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Course Descriptions — Criminology/Criminal Justice (CCJS)

CCJS 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)

(Fulfills the general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences.) An introduction to the administration of criminal justice in a democratic society, emphasizing the history and theories of law enforcement. Discussion covers the principles of organization and administration in law enforcement, including specific activities and functions (such as research and planning, public relations, personnel and training, inspection and control, and formulation and direction of policy). Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 100 or CJUS 100.

CCJS 105 Introduction to Criminology (3)

(Fulfills the general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences.) An overview of criminal behavior and the methods of studying it. Topics include causation; typologies of criminal acts and offenders; the practices and effects of punishments, correction, and incapacitation; and the prevention of crime. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 105 or CRIM 220.

CCJS 230 Criminal Law in Action (3)

Recommended: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An exploration of law as a method of social control. The nature, sources, and types of criminal law are studied in relation to its history and theories. Topics include behavioral and legal aspects of criminal acts and the classification and analysis of selected criminal offenses. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 230 or CJUS 230.

CCJS 234 Criminal Procedure and Evidence (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. Recommended: CCJS 230. A study of the general principles and theories of criminal procedure. Topics include due process, arrest, search and seizure, and the evaluation of evidence and proof. Recent developments in the field are discussed. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 234, CJUS 234, LGST 320, or PLGL 320.

CCJS 320 Introduction to Criminalistics (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An introduction to modern methods used in detecting, investigating, and solving crimes. The practical analysis of evidence in a criminal investigation laboratory is covered. Topics include photography, fingerprints, and other impressions; ballistics, documents and handwriting, glass, and hair; drug analysis; and lie detection. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 320 or CJUS 320.

CCJS 331 Contemporary Legal Policy Issues (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. Thorough examination of selected topics: criminal responsibility, alternative sociolegal policies on deviance, law-enforcement procedures for civil law and similar legal problems, admissibility of evidence, and the indigent’s right to counsel. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 331 or CJUS 330.

CCJS 340 Law-Enforcement Administration (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An introduction to concepts of organization and management as they relate to law enforcement. Topics include principles of structure, process, policy and procedure, communication and authority, division of work and organizational controls, the human element in the organization, and informal interaction in the context of bureaucracy. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 340 or CJUS 340.

CCJS 341 Criminal Investigation (3)

An introduction to the concepts and methodologies used by criminal investigators to prevent and suppress crime and aid in the apprehension of criminal suspects. Topics include crime scene search and recording; collection and preservation of physical evidence; use of scientific aids, modus operandi, and sources of information; interview and interrogation; follow-up; and case preparation. Emphasis is on leadership and management to enhance investigative efforts.

CCJS 345 Introduction to Security Management (3)

(Formerly CCJS 445.) Recommended: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. A study of the concepts, principles, and methods of organizing and administering security management and loss-prevention activities in industry, business, and government. Emphasis is on both private and governmental protection of assets, personnel, and facilities. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 345, CCJS 445, or CCJS 498G.

CCJS 350 Juvenile Delinquency (3)

(Fulfills the general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences.) Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An examination of juvenile delinquency in relation to the general problem of crime. Topics include factors underlying juvenile delinquency, prevention of criminal acts by youths, and the treatment of delinquents. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 350 or CRIM 450.

CCJS 351 Issues in Criminal Justice (6)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An interdisciplinary exploration of criminal justice. Topics include theories of the causes of crime; requisites of criminal liability; defenses; the rights guaranteed by the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution; undercover investigation; special issues in juvenile justice; and the highly controversial issues of capital punishment and victimization. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: BEHS 351 or CCJS 351.

CCJS 352 Drugs and Crime (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An analysis of the role of criminal justice in controlling the use and abuse of drugs. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 352 or CJUS 352.

CCJS 357 Industrial and Retail Security Administration (3)

Recommended: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An exploration of the origins of contemporary private security systems. The organization and management of protective units (industrial and retail) are examined. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 357 or CJUS 360.

CCJS 360 Victimology (3)

(Fulfills the general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences.) Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An overview of the history and theory of victimology in which patterns of victimization are analyzed, with emphasis on types of victims and of crimes. The interaction between victims of crime and the system of criminal justice is considered in terms of the role of the victim and the services that the victim is offered. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 360 or CRIM 360.

