Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree Program Outline

Sharpen skills that will help you achieve maximum learning as you complete your degree program.

Concentrate on improving the basic English skills necessary to write fluently. Designed to help college students develop skills in the use of standard written English and/or in the writing of well developed, coherent paragraphs.

Introduces fundamental concepts and terminology related to computer hardware, software, networks, graphics and design, and the Internet.

Broad survey of world history from the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia to the mid-sixteenth century, examining political, economic, and social structures as well as outstanding cultural expressions of each civilization in art, architecture, literature, and religion.

Options for General Education Electives.

Learn critical thinking skills and writing techniques for organizing, composing and proofreading reports, summaries, short essays, and research papers.

Review of basics math including manipulation of whole numbers, fractions, ratios, and percentages in problem solving; basic statistics; rational numbers; problem solving using basic algebra; and principles of geometry.

The study of psychology; psychological research; evolution, genes, and behavior; neurons, hormones, and the brain; body rhythms and mental states; sensation and perception; learning and conditioning; the environment and behavior.

Provides an overview of the terminology, theories, and questions used by sociologists to study how groups, cultures, institutions, norms, and values all work to shape society and an individual's perception of the world.

Options for General Education Electives.

A hands-on course that examines various reports used by police officers and develops the writing skills needed for note taking, police reports, and warrants.

Introduction to macroeconomic analysis and policy in business and government; an examination of the foundation of macroeconomic principles as they apply to consumption, production, inflation, unemployment, banking, monetary and fiscal policy, income and international trade.

Introduction to microeconomics, with emphasis on the functioning of individual markets and their effectiveness for resource allocation; price; production; competition theory; supply and demand; labor and wages; mergers and antitrust actions; income distribution; international trade.

Survey of world history from the late-sixteenth century through the present with an emphasis on political, intellectual, and social history.

Options for General Education Electives.

Introduces the foundations of statistical analysis, including distributions, measures of location and dispersion, probability, the normal probability distribution, sampling and testing methods, and decision analysis.

Examination of the legal system and the legal environment of business today; contracts and agreements; torts; personal property defined; sales; negotiable instruments; agency and employment; creating, modifying, and dissolving a business organization; risk-bearing devices; real property issues; summary cases in business law.

Examination of the broad implications of technological innovation on social organizations in terms of personal, political, economic, and environmental issues.

Options for General Education Electives.

Options for General Education Electives.

An examination of the American criminal justice system as an interdisciplinary social science involving aspects of criminology, sociology, law, and political science.

An inspection of classic theories and current developments in theory, research, and policy with regard to such issues as mass and serial murder, hate and occult crimes, drugs and crime, career criminality, terrorism, and new forms of organized and white-collar crime.

An examination of the historical development and constitutional principles of American government including inquiries into federalism, national and state powers, separation of powers, checks and balances, due process, and equal protection of the laws.  The primary focus will be on case law of the Supreme Court from the Marshall court to the present.

A comprehensive survey of source, distinctions, and limitations relating to criminal law; the development of criminal law in the United States; the principles of criminal liability; the various crimes and their elements; and the criteria considered in determining capacity and defenses.  Also explored are the elements of due process, rule of law, and the role of the Constitution in protecting rights.

A study of the dynamics of courthouse justice including an overview of the legal basis for criminal courts, the legal actors - judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys - and their working relationships, the stages through which criminal cases pass, and what happens after conviction.

An examination of the fundamental principles and procedures employed in the investigation of a crime. Emphasis is placed on the investigation of specific crimes, the identification of sources of information, and the procedures necessary for the proper handling of evidence. Students develop a working knowledge of the steps of investigation beginning with the initial security of the crime scene and concluding with the presentation of evidence and proper testimony in court.

An examination of a wide range of ethical issues in policing, the practice of law, sentencing, corrections, criminal justice research, and crime control policy.

An examination of contemporary concepts and practices for first line supervisors in law enforcement.  Character, motivation, teamwork, and conflict resolution are emphasized in this practical, ethics-based approach to leadership in a complex organization.

A study of the relationship between police and the community with recommendations for ways of working together to reduce crime.  Emphasis is placed on policing in a culturally diverse society.

A study of youthful crime: its volume, causes, and trends.  The prediction, prevention, treatment and control of juvenile delinquency by social control agencies is examined relative to social policies needed to reduce its incidence.  The organization and procedures of the juvenile justice system are also explored.

