2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Criminal Justice (CRJ)

CRJ-2040: Race, Ethnicity, and Racism in the U.S. (3 hours)

This course examines race and ethnic relations in various types of societal settings, with special emphasis given to prejudice, discrimination, race and the immigration experience of persons and communities from Europe and the developing world. Cross-Listed: SOC-2040. Replaces: CRJ-4610.

CRJ-2310: Human Security (3 hours)

An introduction to the field of Human Security, focusing on the security of individuals within one’s country and the international community with regard to topics such as economics, food, health, environmental, personal, community or political security. Cross-Listed: POS-2310.

CRJ-2340: International Security (3 hours)

A broad view of security by analyzing security risks across countries and within their borders by considering topics such as: state and non-state threats, military, environmental, accidental, economic, health, social, criminal and natural threats to security among others. Cross-Listed: POS-2340.

CRJ-2400: Criminal Justice (3 hours)

The processes, institutions and administration of criminal justice in the United States, focusing on the police, courts and corrections.

CRJ-2410: American Legal Process (3 hours)

The structure and functions of American civil and criminal court systems at both the national and state levels. Roles of court personnel will be examined as well as basic rules of pre-trial, trial and post-trial procedure. Cross-Listed: POS-2410.

CRJ-3415: Substantive Criminal Law (3 hours)

This course examines the legal elements of individual crimes and examines the fundamental elements of a criminal act, intent, conspiracy, defenses and liability. Cross-Listed: POS-3415.

CRJ-3425: Procedural Criminal Law (3 hours)

By reviewing court decisions, the course considers the changing interpretations of the Constitution by the courts regarding fundamental issues of police procedure including arrests, searches, seizures of property, confessions, right to counsel and related matters. Cross-Listed: POS-3425.

CRJ-4030: Probation, Parole and Re-entry (3 hours)

A theoretical, historical and empirical analysis of probation, parole and re-entry in the U.S. Sociologically examines development of community-based correctional programs, focusing on the effectiveness of probation, parole and intermediate sanctions on recidivism and re-entry. Cross-Listed: SOC-4030.

CRJ-4155: Social Interaction in Everyday Life (3 hours)

The course examines the processes of social interaction that create and maintain the symbolic building blocks of U.S. culture (body language, verbal language, written language, etc.), shape subjective experiences (thoughts, feelings and identities), and organize the social relationships of everyday life in American society. We will explore topics including the interactive creation and use of symbolic systems; identity construction and maintenance; the social processes of self-formation; the social construction and management of emotions; the organization of social interaction; and the resistance to and reproduction of the social order that shapes meaningful interactions in U.S. society. Cross-Listed: SOC-4155.

CRJ-4320: Juvenile Delinquency (3 hours)

Defining delinquency; nature and frequency; theoretical explanations; juvenile law, courts and corrections; preventing delinquency. Cross-Listed: SOC-4320.

CRJ-4325: Masculinities (3 hours)

An introduction to the field of masculinities. This course sociologically examines the construction and impact of masculinities within our society. Providing a critical framework for exploring the cultural and individual ways we understand what it means to be a “man” or “masculine,” the course will focus on the pluralization of masculinities and how it intersects with race, sexuality, class and sex. Cross-listed: SOC-4325.

CRJ-4350: Global Terrorism (3 hours)

Addresses topics fundamental to the traditional study of terrorism including definitions, frequency, causes and policy responses to terrorism. Cross-Listed: POS-4350.

CRJ-4425: Sociology of Gender & Sexualities (3 hours)

A theoretical and empirical analysis of femininity, masculinity and various sexualities from a sociological perspective. Examines the impact gender and sexuality have at the individual and institutional levels. Cross-Listed: SOC-4425.

CRJ-4430: Constitutional Law of Civil Liberties (3 hours)

By reviewing court decisions, the course considers the changing interpretations of the Constitution by the courts regarding the fundamental rights such as freedom of speech and the press. Particular focus on the religious establishment clause and the free exercise clause of the First Amendment.

CRJ-4435: Social Deviance (3 hours)

Sociological study of the process and factors producing deviant behavior and the societal reaction against deviance. Emphasis on theoretical perspectives and empirical research addressing the definition of and reaction to deviant behavior. Cross-Listed: SOC-4435.