CCJS 370 Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. A historical and theoretical study of the role and treatment of racial/ethnic minorities in the criminal justice system.

CCJS 398D The Death Penalty (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An overview of the history of the death penalty as part of the criminal justice system. Topics include the theory and legal foundation behind use of the death penalty, current practices, and its application. Arguments for and against the death penalty in the United States are examined. International law and American exceptionalism are also explored.

CCJS 398P Crisis Management and Decision Making (1)

A study of the activities involved in planning, organizing, and directing immediate aid to the public and victims during emergencies. Focus is on gaining problem-solving skills using real-life situations. Topics include immediate challenges, such as controlling access, establishing and maintaining communications, evacuating residents, providing medical care, protecting crime scenes, and restoring vital community services. Theories from several disciplines are examined.

CCJS 398Q Interagency Communication (1)

An examination of the need for up-to-the-minute, accurate, specific, and reliable information and communication between governmental and private organizations. Focus is on effective organization, dissemination, and management of information and intelligence.

CCJS 398R Strategic Planning and Risk Reduction (1)

A study of threat and risk reduction and management. Topics include planning, budgeting, staffing, and directing first responders and emergency personnel. Focus is on how to create plans that strengthen security, reduce risks, and prevent attacks or minimize loss in daily operations, disasters, and emergencies. Discussion covers theories of crime, human behavior, and business management.

CCJS 400 Criminal Courts (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An examination of criminal courts in the United States at all levels. Topics include the roles of judges, prosecutors, defenders, clerks, and court administrators and the nature of their jobs; problems of administration, as well as those facing courts and prosecutors; and reform. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 400 or CJUS 400.

CCJS 411 History of Intelligence and the U.S. National Intelligence Community (3)

A study of the role that intelligence gathering has played throughout history. Focus is on U.S. national intelligence agencies and their individual and collective responsibilities with regard to intelligence. Topics include how and why the structure of the intelligence community failed in the days before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and whether the problems have been fixed.

CCJS 412 The Intelligence Cycle (3)

An exploration of the collection, evaluation, collation, analysis, and dissemination processes in the intelligence cycle. A wide array of intelligence software tools are introduced. Topics include developing intelligence products.

CCJS 413 Legal and Ethical Issues for Analysts (3)

An examination of ethical issues related to intelligence collection, the analytical process, and the use of force. Laws affecting the intelligence field are examined. Discussion also explores the strain of balancing the need for secrecy regarding intelligence activities with the need for oversight and the public’s access to information.

CCJS 420 Medical and Legal Investigations of Death (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. Recommended: CCJS 320. An intensive look at medical and legal investigations into causes of death. Topics include the difference between the medical (or pathological) and legal (or criminal) components of investigations into causes of death, medical and investigative terminology, and the impact of ethics on prosecutions and convictions. Case studies illustrate practical applications of various forensic styles and parameters.

CCJS 421 Computer Forensics (3)

Prerequisites: CCJS 100 (or CCJS 105) and IFSM 201. A study of the investigation of computer crime from both a legal and technical perspective. Focus is on acquiring the skills to efficiently and effectively collect all of the available data in connection with a computer crime. Topics include developing and executing investigative and data collection plans, collecting data from a variety of computer and network hardware components, conducting appropriate analyses, and writing forensic reports. Intrusion detection techniques are also examined. Case studies are used to develop an understanding of what happens when computer systems are compromised.

CCJS 425 Forensics Lab (3)

Prerequisites: CCJS 100 (or CCJS 105) and 320. A hands-on investigation of the laboratory methods used in detecting, investigating, and solving crimes. The practical analysis of evidence in a criminal investigation laboratory is covered. Topics include fingerprints and other impressions, documents and handwriting, footwear impressions, blood pattern analysis, and forensic anthropology.

CCJS 430 Legal and Ethical Issues in Security Management (3)

Recommended: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105; and CCJS 345 (or CCJS 445). An examination of current problems facing the security professional. Topics include legal liabilities, compliance issues, and ethical standards of organizations. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 430 or CCJS 498F.

