Criminal Justice (B.S.) – School of Professional Studies
Program Chair
Thomas Mostowy, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
Description
Criminal justice is the scientific study of criminal behavior and society’s response to it. The Criminal Justice Major offers a curriculum focused upon the role of criminal justice within the broader concept of social justice in a multi-cultural, industrialized democracy. Specialized areas of study include the Administration of Justice, Criminal Law, the Principles of Correctional Operations, Juvenile Justice, Criminal Procedure, Law Enforcement, Criminological Theory, and Security Studies. The program prepares the student for a wide variety of careers in Criminal Justice, and for graduate study in Criminal Justice and related fields. It also lays the foundation for success as a criminal justice professional and as a citizen through an understanding of the integration of liberal, interdisciplinary learning with the needs of criminal justice in the 21st Century, and develops the student’s analytical and communications skills in research and writing methods for Criminal Justice professionals.
The curriculum guides the student through the historical, theoretical and practical aspects of the discipline and incorporates discussion of current issues in the field of criminal justice and challenges the student to analyze and evaluate the performance of the criminal justice system in deterring crime, protecting the public, and fostering a just society. The program also exposes the student to select specialized courses in Law and Judicial Administration, Law Enforcement, Corrections, Criminological Theory, Juvenile Justice, Forensics, and Intelligence. The curriculum has been designed in accordance with current SPS standards as well as the related professional certification standards of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS).
Forty-Five (45) credits of course work are required for the Criminal Justice Major involving Thirty-Six (36) credits of required core course work and nine (9) credits of required concentration course work. The concentration course work need not be in the same concentration, but must include at least one 400-level concentration course. CRJ 100 Introduction to Criminal JusticeThis course will offer a survey of the U.S. criminal justice system, including the nature of law, crime, and criminology, and the function of law in society, i.e., the role of the police, the courts, and correctional agencies in the criminal justice system.
3 credits is considered a Prerequisite to all 300 and 400-level CRJ courses unless waived by instructor or Department Chair.
Four foundational core courses (12 Credits)
CRJ 100 Introduction to Criminal JusticeThis course will offer a survey of the U.S. criminal justice system, including the nature of law, crime, and criminology, and the function of law in society, i.e., the role of the police, the courts, and correctional agencies in the criminal justice system.
3 credits
CRJ 101 Criminal LawThis course examines the substantive criminal law that defines criminal behavior. The general principles of criminal liability including defenses, parties to crime, and the elements of specific crimes are examined from a broad perspective. Decisions of English and American courts are analyzed to interpret the rules and doctrines of criminal law.
3 credits
MATH 110 Introduction to StatisticsPresents the basic principles of statistics with applications to the social sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability theory, normal and binomial distributions, and central limit theorem, with an introduction to the use of statistical software. Formerly MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
Prerequisites: MATH 108, MATH 109 or higher level mathematics course
SSC 107 Social Science WritingIntroduces students to the basics of writing papers for social science courses. It will cover proposal writing, library research, internet research, organization of the paper, outlines, drafts, and documentation.
Eight core courses (24 Credits)
CRJ 200 Principles of Correctional OperationsComprehensive survey of the correctional process in the U.S., including present philosophies and practices of punishment and rehabilitation; procedures of custodial institutions; functions of correctional officers; functions of probation and parole; classification program assignment; and release procedures.
3 credits
CRJ 201 Juvenile JusticeComprehensive survey of the correctional process in the U.S., including present philosophies and practices of punishment and rehabilitation; procedures of custodial institutions; functions of correctional officers; functions of probation and parole; classification program assignment; and release procedures.
3 credits
CRJ 202 Criminal ProcedureThis course reviews procedural aspects of criminal law governing the acts of law enforcement personnel, with a special emphasis on the constitutional rights of the accused. This study includes arrest, search and seizure, confessions, right to counsel, and similar topics.
3 credits
CRJ 309 EvidenceIn this course the students learn the definitions of evidence and proof and their relationship to each other. The roles of the prosecutor and defense counsel in trial proceedings will also be explored. Students study different types of evidence such as real vs. testimonial, direct vs. circumstantial, and the rules regarding of hearsay and opinion testimony. Students also study the admissibility of evidence and constitutional concepts such as the exclusionary rule, search and seizure, confession, and discovery, and learn to read and brief criminal case law.
