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• Criminal Justice - B.A.
• Undergraduate Criminal Justice Courses

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE

Criminal Justice - B.A.

The Criminal Justice major is designed to take the student through the sequence of events in the criminal justice system, including entry into the system, prosecution and pretrial services, adjudication, sentencing and sanctions, and corrections. Each sequence is studied in detail in a variety of related courses. In addition to a substantial number of courses devoted to criminal justice theory, the student is exposed to the practice of criminal justice. Criminal Justice majors are required to complete a senior level internship in which they gain first-hand experience with the criminal justice system. Upon graduation, the student is prepared to seek employment within various public and private agencies. In recent years, students have been employed by a variety of law enforcement agencies, the courts, social service agencies, probation departments, correctional facilities to name a few. The major also serves as a well-planned multidisciplinary course of study for pre-law students and those desiring to go on to graduate work in related social and behavioral disciplines.

Admission Requirements
The Brentwood Campus does not accept first-time freshmen. Admission requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 overall from previously attended undergraduate institutions.

Criminal Justice Major Course Requirements (36 credits)
Criminal Justice Courses - 36 Credits
CRJ 11* Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRJ 20 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
CRJ 23* Theories of Crime
CRJ 30 Gender and the Law
CRJ 37* Foundations for Scholarship
CRJ 38* Methods of Criminal Justice Research
CRJ 41 Criminal Law
CRJ 44 Police and Community Relations
CRJ 68 Correctional Philosophy
CRJ 76 Criminal Procedure
CRJ 85 Criminal Justice Practicum (6 credits)

*For Criminal Justice majors - CRJ 11, 23, 37, & 38 are prerequisites for all other criminal justice classes. CRJ 38 is a prerequisite CRJ 37.

In-service students may substitute CRJ 85 by completing two advanced courses in Criminal Justice.

Please consult the required Liberal Arts Core courses and competencies for Criminal Justice majors.

UNDERGRADUATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURSES

CRJ 11 Introduction to Criminal Justice
This course introduces students to agencies and processes involved in the administration of criminal justice and surveys the roles of the police, district attorney, courts, probation, corrections and parole.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CSA 11 Introduction to Loss Prevention
This course focuses on the coordination of public law enforcement with private security and links courses such as White Collar Crime and Computer Crime in Criminal Justice with the preventive strategies of the corporate enterprise.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CSA 12 Security Systems Analysis
The student learns to identify environmental vulnerabilities and threats to assets along with evaluation techniques for identification and analysis of corporate loss exposures and selection of countermeasures.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 14 Courts and the Criminal Justice System
American Courts - What they do in practice; how they function and why? The dynamics of the Courthouse is explored with emphasis on the trial courts for adult offenders. The question of guilt or innocence, as defined by law, what penalties should be imposed, and the rules of criminal procedure are considered in the framework of functioning courts. Problems and reforms are probed.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 16 International Criminal Justice Systems
This course explores the origins of law and its evolution over time through an overview of criminal justice systems in selected ancient and modern countries. The course also examines the comparison between American and foreign justice systems.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 20 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
Court administration, fourth and fifth amendment rights, issues of due process, use of the insanity plea, American women and crime, comparative studies in delinquency prevention, capital punishment, crime trends, sentence disparity, alternatives to incarceration, parole and probation, racism and other pertinent criminal justice issues are discussed.
Senior level course.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 21 Drug Scenes
This course deals with the social and psychological correlates of drug and alcohol abuse, with emphasis on motivation, age, cohorts, functional consequences, and intellectual involvement. Special attention is paid to law enforcement, judicial, correctional involvement and treatment programs designed for alleviation of the problem.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 22 Morality and The Law
Students are introduced to critical ethical concerns regarding the police, courts, punishment, and corrections. There is discussion about the psychological, moral and ethical underpinnings of Justice and the Law.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 23 Theories of Crime
In this course, a survey of major psychological, sociological, economic, anthropological, and biological causative theories relating to crime and delinquency is covered.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 25 Family Court and Society
The role and place of family court in American society is discussed. Topics include family court involvement in juvenile delinquency, family offenses, neglect, support, etc.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 29 Computer Crime
This course presents a comprehensive examination of illegal use and abuse of computer technology in the commission of crime as well as an exploration of possible remedies to the problem.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 30 Gender and the Law
The legal system in the United States as it affects women is the focal point of this course. Attention is paid to criminal law as it relates to: marriage and family life; affirmative action progress; role of women as police officers, jurors, and defendants; women as victims of crime, and women of color.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 31 Organized Crime in America
This course analyzes the origin, historical development, and dimensions of organized crime in America. Topics include the effect of organized crime on law enforcement personnel in its relationship to possible corruption, prevention and prosecution of criminal offenders involved in organized crime, and policy consideration.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 32 Interviewing Techniques in Criminal Justice
This course outlines techniques used to develop interviewing skills for work in criminal justice agencies. Topics include demonstration and practice in the use of interviewing techniques, the integration of the criminal justice interview and the use of significant personnel data and findings.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 33 Deviant Behavior
Direct or significant factors in deviant and sociopathic behavior as functions of the dynamic process of social organization are explored.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 34 Forensic Technology and Crime
An analysis of forensic technological techniques used in the identification and apprehension of criminals including an in-depth evaluation of fingerprint and voice identification, lie detector tests, hypnosis and criminal profiling.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 35 Forensic Psychology and the Violent Criminal
The course analyzes psychological theories relating to aggression and criminal violence and focuses on the incidence and forms of violent criminal behavior in all types of surroundings.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 36 Forensic Psychology and the Criminal Justice System
This course presents a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between psychology and the criminal justice system and focuses on the application of forensic psychology to people, policy and agencies within the system.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 37 Foundations for Scholarship
This course develops tools for conducting research and for writing criminal justice papers. Topics include approaches to writing a research paper, forms of documentation, library resources, data sources and computer usage.
Prerequisite: CRJ 38
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 38 Methods of Criminal Justice Research
This course deals with the descriptive and inferential function of statistics. Topics include measurement, measures of centrality, dispersion, correlation, regression, parametric and non-parametric measures. Multiple correlation and regression are also discussed.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 39 Sports Crime
This course is a survey of violence and other deviance in sports and how they relate to society and criminal law. Special attention is given to the reduction of violence in sports as well as its defense. Hockey, baseball, football, soccer, basketball, boxing, and horse racing are all discussed with respect to violence, drugs and gambling.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 41 Criminal Law
Application of criminal law in the American judicial system, preservation and protection of life and property through the law are issues discussed in the course, which surveys historical and philosophical concepts.
Prerequisites: CRJ11, CRJ 23, and CRJ 38
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 42 Criminology
Topics covered in this course include the development of scientific study of criminology methods, theories and research studies of the analysis of prediction of criminal behavior, with emphasis on the adult offender: apprehension, court actions, punishments, and treatment techniques.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 43 Juvenile Delinquency
Development of the scientific study of juvenile delinquency with emphasis on methods, theories and studies concerning causation, treatment and prevention are discussed.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 44 The Police and Community Relations
This course explores the special role of law enforcement agencies related to community tensions and conflicts. Topics include the administrative responsibilities of the police and the social obligations of officers in the field.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 45 Political Aspects of the Criminal Justice System
This course emphasizes behavioral aspects of the criminal justice system, including the legislative judicial process through which relevant policy is made and applied. In addition, the role of protest and violence as a means of social change is examined. Case studies focusing on the administration of criminal justice in various cities are examined as a basis for comparison.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 46 Police Organization and Management
Topics covered in this course include an examination of the development of organization and management principles in policing including the organization and management of personnel, line operations, staff and auxiliary services. Also discussed are analysis of organizational models, leadership styles, internal control, planning, policy formation and role definition in police performance.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 47 Arson Investigation
The course presents a comprehensive study of the scientific principles involved in the investigation of arson and arson for profit. It includes the technical analysis of accidental and incendiary fires, evidence, motivation, behavior of the fire and laws pertaining to arson.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 52 Criminal and Civil Investigation
This course presents an overview of the role and functions of the investigator within current statutory and case law and examines the principles and processes relating to the crime scene, evidence investigative techniques and resources as they pertain to crime solvability. On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 56 Counseling in Criminal Justice
The focus of this course is the development of individual and group counseling skills used in treatment-oriented criminal justice agencies. It is a survey of the theory and application of counseling methods.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 60 Terrorism
This course is a survey of terrorism within the United States. Topics include the threat of domestic and international terrorism, terrorist groups, counter terrorism strategies among other related topics.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 65 Delinquency Prevention and Control
Community resources for prevention of juvenile delinquency, theories of causation and prevention programs, and the role of juvenile courts, institutions and law enforcement agencies are discussed.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 68 Correctional Philosophy: Theory and Practice
An introductory survey of the philosophy, theory, and practice involved in the treatment of convicted law violators of all ages. The course includes a study of the effect of institutional treatment upon post-correctional behavior.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 71 Organization and Administration of Delinquency Prevention Programs
This course examines the historical development, present status, personnel, and training of those involved in delinquency prevention programs and the relationship of such programs to other agencies.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 73 Administration of Juvenile Justice
This course is a survey of the administration and organization of the juvenile justice system. Topics covered include functions and jurisdictions of juvenile agencies, rights of juveniles, formal and informal processing of juveniles through various agencies of the juvenile justice system, and processing, detention, disposition, diversion, de-institutionalization and aftercare.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 76 Criminal Procedure
This course is a survey of the constitutional rights and safeguards of individuals from unlawful investigative agency activities. Rules of evidence and the protection of individual rights in the administration of criminal justice are discussed.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 78 Administration of Justice
This course is a survey of the organizational and management process involved in the administration of justice, which sets forth the structure and functioning of justice agencies. It also surveys administrative and management patterns. Concepts of administrative procedures, problem analysis, personnel selection and training, planning, budgeting, record keeping, research and community relations are discussed.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 85 Criminal Justice Practicum
This planned program of research, observation, study and participation in selected criminal justice agencies is designed to supplement classroom study with constructive participation in local, state and national criminal justice agencies.
Every Semester, 6 credits

CRJ 88 White Collar Crime
This course focuses on the crimes committed in the course of an offender�fs legitimate occupation. It examines issues in white-collar crime, including corporate exploitation of people, the environment, other corporations and collusion between government and business.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 89 Financial Investigation
Specific events involving the movement of money during the course of a crime are identified and documented. Topics covered include methods of tracing funds, interviewing, law and evidence and money laundering.
On Occasion, 3 credits

CRJ 99 Independent Study
This individually tailored program consists of supervised study in a selected area of criminal justice.
Every Semester, 1 to 6 credits

Suggested Sequential Program for Criminal Justice Majors