2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Criminal Justice Studies

Courses

CJS 101. Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies. 3 Hours

Introduction to the field of criminal justice studies, stressing the theoretical foundations, origin, nature, methods, and limitations of criminal justice studies as a college curriculum.

CJS 207. Research Methods in Criminal Justice Studies. 3 Hours

Review of the nature, language, and processes of inquiry involving experiments, studies, surveys, and investigations. The instrumentation, types, and structures of content analysis, questionnaires, interviews, and structured observation are examined. Prerequisite(s): CJS 101.

CJS 300. Criminal Justice Studies Career Development. 1 Hour

Exploration of career opportunities and the professional career placement process including setting goals and identifying educational objectives, noting professional concerns, the role of a given criminal justice organization, and assessing experiences.

CJS 303. Theory and Practice of Corrections. 3 Hours

Study of the organization and administration of correctional institutions and other detention facilities with emphasis on probation, parole, and reentry systems to include the rehabilitation and treatment of the incarcerated with reference to correctional law cases. Prerequisites: CJS 101 or SSC 200 or ANT 150 or ECO 203 or ECO 204 or POL 201 or POL 202 or PSY 101 or SOC 101 or SOC 204 or SWK 201 or Department Chair.

CJS 305. Criminal Law. 3 Hours

Principles of criminal liability, preparation of case materials, court procedures, and case disposition.

CJS 315. Criminal Procedure. 3 Hours

Fundamentals of criminal procedure: arrest, search, and seizure; interrogation, constitutional limitations upon state and federal rules of criminal procedure. Prerequisite(s): A course in criminal law.

CJS 316. Criminal Justice Ethics. 3 Hours

Examination of issues and dilemmas associated with professional decision-making within the U.S. criminal justice system. Students will develop knowledge of ethical systems as applied to issues in real-world criminal justice contexts, critically evaluate current ethical dilemmas through a social justice lens, and gain personal insight by developing a personal framework for responding to ethical challenges associated with the justice system. Prerequisites: PHL 103 or PHL 1HC or ASI 120.

CJS 322. Policing & Society. 3 Hours

Analyzes the history of policing in society and assesses the social and political forces that are correlated with both the rise of formal policing and the variety of structures law enforcement agencies have assumed. Reviews the primary functions of policing in American society and examines those issues affecting federal, state, county, municipal and private policing.

CJS 336. Comparative Criminal Justice Systems. 3 Hours

Survey of cross-cultural uniformities and diversities in law-enforcement agencies, correctional systems, and the courts in selected countries. Attention is focused on transnational crime and justice. Sophomore standing or higher.

CJS 340. American Violence. 3 Hours

Examination of historical, comparative, political, psychological, and social structural aspects of violent crime and criminal justice system responses. Prerequisites: SSC 200 or ANT 150 or CJS 101 or ECO 203 or ECO 204 or POL 201 or POL 202 or PSY 101 or SOC 101 or SOC 204 or SWK 201.

CJS 360. Anti-Human Trafficking Advocacy. 3 Hours

Exploration of human trafficking at global, national, and local levels with a focus on advocacy and disruption efforts.

CJS 375. Restorative Justice. 3 Hours

Seminar where students learn principles, practices, and review the effectiveness of restorative justice approaches as tools for conflict resolution, transformation, and peacebuilding in the community. Prerequisites: CJS 101 and SSC 200 or ANT 150 or ECO 203 or ECO 204 or POL 201 or POL 202 or PSY 101 or SOC 101 or SOC 204 or SWK 201.

CJS 399. Special Topics in Criminal Justice Studies. 1-3 Hours

An extensive examination of a current topic affecting the criminal justice system and its law enforcement, corrections or judicial components. May be repeated to a maximum of three semester hours when the topic changes.

CJS 408. Senior Seminar. 3 Hours

Preparation for a criminal justice capstone experience. Students will explore vocational and career aspects of criminal justice and criminological disciplines. Students will prepare for research or community engaged or research projects. Required for Criminal Justice majors. Prerequisite(s): CJS 207 or SOC 208 or POL 207 or PSY 217.

CJS 409. Senior Capstone. 3 Hours

Capstone experience in criminal justice studies consisting of a seminar on research, writing, and ethics in criminology and criminal justice with a project and a written and oral presentation; students will reflect on how criminal justice course work, experiences, and research will influence their professional activities and how they will serve their communities. Prerequisites: CJS 408 or permission of instructor.

CJS 440. Independent Study. 3 Hours

Directed study and research on selected topics of significant academic publications in law enforcement and criminal justice. Prerequisite(s): An introductory CJS course; permission of instructor.

CJS 477. Honors Thesis Project. 3 Hours

First of two courses leading to the selection, design, investigation, and completion of an independent, original Honors Thesis project under the guidance of a faculty research advisor. Restricted to students in the University Honors Program with permission of the program director and department chairperson. Students pursuing an interdisciplinary thesis topic may register for three semester hours each in two separate disciplines in consultation with the department chairpersons. Prerequisite(s): Approval of University Honors Program.

CJS 478. Honors Thesis Project. 3 Hours

Second of two courses leading to the selection, design, investigation, and completion of an independent, original Honors Thesis project under the guidance of a faculty research advisor. Restricted to students in the University Honors Program with permission of the program director and department chairperson. Students pursuing an interdisciplinary thesis topic may register for three semester hours each in two separate disciplines in consultation with the department chairpersons. Prerequisite(s): Approved CJS 477; approval of University Honors Program.

CJS 495. Internship in Criminal Justice I. 1-3 Hours

Supervised experience solely in a civilian capacity in a criminal justice or law-enforcement agency. Open to pre-service criminal justice studies majors only; in-service students do not qualify. Students who enroll for internship credit are not given a stipend. Credit granted only under Grading Option Two. Prerequisite(s): 2.5 cumulative grade-point average; sophomore status; permission of program director.

CJS 496. Internship in Criminal Justice II. 1-3 Hours

Continuation of CJS 495.

CJS 497. Service Learning Experience. 1 Hour

Supervised community research or service experience that complements a specific upper division course in Criminal Justice Studies. No more than three semester hours of Social Science 497 credits can count for graduation. Repeatable up to three semester hours. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Corequisite(s): CJS course (300- or 400-level).