3 credits
CRJ 205 CriminologyThis course presents a framework for the scientific study of the nature and causes of crime and antisocial behavior. The course focuses on explanations provided through criminal typologies and criminological theories, by focusing on definitions, history, types, causes, and consequences of crime as well as the responses of the criminal justice system to crimes, criminals, and the victims of crimes. Topics will include crime causation, the extent of crime, victimization, social/psychological theories, and various types of criminality, including violent, property, and public order offenses.
3 credits
SOCY 311 Research Methods for Social ScientistsIntroduces the student to various research methods used in the social sciences. Topics include causal analysis survey, observational, and evaluating strategies; feminist methods; database management; and statistical data analysis (SPSS). Formerly SOC 342 Research Methods.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100 and MATH 110
CRJ 499
(and either)
CRJ 491
(or)
CRJ 4xx Another 400-level CRJ
Three concentration courses (9 Credits)
Concentrations will be offered in Law Administration, Law Enforcement, Corrections, Criminological Theory, Juvenile Justice, Forensics, Private Security and Intelligence.
Law Administration/Legal Theory (9 Credits)
CRJ 341 Admininstrative LawStudents will study various administrative agencies, their rule making powers, adjudicatory functions and judicial control over such agencies. Areas covered include: the scope of administrative power, judicial review, regulatory law, due process, and personal liability of public servants.
3 credits
CRJ 344 Legal Decision MakingThis course will examine the politics of law, courts, the legal profession, and judicial policymaking. Students address questions of judicial policy including: What is law? How are courts organized and how do they work procedurally? What influences court access and, ultimately, judicial decision-making? How do courts make policy, and how is judicial authority constrained? The course will use an interdisciplinary approach to examine the legal process and study analyses from scholars who argue from quantitative and qualitative perspectives.
3 credits
(and either)
CRJ 441 Judicial Administration
(or)
CRJ 444 Constitutional LawAn in-depth study of the U.S. Constitution and the development of basic constitutional principles such as judicial review and the separation of powers via the case-study method. The course will also examine the development and interpretation of individual rights and liberties under the Constitution through the examination of landmark cases and recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, especially as it applies to law enforcement, the courts, and the criminal justice system.
3 credits
Law Enforcement (9 Credits)
CRJ 306 Law Enforcement AdministrationIn this course, students examine roles, responsibilities, issues, and trends related to contemporary law enforcement organizations. Other topics of study include community policing, policing in selected foreign countries, stress recognition and management, civil liability, extraordinary problems and practices, public expectations, and police careers.
3 credits
CRJ 366 Criminal InvestigationStudents examine the importance and legal significance of evidence, demonstrating how the investigative process works from crime scene preservation to case preparation and courtroom presentation. This course examines various techniques used during criminal investigations such as photography, interviewing, evidence handling, interrogation, and scene reconstruction, including how each applies to specific types of crimes.
3 credits
CRJ 466 Community PolicingThis course examines how community policing strategies can be tailored to meet the new challenges caused by terrorist alerts and cultural changes within the Unite States. Students will also explore the principal concepts of community policing and their relationship to culture, communities, and social order. The course will integrate measurements of community policing efforts through specific case studies and research from the texts and other government and academic sources.
3 credits
Corrections (Prereq. CRJ 200 Principles of Correctional OperationsComprehensive survey of the correctional process in the U.S., including present philosophies and practices of punishment and rehabilitation; procedures of custodial institutions; functions of correctional officers; functions of probation and parole; classification program assignment; and release procedures.
3 credits) (9 Credits)
CRJ 351 Probation, Parole and Community CorrectionsThis course provides an overview of the administrative and operational aspects of community-based corrections. Students will examine, in detail, the functions and strategies of various community corrections agencies, in the context of individual, political and community influences, and criminological theories. Students will also study the historical development and future trends in probation, parole and other noncustodial alternatives to prisons and other correctional institutions.
Prerequisites: CRJ 100, CRJ 200, CRJ 205
Credits: 3
CRJ 451
CRJ 355
CRJ 371
Criminological Theory (Prereq. CRJ 205 CriminologyThis course presents a framework for the scientific study of the nature and causes of crime and antisocial behavior. The course focuses on explanations provided through criminal typologies and criminological theories, by focusing on definitions, history, types, causes, and consequences of crime as well as the responses of the criminal justice system to crimes, criminals, and the victims of crimes. Topics will include crime causation, the extent of crime, victimization, social/psychological theories, and various types of criminality, including violent, property, and public order offenses.
