Courses Descriptions

5063 SELECTED TOPICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 hours)
Selected Topics generally consists of current issues facing the criminal justice system.

5091-6 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-6 hours)
Generally involves a student working under the guidance of a professor on a particular aspect of the criminal justice system.

5103 VICTIMOLOGY (3 hours)
Analysis of the victimology model. Emphasis is on the victim, the academic institutional perspective, the criminal justice perspective, and the statistical approach.

5263 INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS (3 hours)
(Amsterdam, London, Paris, Germany, Italy or Taiwan)
The growth of the extended economic and cultural orders demands that students be well versed in diverse approaches to common social problems and social solutions through comparisons of varied criminal justice systems. Students assess the effectiveness of each and gain insights into the cultural influences at work in different parts of the world. Participants will meet with criminal justice experts to discuss cross-cultural comparisons between the U.S. and other nations.

5363 THEORIES OF JUSTICE (3 hours)
This course explores prominent theoretical constructions of justice.

5403 WHITE-COLLAR CRIME (3 hours)
The study of corporate crime in America and abroad. Students discuss and apply major criminologists’ theories and analyze existing policies.

5413 PROBATION AND PAROLE (3 hours)
This course examines approaches to both the theoretical assumptions and the practical techniques of probation and parole. A review of research findings in probation and parole are presented.

5513 JUVENILE DELINQUENCY (3 hours)
An overview of the theories developed to explain juvenile delinquency as well as an assessment of the relationship between the system of juvenile justice and the delinquent. An analysis of various strategies that may be effective in preventing juvenile delinquency or diverting individuals from the criminal justice system.

5613 THE POLITICS OF LAW (3 hours)
The political function of civil law, the political role of attorneys, the policy function of the American Bar Association and state and local associations. The self-regulating functions of the legal profession, judicial selection methods, legal education, role of the courts in lawmaking, lawyers in legislature, policy function of authors of Uniform Codes, and determinants of judicial decision making.

5673 WOMEN, MINORITIES, AND THE LAW (3 hours)
This course explores the social construction of the juridical subject on which the legal system is based. Women and minorities as rights-claiming subjects are analyzed.

5713 BEHAVIORAL CHANGE (3 hours)
A major objective of correctional agencies has been to change persons convicted of crime so that they are reformed, resocialized, treated, or modified. This course deals with the issue of such changes and examines techniques of producing changes.

5803 SOCIAL DEVIANCE (3 hours)
Examination of the social changes and pressures that encourage greater social deviance such as civil disobedience, delinquency, and extensive rejection of prevalent values and norms of society.

5863 ADVANCED STUDIES IN CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES (3 hours)
This course is an advanced theory course on criminological theory. Students complete an in-depth analysis of contemporary theories.

5903 SOCIAL CONTROL (3 hours)
An examination of major theoretical statements regarding social control as a determining force in social organizations. Emphasis is on internal mechanisms of social control and fundamental institutions of social control.

6013 CRITICAL ISSUES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (3 hours)
A critical examination of normative practices within the criminal justice system. Special attention will be paid to current research and literature being published in the field.

6163 THE VIOLENT SOCIETY (3 hours)
An interdisciplinary study of the theory and practice of intergroup violence and nonviolence. Topics include international terrorism, ethnic and religious conflicts, genocide, urban riots, political violence, and nonviolent methods of conflict resolution.

6213 CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION (3 hours)
The study of the role of evaluation in criminal justice agencies. The case for evaluation, models for evaluation, tools for evaluation and planning, evaluation and planning agencies, and departments and grants are all given consideration.

6303 COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (3 hours)
Students learn to use statistical analysis in their research. Computer application and statistical interpretation are stressed.

6871-6 PRACTICUM OR FIELD STUDY (1–6 hours)
Students will sign a contract and be placed with criminal justice agencies for a minimum of forty hours per credit hour. Students will keep field notes, be evaluated at the practicum site, and write a paper directly related to the practicum assignment.

6983-6 THESIS OR PROBLEM IN LIEU OF THESIS (3–6 hours)
Recommended for students intending to pursue graduate studies beyond the masters level. Involves two semesters of work.