CCJS 431 Legal and Ethical Issues in Corrections (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. Recommended: CCJS 497. An examination of problems associated with managing staff and inmates in correctional communities. Topics include constitutional rights of inmates, inmate litigation and case law, workplace ethics and principles, and employee rights and protections.

CCJS 432 Law of Corrections (3)

(Fulfills the general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences.) Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. Recommended: CCJS 497. A review of the law of criminal corrections, from sentencing to final release or release on parole. Topics include probation, punishments, special treatment for special offenders, parole and pardon, and the prisoner’s civil rights. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 432 or CRIM 432.

CCJS 433 Communicating in the Correctional Culture (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. Recommended: CCJS 497. A study of effective management and communicating models applicable to correctional communities. Correctional climate and culture, information flow, inter- and intra-personal relationships are major themes. Topics include formal and informal communication; verbal and nonverbal cues; and dissemination of rules, policies, and procedures.

CCJS 434 Reentry and Transition Issues in Corrections (3)

An examination of current programmatic and offender supervision philosophies within community correction programs, jail and prison reentry programs, parole and probation agencies, and pretrial supervision environments. Discussion covers comprehensive case management approaches intended to assist offenders while being supervised in the community. Topics include the unique reentry characteristics and social service needs of criminal offenders when they are close to release.

CCJS 453 White-Collar and Organized Crime (3)

(Fulfills the general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences.) Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An overview of the definition, detection, prosecution, sentencing, and impact of whitecollar and organized crime. Special consideration is given to the role of federal law and enforcement practices.

CCJS 454 Contemporary Criminological Theory (3)

(Fulfills the general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences.) Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. A brief historical overview of criminological theory. Topics include deviance, labeling, and typologies, as well as the most recent research on criminalistic subcultures and on middle-class delinquency. Various recent proposals for decriminalization are discussed. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 454 or CRIM 454.

CCJS 455 Theory and Principles of Executive Protection (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. A study of concepts, principles, and methods of organizing and administering a successful protective security program for corporate executives, professional athletes, entertainment celebrities, and political personalities and families who are vulnerable and at risk for harassment, stalking, assault, kidnapping, or assassination at home, in the work environment, or while traveling. The philosophy and principles of protection and the use of both physical security techniques and electronic countermeasures are examined.

CCJS 461 Psychology of Criminal Behavior (3)

(Fulfills the general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences.) Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An overview of the biological, environmental, and psychological factors that underlie criminal behavior. Characteristics of criminal behavior are reviewed. The influence of biophysiology and stress on the commission of various crimes is examined. Topics include patterns of maladjustment, disorders of the personality, psychoses, the connection between aggression and violent crime, sexual deviations and crimes that are sexually motivated, and the abuse of alcohol and drugs. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 461 or CRIM 455.

CCJS 462 Protection of Business Assets (3)

Recommended: CCJS 100 (or CCJS 105) and 345 (or CCJS 445). An examination of the application of security knowledge and techniques for the protection of business assets. Topics include security planning methods, risk analysis, security surveys, and decision making for the development of security programs and countermeasures. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 462 or CCJS 498H.

CCJS 463 Security: A Management Perspective (3)

Recommended: CCJS 100 (or CCJS 105) and 345 (or CCJS 445). An examination of concepts, strategies, and skills needed to manage security-related operations and activities. Focus is on employee/employer security. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 463 or CCJS 498K.

CCJS 470 Leadership and Time Management (4)

(Designed to enhance the skills of mid- to senior-level criminal justice practitioners.) A study of leadership and time management and their application within the criminal justice system. Discussion covers major leadership theories, including trait, behavioral, and situational power/influence (motivation). Topics also include time-management techniques, such as minimizing “time robbers,” personal planning, multitasking, holding effective meetings, and delegating responsibility.

CCJS 472 Organizational Problem Solving (4)

A study of human behavior and interactions as they relate to identifying and solving problems of employee efficiency and effectiveness within the criminal justice system. Topics include methods of distinguishing symptoms from problems, prioritizing, implementation and sustainment techniques, ethics, and decision making. Discussion also covers diversity, cynicism, personality traits, teamwork, groupthink, communication, and relationship building.