 In this course, students will review the debate regarding the definition of white collar crime, examine the costs of white-collar and corporate crime to society, consider competing theories to explain white collar criminality, and explore the use of criminal sanctions to deter the misconduct of corporations. 

A comprehensive examination of the historical importance of victim restitution and contemporary developments within this field of study.  Students will explore the role of victimology in today's criminal justice system, investigate the consequences of victimization, and examine the various remedies now available for victims.

An examination of private security from a historical and philosophical perspective.  Topics include the evolution of private security; basic security goals and responsibilities; investigation; loss prevention through risk management; security systems in the industrial, retail, commercial, and institutional settings; and current challenges facing the security profession.

Options for Criminal Justice Electives.

Options for Criminal Justice Electives.

A comprehensive study of the context, practices, and special interests of corrections.  Topics include the early history and current trends of correctional thought and practice, jails and other short-term facilities, intermediate sanctions, the prison experience, women in prison, institutional management, educational/treatment programs, prisoners' rights, and race/ethnicity challenges.

An examination of the theory and practice of probation and parole, including presentence investigation, supervision of probationers, parole administration and services, treatment theory, parole officers, juvenile services, and new concepts (such as community-based corrections, the justice model, and determinate sentencing) that have impacted traditional probation and parole theory.

Options for Criminal Justice Electives

Options for Criminal Justice Electives

Options for Criminal Justice Electives

. Offers a skill-based approach to planning and decision-making, organization theory, leadership, and motivation to provide a concrete understanding of how these processes relate to business activity.

Focuses on the people in the organization and how they work and behave in the work environment. It examines the behavior of individuals, the dynamics of teamwork, the processes of small groups, decision-making, problem solving, and conflict management.

Examines ethics and values in business, beginning with an introduction to ethics in business.  The perspective then broadens to include corporate ethics and the role of moral leadership in business, and concludes with an examination of ethical dilemmas created by an expanding global economy.

A careful examination of crimes committed by a family member against another family member, offering practical applications of theory and dispelling myths about victims and offenders.

Emphasizes substantive law and overview of common procedures related to domestic relations law, including the formation and dissolution of marriage, marital property, child custody and support, and related matters. 

Intensive introduction to legal research tools and techniques, including retrieval of case and statutory authority, use of encyclopedias, legal periodicals, treatises and other secondary authority, proper case citation form, and the drafting of internal and external documents, letters, memoranda, and other written materials.

An examination of the four major issues in human relations:  understanding and managing one's self, dealing effectively with others, fostering career success, and managing one's personal life.  These issues are presented within the premise that career and personal success are interrelated.

Overview of social problems with emphasis on sexual variance, alcohol and drugs, crime and delinquency, violence, poverty, family problems, physical and mental illness, war, population, aging, urban problems, and environmental destruction.

Introduction to the behavior of individuals as members of the larger society, with emphasis on beliefs, judgments, attitudes, conformity, persuasion, group influence, prejudice, aggression, intimacy, altruism, conflict, peacemaking, and practical applications.

Factors shaping personality, including the biological (genes and evolution), the intrapsychic (factors within the mind that influence behavior, thoughts, and feelings), the dispositional (aspects of personality that are stable over time and relatively consistent in a variety of situations), the cognitive and experiential (perceptions, thoughts, feelings, desires, beliefs, and other conscious experiences), the social and cultural (social institutions, social roles and expectations, and relationships with other people), and adjustments to events in day-to-day life. 

Entry-level survey of art history that begins with primitive cave paintings from Lascoux, France and progresses to 20th century art from around the world. Covers a variety of artistic movements ranging from Classic Greek, Baroque, and Rococo to the Impressionists.

Teaches the fundamentals of writing technical manuals for end users.

Introduction to the human and physical attributes that give uniqueness and diversity to world regional patterns on the Earth's surface; provides a better background for understanding contemporary world events.

Covers advanced topics in the statistical analysis of business operations and describes the application of statistical procedures for the purposes of forecasting, quality control, and decision-making.

Explores the diverse moral issues surrounding the use of computers and information technology today, with an emphasis on how one might determine the difference between ethical and unethical behavior in a number of scenarios.

Designed for non-chemistry majors who have little or no chemistry background. Presents the basic tenets of chemistry relating to the environment, energy, and health, and provides an understanding of the chemical processes involved in the functioning body and environment.

Introduction to the essential principles of biology and the structure of biological systems.

Explores the fundamental principles of ecosystem processes, community and ecosystem development, and species adaptation and diversity.