Courses in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Courses
SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr)
This course offers students an introduction to elements of the criminal justice system: the police, courts, and corrections – as they function in contemporary American society. Students will be exposed to a basic understanding of the interrelationships between police, court, and correctional agencies and provides a basic understanding of the American criminal justice system, its history, nature, structure, and how it functions. The increasing role of private entities in the American criminal justice system is also examined.
Offered fall and spring semesters and most summers.
SPEA-J 201 Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Justice Policies (3 cr)
Students will examine the impact of sociological, biological, and economic theories of crime and the practice of criminal justice through lecture, discussion, PowerPoint, and video presentations concerning modern and historical issues.
Focus is placed on discussion and analysis of the nature and importance of theory, context of theoretical developments, methods for critical analysis of theoretical developments, and policy implications of the various perspectives considered.
Offered spring semester.
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 202 Criminal Justice Data, Methods, and Resources (3 cr)
This course examines basic concepts of criminal justice. Students become familiar with research techniques necessary for systematic analysis of the criminal justice system, offender behavior, crime trends, and program effectiveness. Students learn to critically evaluate existing research and become familiar with existing sources of criminal justice data and learn to assess the quality of that data.
Offered fall semester.
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 260 Topics in Criminal Justice (1-3 cr)
Study of selected issues in criminal justice. Topics vary from semester to semester. Topics may include: Terrorism, Women and Crime, Sex-Offenders, Criminal Justice and Racism, Sentencing policy, Rehabilitation, etc. May be repeated for credit.
Offered occasionally
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 301 Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr)
This course is designed to give students an overview of development, limitations, and application of substantive criminal law; that is, the definition of, and punishment for, various crimes, using the case-study method.
Offered spring semester
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 302 Procedural Criminal Law (3 cr)
Explores criminal law application and procedure from the initiation of police activity through trial, sentencing, and into the correctional process. The course puts great emphasis on the restraints placed on governmental conduct by the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution.
Offered occasionally
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 303 Evidence (3 cr)
This course examines the rules of law governing proof at trial of disputed issues of fact; burden of proof; presumptions, inferences, and judicial notice; admissibility; examination; impeachment, competency, and privileges of witnesses; hearsay rule and exceptions – all related as nearly as possible to criminal as opposed to civil, process.
Offered occasionally.
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 305 Juvenile Justice (3 cr)
This course is designed to provide an overview of the justice system’s response to juvenile misconduct, delinquent behavior, and the problem of abused, neglected, and dependent children. An extensive review of the development of recent legal changes to
the court, options for prevention, treatment of juvenile offenders, and possible system reforms.
Offered occasionally.
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 306 The Criminal Courts (3 cr)
This course examines the development, role, and operation of United States trial and appellate courts, federal and state. Identified are: sources of law, use of precedents, jurisdictional and constitutional restraints, the decision-making process and the participants. Applicable ethical rules for lawyers and judges are also examined.
Offered fall semester
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 320 Criminal Investigation (3 cr)
This course examines theories of investigation, crime scene procedures, interviews, interrogations, surveillances, and sources of information; collection and preservation of physical evidence; investigative techniques in specific crimes.
Offered occasionally
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 321 American Policing (3 cr)
This course introduces students to the history and evolution of policing in the United States; provides students with an understanding of the role of policing within the U.S. criminal justice system and examines how police organizations interact and influence court and correctional organizations; presents an overview of the function and roles of the police in a modern democratic society; provides an understanding of the legal and ethical issues facing police officers and their departments; discusses criteria used by police agencies for recruiting and selecting police officers; and investigates issues concerning the future of policing. Emphasis is placed on such major contemporary issues as police role, discretion, use of force, corruption, accountability, and community policing.
Offered fall semester.
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 331 Corrections (3 cr)
This course examines the historical development of the U.S. correctional system and involves the study of administration of local state, and federal corrections programs, including jails, probation, community corrections, and prisons.
The course is designed to familiarize students with the history and organization of the American correctional system and to understand the social and political context that shapes correctional policy.
Offered fall semester
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 370 Seminar in Criminal Justice (3 cr)
Selected contemporary topics in criminal justice. Topics may include: White-Collar Crime, Criminal Justice in Media, The Role of Prisons in the United States, Ethics in Criminal Justice, and Wrongful Convictions. May be repeated for credit.
Offered occasionally.
Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-J 380 Internship in Criminal Justice (1-6 cr)
Open to interested students who qualify on approval of faculty. Students are placed with a criminal justice agency and assigned defined tasks relevant to their educational interests. Tasks may involve staff work or research.
Offered fall, spring, and summer semesters.
May be repeated for credit.
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101, Junior or Senior Standing, and minimum GPA requirements.
SPEA-J 439 Crime and Public Policy (3 cr)
This is a senior level course for the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree. The course involves a detailed examination of the major efforts designed to control or reduce crime. A review of existing knowledge is followed by an investigation of current crime control theories, proposals, and programs.
As a senior, students are expected to demonstrate mastery of the course material, as well as, the essential ingredients of an undergraduate education, e.g., communication and quantitative skills, critical thinking, intellectual depth, breadth, and adaptiveness, and understanding of society and culture, and an ability to integrate and apply knowledge.
Offered spring semester.
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101, SPEA-J202, and MATH-K300 or PSY-K300.
SPEA-J 480 Research in Criminal Justice (1-6 cr)
Student must have Junior or Senior standing and consent of instructor. Individual research under the guidance of a faculty member.
Offered fall, spring, and summer semesters.
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101, SPEA-J202, MATH-K300 or PSY-K300, and senior standing.
Public Affairs Courses
SPEA-V 170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr)
Broad coverage of public affairs through critical and analytical inquiry into policy making at all levels of government. Particular emphasis is placed on intergovernmental relations as they affect policy in the federal system.
Offered fall and spring semester.
SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr)
This course offers an examination of the management process of public organizations in the United States. Special attention will be given to external influences on public managers, the effect of intergovernmental environment and, in particular, problems of management in a democratic, limited government system.
Offered fall semester.
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-V 366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations (3 cr)
This course provides an introduction to the management of people in public organizations. Special emphasis is given to management issues involving criminal justice personnel, and the special constraints of administration in the public context.
Offered fall semester.
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
SPEA-V 362 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr)
This course provides a study of fiscal management in public agencies, including revenue management, debt management, and public budgeting. Special attention is given to the process of creating and approving budgets locally at the state level. The various income sources and spending limitations in the public sector are discussed.
Offered spring semester.
- Prerequisite: SPEA-J101