CCJS 474 Strategic Planning for Managers (4)

A study of strategic planning in the field of criminal justice, including various planning styles and the effect of the dynamic of change on the planning process. Discussion explores how to identify subtle changes with an organization, successfully implement change, and recover from efforts that fail. Topics also include techniques to minimize employee resistance.

CCJS 476 Management Efficiency and Effectiveness (4)

An in-depth analysis of efficiency and effectiveness in criminal justice departments. Emphasis is on sustainment strategies, task alignment, waste and reallocation techniques, and report writing. Topics include reasons why programs fail, methodologies of evaluation, performance management, tracking and measuring, establishing goals and objectives, and distinguishing outputs and outcomes. Discussion also covers how to perform a needs assessment for an organization, develop an implementation plan, and identify resources. Assignments include researching and analyzing examples of efficiency and effectiveness within one’s own organization.

CCJS 486A Internship in Criminal Justice Through Co-op (3)

Prerequisites: 12 credits in criminal justice, including CCJS 100 or CCJS 105, and formal admission to the Co-op program (program requirements are listed on p. 246). An opportunity to combine academic theory with new, career-related experience in criminal justice. At least 12 hours per week must be devoted to new tasks for a minimum of 180 hours during the Co-op session; four new tasks must be delineated in the Learning Proposal; and the course requirements must be completed. May be repeated upon approval of a new Learning Proposal that demonstrates new tasks and objectives related to criminal justice and that continues to advance application of academic theory in the workplace. Students may earn up to 15 credits in all internship coursework through Co-op toward a first bachelor’s degree and up to 9 credits toward a second bachelor’s degree. Co-op credits may not be used for general education requirements and, unless otherwise specified, no more than 6 Co-op credits may be used in the academic major and minor (combined).

CCJS 486B Internship in Criminal Justice Through Co-op (6)

Prerequisites: 12 credits in criminal justice, including CCJS 100 or CCJS 105, and formal admission to the Co-op program (program requirements are listed on p. 246). An opportunity to combine academic theory with new, career-related experience in criminal justice. At least 20 hours per week must be devoted to new tasks for a total of 300 hours during the Co-op session; five to eight new tasks must be delineated in the Learning Proposal; and the course requirements must be completed. May be repeated upon approval of a new Learning Proposal that demonstrates new tasks and objectives related to criminal justice and that continues to advance application of academic theory in the workplace. Students may earn up to 15 credits in all internship coursework through Co-op toward a first bachelor’s degree and up to 9 credits toward a second bachelor’s degree. Co-op credits may not be used for general education requirements and, unless otherwise specified, no more than 6 Co-op credits may be used in the academic major and minor (combined).

CCJS 491 Institutional Security (3)

Recommended: CCJS 100 (or CCJS 105) and 345 (or CCJS 445). A survey of the security needs, methods, and technology of military, medical, academic, and other professional institutions. The integration of security concerns with other aspects of management is examined. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 491 or CCJS 498E.

CCJS 495 Criminal Trial Issues (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 230. An intensive study of the latest constitutional developments in the ever-changing areas of search and seizure, confessions, trial procedure, punishment, and appeals. Focus is on past and current trends of the U.S. Supreme Court in applying the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to federal as well as state law-enforcement practices. Supreme Court case decisions and cases pending review and decision provide an opportunity to understand the doctrinal development of controlling principles and to predict future developments. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 495 or CCJS 498A.

CCJS 496 Computer Crime and Security (3)

Prerequisites: CCJS 100 (or CCJS 105) and IFSM 201. An examination of crimes involving the use of computers. Topics include federal and state laws and investigative and preventive methods used to secure computers. Case studies emphasize security. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 496 or CCJS 498C.

CCJS 497 Correctional Administration (3)

Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An introduction to concepts of organization and management as they relate to the field of corrections. Topics include the history of corrections, institutional structure and classification, policy and procedures, communication and authority, division of work, inmate discipline and due process, organizational culture, security, technology changes, and relationships with other components of the criminal justice system. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 497 or CCJS 498D.

CCJS 498J Criminal Justice and the Media (1)

An in-depth analysis of the effect of the news media on crime levels and public fear of crime. The relationship between media coverage and public perception is explored as well as the media’s role in crime prevention.