3 credits) (9 Credits)
CRJ 377 Juven Delinq, Theories & ChallengesStudents will examine, in detail, individual and community influences, criminological theories, and juvenile justice agencies to understand, analyze and evaluate how a child's developmental state and social milieu can create sources of delinquency. By recognizing that juvenile delinquency has multiple causes, manifestations, and developmental pathways, students will cultivate the ability to analyze and critically evaluate the application of various psychological, sociological, developmental and criminological theories to prevention, intervention, and correctional strategies in a way that limits delinquency and achieves social justice in a diverse and mult-cultural community.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: CRJ 100, CRJ 201, CRJ 205
CRJ 303 Special Populations in Criminal JusticeRace, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class and other characteristics may define individuals as minorities who deserve equitable treatment in the criminal justice system. This course examines the roles of racism, sexism, homophobia and social class in theories of crimes and the treatment of minorities by various components of the criminal justice system.
3 credits
CRJ 410
CRJ 440
Juvenile Justice (Prereq. CRJ 201 Juvenile JusticeComprehensive survey of the correctional process in the U.S., including present philosophies and practices of punishment and rehabilitation; procedures of custodial institutions; functions of correctional officers; functions of probation and parole; classification program assignment; and release procedures.
3 credits) (9 Credits)
CRJ 371
CRJ 377 Juven Delinq, Theories & ChallengesStudents will examine, in detail, individual and community influences, criminological theories, and juvenile justice agencies to understand, analyze and evaluate how a child's developmental state and social milieu can create sources of delinquency. By recognizing that juvenile delinquency has multiple causes, manifestations, and developmental pathways, students will cultivate the ability to analyze and critically evaluate the application of various psychological, sociological, developmental and criminological theories to prevention, intervention, and correctional strategies in a way that limits delinquency and achieves social justice in a diverse and mult-cultural community.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: CRJ 100, CRJ 201, CRJ 205
CRJ 471 Law, Justice, and the American FamilyLaw, Justice, and the American Family: Modern Family Law draws from constitutional law, criminal law, conflict of laws, and the laws of contracts, torts, property, inheritance, and even taxation. Students will examine the law as it involves the formation and dissolution of modern families, both traditional and non-traditional, violence against family members, adoption, custody and support of children, and government interventions in family issues. This course will also cover evolution the family law and dispute resolution process.
3 credits
(Prereq. CRJ 101 Criminal LawThis course examines the substantive criminal law that defines criminal behavior. The general principles of criminal liability including defenses, parties to crime, and the elements of specific crimes are examined from a broad perspective. Decisions of English and American courts are analyzed to interpret the rules and doctrines of criminal law.
3 credits)
Forensics (9 Credits)
CRJ 321
CRJ 421
PSY 323
Intelligence and Security Studies (9 Credits)
CRJ 388 International and Domestic TerrorismThis course examines aspects of extremism and terrorism in a historical, cultural and tactical context and relates the use of terrorism to contemporary issues of international domestic terrorism facing the United States today. Paramilitarism, white supremacy groups, hate groups, religious fundamentalism, and foreign terrorist groups throughout the world and through history will be investigated and studied with sophisticated theories of analysts.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
CRJ 381 Homeland SecurityThis course examines the organization, functions, and strategies of the Department of Homeland Security and its member agencies. How can the department meet the new challenges caused by global and domestic terrorist threats, natural, and man-made disasters and cultural changes within the United states and the world? Students will also explore examples of various security threats and the DHS response to them and examine management style and structure in the department.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
CRJ 331
CRJ 333
CRJ 431
CRJ 481
CRJ 440
Program Policies
Advanced Placement:
Credits earned through AP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the Criminal Justice major.
CLEP Policy:
Credits earned through CLEP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the Criminal Justice major.
Grades in Major Courses:
Students are required to earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major. In addition, students must achieve a passing grade on the Senior Comprehensive portfolio.
Pass/No Pass:
Courses fulfilling major requirements may not be taken pass/no pass.
TELL Policy:
Students applying for credit in experiential learning should consult with the program faculty.
Transfer Credits:
Credits in courses equivalent to those required for the major from a similar institution may be accepted toward a major. Students majoring in criminal justice must take a minimum of four criminal justice courses at Trinity.