Criminal Justice Courses

CJ
100
SB
Hours
3
Intro Criminal Justice

This course is designed for students not majoring or minoring in CCJ. An overview of the criminal justice system with emphasis on the roles and problems of law enforcement, courts, and correctional components.

Social and Behavioral Sciences
CJ
102
SB
Hours
3
Principles of Criminology & Criminal Justice

This course is for CCJ major and minors only. It presents an overview of the criminal justice system and social control, from policing to trials and sentencing policy. Among other topics, we will discuss tough on crime policies, drug treatment courts, the War on Terrorism, the politics of crime and crime control, the punishment of sex offenders and its implications for public safety, rules of evidence, prison riots, and the death penalty. The emphasis in the course is to critically evaluate how we process individuals through the criminal justice system and the implications this processing has on public safety, civil liberties, public policy, and social control.

Social and Behavioral Sciences
CJ
220
Hours
3
Law Enforcement

Development of law enforcement; organization and jurisdiction of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies; and functions of police officers.

CJ
221
Hours
3
Private Security

Organization and management of the security function in industry, business, and government. Exploration of methods to protect personnel, facilities, and other major assets.

CJ
223
Hours
3
Homeland Security

Overview of the United States Department of Homeland Security from its initiation to present day; exploration of the wide range of issues that the department influences, both policy and operational.

CJ
225
Hours
3
Community Based Corrections

Introduction and overview of the complex world of Community Based Corrections; offering a history of the evolution of punishment and implementation of alternative sanctions.

CJ
240
Hours
3
Juvenile Delinquency

Examines the extent and patterns of delinquency, theories of delinquency, research on the causes of delinquency, the juvenile justice system, and the prevention and control of delinquent behavior.

CJ
250
Hours
3
Judicial Process

Overview of the judicial component of the criminal justice system in the United States; examines the organization of courts, roles and responsibilities of courtroom players, and systemic challenges.

CJ
270
Hours
3
Corrections

Overview of U.S. corrections, jails and prisons, institutional procedures, recent innovations, and the future of corrections.

CJ
290
SP
Hours
3
Special Topics in Criminal Justice

Examination of selected problems and issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice. A maximum of six hours may be use toward the major.

Special Topics Course
CJ
300
Hours
3
Survey Criminal Theories

Study of traditional and modern explanations of crime and criminality.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
303
W
Hours
3
Race, Ethnicity, and Crime

Effect of race and/or ethnicity on experiences in the criminal justice system, focusing mostly on research/theories of offending, victimization, and experiences as CJ system workers. Writing proficiency is required for a passing grade in this course. A student who does not write with the skill normally required of an upper-division student will not earn a passing grade, no matter how well the student performs in other areas of the course.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C- and EN 102 or EN 103 or EN 104
Writing
CJ
304
W
Hours
3
Gender and Crime

Effect of gender on experiences in the criminal justice system, focusing mostly on research/theories of offending, victimization, and experiences as CJ system workers. Writing proficiency is required for a passing grade in this course. A student who does not write with the skill normally required of an upper-division student will not earn a passing grade, no matter how well the student performs in other areas of the course.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C- and EN 102 or EN 103 OR EN 104
Writing
CJ
305
W
Hours
3
Social Inequality in the Criminal Justice System

Examination of issues related to the oppression of people on the basis of their class, race, sex, gender, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and physical or mental ability within the criminal justice system. Writing proficiency is required for a passing grade in this course. A student who does not write with the skill normally required of an upper-division student will not earn a passing grade, no matter how well the student performs in other areas of the course.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C- and EN 102 or EN 103 or EN 104
Writing
CJ
310
Hours
3
CJ Career Planning

Overview of criminal justice career opportunities and a variety of specializations within the field; focus on professional development skills.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 102 or CJ 100
CJ
380
Hours
3
Research Methods

Theoretical and specific instruction in both the conduct and application of research methods in criminal justice settings. Includes problem of research and policy dimensions of both direct and applied approaches.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
381
Hours
3
Statistics

Statistical methods in criminal justice, including central tendency and dispersion, tests of significance, and measures of association.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-, and MATH 110 or MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 125
CJ
390
SP
Hours
3
Special Topics

Examination of selected problems and issues in criminal justice.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
Special Topics Course
CJ
395
Hours
1-12
Internship

An opportunity for students to conduct career exploration and build a record of experience in the field.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C- ***A maximum of 6 hours can be used toward the major.
CJ
406
Hours
3
History of Crime and Justice

Examination in historical sequence of the perspectives on and methods of crime control, from the traditional to the modern.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
408
Hours
3
Gendered Justice and the Death Penalty

Gender and justice issues related to women sentenced to death; exploring the historical, social, political, and legal issues of serving time in female prisons.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
409
Hours
3
Women, Law, and Incarceration

Examination of the various issues that confront women who are incarcerated; legal issues surrounding women's pathways to crime and their incarceration experiences will be explored.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
410
Hours
3
Community Based Correctn

Study of intermediate punishments and alternatives to incarceration.

