Criminal Justice (CRJ)
CRJ 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: A survey of the philosophical and historical background of the criminal justice system as it relates to the individual; reviews the principles underlying social organization control devices with an emphasis upon such legal systems as the criminal courts, corrections, and law enforcement; designed to provide general knowledge about the concept and causes of crime, the varying goals and objectives of the criminal justice system, and an assessment of specific role performance of various members of the criminal justice system including major aspects of civil process.
CORE 42: MOTR CRJS 101; Introduction to Criminal Justice (attribute MO11)
CRJ 110 Introduction to Juvenile Justice Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: Studies the delinquent juvenile as an individual and the impact on society; investigates delinquency, causation, the role of the law enforcement officer, the juvenile officer, the juvenile court, and juvenile corrections.
CRJ 130 Introduction to Policing Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: Examines issues critical to the policing of today's society. Although the primary focus will be on problems faced by street officers, the philosophical concepts will be of concern to anyone in the criminal justice system.
CRJ 190 Criminal Investigation Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall (even-numbered years), Spring (even-numbered years).
Course Description: A course on modern investigative methodology. All aspects of the criminal investigative function of the police are fully covered from the preliminary investigation to the preparation of the case for review by the prosecutor. Particular attention is given to the importance of information, interrogation, and instrumentation in the solution and preparation of criminal cases for trial. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 100 is recommended, but not required.
CRJ 200 Introduction to Corrections Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: The origins and theories of punishment and the prison system; introduces principles and programs of institutional correction and special problems in administration; reviews modern recommendations for improvement of the system. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 100 is recommended, but not required.
CRJ 260 Criminal Law Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall (even-numbered years), Spring (even-numbered years).
Course Description: Explores the origin, development, and classification of substantive criminal law; reviews the rules of evidence of particular importance at the operational level of law enforcement and criminal procedures in arrest, force, search, and seizure. Prerequisite(s): Completion of 6 credit hours in CRJ or LAT coursework.
CRJ 270 Probation and Parole Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: Examines probation, parole and alternatives to confinement and their effectiveness in curbing future criminal behavior. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 100.
CRJ 300 Criminal Justice Communications Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: The study of interviewing and interrogation as an oral form of communication; the legal guidelines, and the techniques used in the field of criminal justice. The development of technical writing skills to transfer oral communications into written materials, in the form of narrative reports to be used in the criminal justice field. Prerequisite(s): Completion of 9 CRJ credit hours or permission of the instructor.
CRJ 305 Introduction to Theories of Crime Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: Provides an introduction to the study of crime and causation of crime from the interdisciplinary perspectives of sociology, psychology, and biology. This course is primarily concerned with understanding the causes of crime and examining some of the most influential explanations for criminal behavior. Also, this course examines various categories of crimes such as (1) violent crimes, (2) property crimes, (3) white collar and organized crimes, (4) public order crimes and (5) cyber crimes and technologies. Prerequisite(s): 9 hours in criminal justice or permission of course instructor.
CRJ 315 Criminal Justice Concepts and Issues Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Gives students an opportunity to investigate selected problems or topics on a group discussion basis. Provides materials which reflect prevailing trends and fundamental concepts in criminal justice. Prerequisite(s): Completion of 9 CRJ credit hours.
CRJ 320 Criminal Evidence Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Comprehensive study of evidentiary rules and procedures that apply to the enforcement of criminal law and to the stages of investigation and trial. Prerequisite(s): Completion of 9 CRJ credit hours.
CRJ 325 Understanding Research in Criminal Justice Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: An introduction to qualitative and quantitative criminal justice research method theory and techniques. In addition, this course will examine ethics, academic writing and the components of a research study. The student will also be responsible for the building and general interpretation of a database. Prerequisite(s): Completion of 9 CRJ, LAT, or SWK credit hours and successful completion of the general studies math requirement, or permission of instructor. MAT 111 or MAT 111E is recommended, but not required.
CRJ 345 Victimology Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This course provides the student with an opportunity to examine the recent and rapidly developing branch of criminology designed to study the crime victim. The student will examine both vulnerability and culpability of crime victims. Specifically the history of victimology and the victim's experience with the criminal justice system will be discussed. The rights and laws concerning crime victims as well as general safety and risk issues will also be emphasized throughout the course. The issue of family violence will be examined thoroughly at the end of the course. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 100.