CRJ-4440: Constitutional Law of Civil Rights (3 hours)

By reviewing court decisions, the course considers the changing interpretations of the Constitution by the courts regarding fundamental issues of federalism and political power. Attention is focused on civil rights laws and issues.

CRJ-4510: Law & Society (3 hours)

Law as a social construction. Sociological perspectives on law. The relationship between law and other social institutions. Law and morality. Law and equality. Cross-Listed: SOC-4510.

CRJ-4520: Criminological Theory (3 hours)

Scientific investigation of crime using past and current theoretical perspectives. Analysis of crime, criminal behavior and societal response to crime. Cross-Listed: SOC-4520. Prerequisite: C or higher in SOC-2010.

CRJ-4530: Sociology of Corrections (3 hours)

History, organization, functions and effectiveness of various correctional programs. Cross-Listed: SOC-4530. Field Trip: Required.

CRJ-4540: Sociology of Policing (3 hours)

A theoretical, historical and empirical analysis of U.S. policing from a sociological perspective. Examines police history, past and current philosophies of policing, including the increased militarization of the police, police structure, police ethics and officer relationship to local community, media and broad criminal justice functions. Course will also look at the intersection of race, class and gender on police training and practices. Cross-Listed: SOC-4540.

CRJ-4550: Theories in Policing (3 hours)

Examines past and current philosophies of policing, such as traditional, community and intelligence-led policing, with a focus on militarization of police policies and practices. Cross-Listed: SOC-4550 .

CRJ-4560: Legal Parameters of Policing (3 hours)

By using case law and other legal resources, students will gain considerable knowledge as to the law, its interpretation, and its impact on individual and institutional police behavior. Investigates police work as an amalgam of constitutional parameters and discretionary practices taught within the academy and on the job. Cross-Listed: SOC-4560.

CRJ-4570: Community-Police Relations (3 hours)

This course will help students to critically analyze current policing practices and community-led efforts toward crime control and police relations, especially with the role media plays in the depiction of the problem. Cross-Listed: SOC-4570.

CRJ-4620: Social Inequality: Class, Status, Power (3 hours)

A theoretical and empirical analysis of the unequal distribution of wealth, power and prestige. Cross-Listed: SOC-4620.

CRJ-4630: The City: Conflict & Change in Urban Communities (3 hours)

An examination of cities and suburbs from a sociological perspective, with special emphasis upon urban ecology, lifestyles and problems, urbanization patterns; urban planning. Cross-Listed: SOC-4630. Field Trip: May be required.

CRJ-4645: American Social Movements (3 hours)

This course introduces students to major theories of social movement formation and development with a particular emphasis on American activism, including case studies of the civil rights movement, the animal rights movement, the contemporary women’s movement, and other recent forms of activism.

CRJ-4650: Gangs and Society (3 hours)

A theoretical, historical and empirical analysis of gangs from a sociological perspective. Examines gang structure, relationship to local networks, social control agents and the intersection of race, class and gender. Cross-Listed: SOC-4650.

CRJ-4720: Social Research Methods (3 hours)

An introduction to research methods for studying social phenomena. Includes introduction to computer-aided statistical analysis of data and qualitative data assessment techniques. Prerequisite: C or higher in CRJ-4520 or SOC-4520 and Junior or Senior standing.

CRJ-4740: Human Rights in the Contemporary Era (3 hours)

This course examines the rise of the concept of human rights and engages students in sociological analysis of contemporary human rights issues both local and global. Not open to students who have taken SOC-4640. Cross-Listed: SOC-4740.

CRJ-4910: Special Topics (3 hours)

An in-depth study of a topic relevant to a current topic in the discipline or a topic of interest that is not addressed in other departmental courses. The course may be repeated for credit so long as the topic is different.

CRJ-4950: Independent Study in Criminal Justice (1-6 hours)

CRJ-4990: Internship in Criminal Justice (3 hours)

Supervised practice within an agency or organization, providing student with an applied criminal justice experience. Prerequisite: Minimum 15 credits in courses with a CRJ prefix and departmental consent.