CJ
420
Hours
3
Seminar In Law Enforcement

Examines the philosophical basis of law enforcement and traces the development of the law enforcement function.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
421
Hours
3
Forensic Science

This course provides student with instruction in the fundamentals of criminal investigation from a forensic science perspective.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
422
Hours
3
Terrorism

An analysis of selected areas of terrorism and counter-terrorism, with an emphasis on parallels between terrorism and crime.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
424
Hours
3
Hate Crimes

Critically evaluates various root causes and consequences of hate crimes; analyzed through an integration of social science theory, empirical research, and legal scholarship.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
425
Hours
3
Domestic Violence

Examination of violence in the context of domestic situations; an exploration of historical and contemporary contexts, various intervention strategies and preventative measures.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
426
Hours
3
White Collar Crime

This course provides a discussion of white-collar crime for the standpoint of criminological theory as well as criminal justice system policies, laws, and procedures.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
427
Hours
3
Homicide

Analysis of different types of homicide, such as felony-murders, crimes of passion, serial killings, celebrity-perpetrated killings, and/or mass murders.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
428
Hours
3
Human Trafficking

Exploration of the various types of human trafficking, their underlying causes and contributing factors, and preventative measures and counter-trafficking initiatives.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
430
Hours
3
Drugs, Crime, and Policy

Examines drug-related topics, such as the history of drug use, drug trafficking organizations, and domestic and international drug-related policies.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
435
Hours
3
Global Perspectives on Crime and Justice

Exploration of crime and criminal justice systems around the world; various transnational and international crimes, state criminal justice systems, and regional and supranational criminal justice mechanisms are examined.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
436
Hours
3
Gangs

This course presents an overview of the nature of street gangs. A general survey of theory, measurement, and reproach on gangs along with gang control programs and policies will be presented. Diverse research-based perspectives about gangs will be exposed to students, often times contrasting with depictions of gangs from law enforcement and the news/entertainment media. Various mediums will be used to illustrate the gap between the idea of what a street gang is and the reality of street gangs. The emphasis in this course is to critically evaluate what we know about street gangs, their relationship to crime, and what public policies can and should be used to deter crime and violence.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 102 or CJ 100
CJ
440
Hours
3
Seminar in Juvenile Delinquency

Examines the historical, philosophical, and legal underpinnings of the juvenile justice system, the institutions related to the control and prevention of delinquent behavior, and the various challenges and dilemmas faced by the professionals working in those institutions.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
460
Hours
3
Criminal Law I

Introduction to the general principles of substantive criminal law; exploration of the nature of criminal acts, mental state, defenses, and burdens of proof.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
461
Hours
3
Criminal Law II

Examination and analysis of Constitutional provisions and case law governing selected areas of criminal procedure.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
470
Hours
3
Mass Incarceration

History, analysis, and evaluation of American correctional institutions, including the sociology of confinement and reform movements within the system.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
483
Hours
3
Law And Society

Exploration of the nature, function, and limits of law in society.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
CJ
490
SP
Hours
3
Special Topics in Criminal Justice

Examination of selected problems and issues in criminal justice. A maximum of twelve hours may be used toward the major.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
Special Topics Course
CJ
499
SP
Hours
1-6
Independent Study In CJ

Research under faculty supervision; requires faculty approval. A maximum of 3 hours may be used toward the major or minor.

Prerequisite(s): CJ 100 Minimum grade of C- or CJ 102 Minimum grade of C-
Special Topics Course

Cyber Criminology Courses

CC
201
Hours
3
Introduction to Cyber Criminology

Introduction to the traditional and contemporary forms of cybercrime, including hacking, insider threat, illicit drug markets, cyber bullying, and cyber terrorism.

CC
202
Hours
3
Introduction to Intelligence Studies

This course introduces students to intelligence studies. It takes a broad look at how intelligence informs policy. It emphasizes critical thinking and critical reading. Its goal is to teach students to effectively monitor, collect, and analyze security threats in order to facilitate threat prioritization and the development of policy solutions.

CC
290
SP
Hours
3
Special Topics in Cyber Crime

Examination of selected issues in cyber security in the United States and throughout the world.

Special Topics Course
CC
301
Hours
3
Cyber Law and Policy

Examination of cyber criminology from a law and policy perspective, including its impact on the Fourth and Fifth Amendment, jurisprudence, and the changing conceptions of privacy and identity.

Prerequisite(s): CC 201
CC
395
Hours
1-9
Internship

Opportunity for students to conduct career exploration and build a record of experience in the fields of cyber criminology, network analysis, and digital forensics. To take this course students must obtain permission from the instructor for a specific number of hours and pass a background check. A maximum of 3 credit hours can be used towards the minor.

Prerequisite(s): CC 201 A maximum of 3 hours can be used toward the minor. Instructor must approve the number of hours and the student cannot deviate from those hours without permission of instructor.
CC
401
Hours
3
Law Enforcement in the Digital Age

Examination of the role that technology plays in modern-day policing; provides students with a detailed overview of how the cyber, digital, and technological worlds have historically impacted policing.

Prerequisite(s): CC 201
CC
402
Hours
3
Digital Forensic Investigation

Technical examination of how investigators collect, extract, analyze, and preserve data seized from devices in criminal cases; students gain hands-on experience with different forensic tools and software and learn of the various legal challenges in digital forensic investigations.

Prerequisite(s): CC 201
CC
403
Hours
3
Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, and Criminal Investigations

Examination of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies as they pertain to criminal investigations; students will learn how to track and trace Bitcoin transactions using open source and proprietary tools. Students will have the opportunity to become trained and certified from Chainalysis.

Prerequisite(s): CC 201
CC
490
SP
Hours
3
Special Topics in Cyber Criminology

Examination of selected issues in cyber security in the United States and throughout the world. A maximum of six hours may be used toward the minor.

Prerequisite(s): CC 201
Special Topics Course
CC
499
SP
Hours
1-3
Independent Study in Cyber Criminology

Opportunity for students to further build a record of experience in the cyber criminology field by focusing on a topic agreed upon by the instructor and student. A maximum of 3 hours may be used toward the minor.

Prerequisite(s): CC 201
Special Topics Course