CJ - Criminal Justice

CJ 203: Corrections (3)

This course is an historical survey of the American correctional system. The evolution, philosophy, and methods of corrections will be explored. This course may be taken as an elective or as part of the Criminal Justice minor.

CJ 211 – Technical Writing in Criminal Justice (1)

This course will prepare students for the basics of academic research and writing within the discipline of Criminal Justice. Topics will include writing and designing documents in technical and professional discourse communities and the various written reports required within the discipline, with an emphasis on the ability to write accurately and concisely.

CJ 213: Crime in America (3)

This course explores the nature of crime in America, the theories of crime causation, the theories of victims and victimization, types of crimes committed, and recommended interventions to decrease crime. 

CJ 223: Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)

This course is designed to expose students to the criminal justice system in America. The study of criminal justice is truly an interdisciplinary field of knowledge. Under the umbrella of criminal justice, the law is studied to examine aspects of criminal law and procedure, and sociology is reviewed to examine the structure of social institutions and how they affect the administration of justice. The field of criminal justice also includes influences from other disciplines including history, anthropology, and psychology, as well as public administration. 

CJ 233: Policing (3)

This course provides an overview of the philosophy and role of the American system of law enforcement, including police operations and effectiveness, as well as police in society. Students will develop a sensitivity to the issues related to policing in a democratic society, examining critical issues and the new advances in law enforcement. 

CJ 243: Licit/Illicit Drug Studies (3)

A survey of the use, abuse and addictive nature of mood-altering chemicals and the symptomology and treatment of addictions. The student should gain a basic knowledge of the facts, insights in regard to the use and abuse of a wide range of legal and illegal drugs, as well as approaches to prevention and treatment.

CJ 303: Criminology (3)

This course reviews and applies the theories and data predicting where, when, by whom and against whom crimes happen. This is accomplished by using case studies to examine in depth the facts surrounding various crimes and the criminals who commit them. Students gain an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of criminality, the development of criminal careers, and the various typologies of offenders and victims and are encouraged to conduct a critical analysis of public policies concerning crime control in society. 

CJ 313: Criminal Law (3)

This course introduces the fundamental principles of substantive criminal law: the history and philosophy of modern criminal law, the basic dimension of criminality, the elements of major crimes, criminal defenses, the nature of criminal sanctions, and the basic understanding of criminal procedure and criminal evidence rules in the United States. 

Prerequisite: CJ 223.

CJ 333: Criminal Investigation (3)

This course provides an introduction to the concepts and methodologies used by criminal investigators including the fundamentals of investigation, crime-scene search and recording, collection and preservation of physical evidence, scientific aids, modus operandi and criminal profiling, sources of information, interview and interrogation of witnesses and victims, follow-up and case preparation, writing accurate and effective investigative reports, and the application of research methods and techniques used in criminal justice and other behavioral sciences. 

CJ 343: The Criminal Justice Professional at Trial (3)

This course provides an introduction to the skills, knowledge, and techniques a criminal justice professional needs to master in order to become an effective witness in criminal and other evidentiary proceedings. These skills and knowledge include an understanding of the rules of evidence, courtroom practice and procedure, how to survive cross-examination, successful trial preparation, the effective use of investigative notes and reports, how to make a proper record, and effective communication techniques. This course will also provide students with an opportunity to apply what they have learned, and gain practical experience, by 'testifying' as a witness in various simulations, mock trials, and other scenarios.

CJ 356: Juvenile Justice (3)

The study and nature of juvenile delinquency, its causes, and correlates, as well as the current strategies being used in its prevention and control including historical and philosophical background, are presented. 

CJ 403: Criminal Justice Internship (3)

The Criminal Justice Internship allows students to integrate what they have learned in an academic setting with relevant experience in a criminal justice agency. The internship will provide hands-on experience that provides students an opportunity to see and appreciate where and how theory and practice meet in the criminal justice field in a supervised work environment. 

Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing in Criminal Justice and Criminal Justice Program Director permission.

CJ 413: Values and Ethics in Criminal Justice (3)

This course is an exploration of professionalism and decision making in criminal justice through the lens of ethics, professional codes of conduct, and leadership in organizations. The course will lay a foundation for exploration through a comprehensive survey of various ethical theories and leadership theories. With this foundation, the students will examine their own decision-making process and apply these theories to current problems and issues facing criminal justice professionals.

CJ 433: Criminal Justice Capstone (3)

This seminar is a senior level course designed to allow students to review, analyze, and integrate the work the students have completed toward a degree in Criminal Justice. Students will complete an approved academic project or paper that demonstrates mastery of the program of study in a meaningful culmination of their learning, as well as assess their level of mastery of the stated outcomes of their degree requirements. The final written project will consist of research, reviews, and analysis targeted towards a specific audience. A presentation of the project is required. 

Prerequisite: Senior standing in Criminal Justice in good academic standing.