CRJ 375 Criminal Sentencing Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: This course will address issues of sentencing in the United States. Sentencing theories, paradigms and topics will be examined in both historic and current context. These will include death penalty, imprisonment, community based sanctions and rehabilitative sanctions. Key court cases will be used to develop an understanding of the restrictions placed on sentencing in the US, at the local, state and federal court levels. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 100.
CRJ 392 Selected Criminal Justice Topics Credits: 1-4
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Provides students with the opportunity to examine specialized or advanced topics in criminal justice. Topics will be offered on a rotating basis. These topics will usually be an in-depth examination of a subject introduced in other CRJ courses. There may be an applied learning experience with this course, such as a trip or other related activity. May be repeated for credit.
CRJ 410 Criminal Procedure Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: Explores criminal law and examines court decisions as they pertain to functional law enforcement procedures. Prepares the individual to maintain professional skill levels in this area over an extended period of time. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 100.
CRJ 440 Juvenile Law and Procedures Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: The jurisdiction of juvenile courts; their function and organization; processing the detention of juveniles; case disposition; juvenile statutes; and court procedures. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 110.
CRJ 450 Independent Research/Project Credits: 1-6
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Investigation of a research problem, project, or topic on an individual conference basis. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): Minimum of 2.5 GPA in major field, and departmental approval.
CRJ 460 Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: An overview of administration and management in criminal justice organizations. This course utilizes both historical and current organizational theory, leadership, and planning. Examines the impact of communication, legal issues, ethics, and changing social standards. Prerequisite(s): Completion of 9 CRJ credit hours.
CRJ 465 Internship Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Course Description: An academic program which offers criminal justice and legal studies majors an opportunity to integrate theory with actual practice. Students spend at least 135 hours in a position related to their major. Anticipated learning objectives are established in a contract agreed to by the student, the on-site supervisor and the course professor. May be taken up to two times for credit. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 325 or permission of the instructor.
CRJ 470 Senior Seminar Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: Designed for seniors majoring in criminal justice or legal studies; presents selected topics for group discussion, guest speakers, and the exploration of career options. This course should be taken during the student's senior year. Prerequisite(s): Senior standing or permission of course instructor.
CRJ 475 Death Investigation Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: This course is designed to present the basic topics in forensic pathology. These topics include manner, cause and mechanism of death, sharp force trauma, blunt force trauma, gunshot wounds, child abuse, deaths from drug abuse, motor vehicular deaths, sex-related deaths, and sudden-unexpected deaths. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 190 or permission of the instructor.
CRJ 480 Crime Scene Investigations Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: This course provides the student with a series of lectures, labs and exercise practicums for documenting crime scenes, identifying evidence and collecting various types of evidence as well as the preliminary techniques for crime scene processing. Students will process mock crime scenes to access what is evidence, how to collect, preserve and examine various types of evidence. This course will include an introduction to basic crime scene searching and sketching, photography, fingerprint development and recovery, footwear lifting and casting, blood collection, firearms recovery safety, trace metal detection techniques. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 190 or permission of course instructor.
CRJ 485 Profiling and Behavioral Analysis Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: This course provides an introduction to the study and analysis of various techniques and procedures for assessing, analyzing, and understanding offender behavior through crime, victim, and crime scene analysis in furtherance of understanding and solving crime. The course presents two uniquely different approaches to offender profiling and behavioral analysis: Criminal Investigative Analysis as pioneered by the FBI and Investigative Psychology. Lectures and case studies involving sexual deviance, serial murder, spree murder, mass murder, active shootings, hostage-taking, and burglarizing, will be used to illustrate the concepts and principals that underlie this course. Lecture, readings, and case studies will provide a learning environment for understanding and applying these concepts. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 190 or permission of course instructor.
CRJ 490 Criminal Investigative Methods Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: This course introduces the student to modern investigative techniques and methodology. The course will emphasize the importance of information, evidence, interrogation, crime scene documentation, identification procedures, investigative methods, ballistics, physical and biological evidence, and instrumentation in the solution and preparation of criminal cases for prosecution and trial. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 190 or permission of course instructor.
CRJ 492 Advanced Selected Criminal Justice Topics Credits: 1-3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Senior level students are given the opportunity to study more advanced topics in criminal justice with either full-time faculty or faculty with specialized credentials recruited from outside the University. There may be an applied learning experience with this course, such as a specialized lab component, study away or other related activity. May be repeated for credit.