross listed
with SOC 366. Prerequisite: CJC 100 or SOC 100. Offered every year.

CJC 360 Criminal Law
3 Semester Credit Hours

Advanced study in the legal principles involved in the preservation and protection
of life and property. It includes the elements and proof in crimes and the rules
of criminal liability. This is a substantive due process course. Prerequisite: CJC 100.
Offered every other year.

CJC 370 Corrections
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course is an examination and discussion of the American correctional process
with emphasis on correctional institutions, inmate social system, probation, parole
and contemporary corrections. Prerequisite: CJC 100. Offered every Fall.

CJC 390 Deviant Behavior
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course is designed to examine a variety of theoretical and substantive
issues with special emphasis on non-criminal and marginally criminal types of
deviance such as prostitution, gambling, unconventional religious and political
beliefs, suicide and social nudism. This course is cross-listed with SOC362.
Offered every other year.

CJC 401 Independent Study
1-3 Semester Credit Hours

During the senior year students majoring in criminal justice who meets the
independent study requirements may enroll for 1-3 semester hours of independent
study and reading, subject to the conditions of such study. Prerequisite: Consent
of instructor and can be a service-learning course-see your advisor. Offered every
semester.

CJC 420 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course is a changing-topic seminar which will examine a variety of current
issues, techniques, and problems in criminal justice. Offered every other year.

CJC 450 Terrorism and Counterterrorism
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course explores both the causes and consequences of terrorism and the policy
tools that state and non-state actors adopt as countermeasures. Prerequisites: CJC100.
Offered every other year.

CJC 460 Victimology
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course is a multidisciplinary study of crime victims examining legal and
issues regarding victimization, social science research into victimization,
theories of victimization, and role of victims in the criminal justice system.
Offered every other year.

CJC 470 Advanced Criminology
3 Semester Credit Hours

An advanced theory course in which students will evaluate mainstream criminological
theories based upon empirical research, as well as expand the scope of theory
coverage to include conflict and critical perspectives on crime and criminals. This
course is strongly recommended to all students who plan on attending graduate school.
Prerequisites: CJC 350. Offered every other year.

CJC 480 Advanced Research Methods
3 Semester Credit Hours

This is an advanced research method course in which students will participate
in various aspects of a criminal justice research project, including: research design,
data collection, data analysis. This course is strongly recommended to all students
who plan on attending graduate school in social science. Prerequisites: IDS 202 and
IDS 203. Offered every other year.

CJC 499 Criminal Justice Senior Seminar
3 Semester Credit Hours

A capstone course that analyzes the criminal justice system with emphasis on how
the system functions in both theory and practice, controversial issues, current
research and trends and policy implications. Prerequisite: Senior status in criminal
justice within 12 months of graduation. Offered every year.