The American Criminal Justice System coursework

Criminal Justice (CRJ) Course Descriptions

Department of Criminal Justice, College of Public Policy

CRJ 1113  The American Criminal Justice System [TCCN: CRIJ 1301.]
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Philosophy and history of criminal justice in America; examination of criminal justice agencies operating as an interacting system: police and security agencies, courts, and corrections.

CRJ 2153  Nature of Crime and Justice
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
A multidisciplinary survey of theories of crime causation and social control. Major topics covered include: theory construction, theory-methods, symmetry, evaluating theory, theoretical integration, and applied criminology.

CRJ 2213  Introduction to Policing [TCCN: CRIJ 2328.]
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
An introduction to American policing organizations (public and private), history of policing, modern community policing practices, and important trends in law enforcement.

CRJ 2513  Introduction to Corrections [TCCN: CRIJ 2313.]
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
A study of the history, philosophy, and practice of corrections in America. Theories and practices of incarceration; legal and administrative issues surrounding imprisonment and the death penalty. (Formerly titled “Corrections: Theory and Practice.”)

CRJ 2813  Introduction to Courts and the Legal System [TCCN: CRIJ 1306.]
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Examines state and federal American court systems, their powers, remedies, limitations, and procedures; and the contributions of courts to governance.

CRJ 3013  Research Design and Analysis in Criminal Justice
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Completion of 3 hours of college-level mathematics or statistics.
Provides students with an opportunity to be knowledgeable consumers of criminal justice research. Provides an overview of principles of scientific inquiry, research designs, and statistical concepts and techniques. Introduction to interpretation of data analysis and preparation of research reports.

CRJ 3213  Managing Criminal Justice Organizations
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Examines bureaucratic, political and other characteristics of justice organizations through a review of theories of public administration and organizational behavior. Applies theories to problems and policies encountered in managing criminal justice agencies.

CRJ 3233  Introduction to Forensic Science
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Enrollment limited to upper-division criminal justice majors.
This course will expose students to the nature of physical evidence and its part in our criminal justice system, an introduction to basic scientific and legal principles involved with the utilization of physical evidence, and exposure to specific items of physical evidence to include their components, manufacture, methods of analysis, and value in case work.

CRJ 3533  Probation, Parole and Intermediate Sanctions
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
History, philosophy, and practice of community supervision of offenders. Examination of various intermediate punishments including boot camps, intensive probation supervision, electronic monitoring, restitution, and community service.

CRJ 3563  Juvenile Justice
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Examination of the history of adolescence and the development of the juvenile justice system. An in-depth study of police, courts and corrections as applied to youth. Consideration of youth as both offenders and victims. Topics include child abuse, youth gangs, waiver/transfer of youth to the adult court and juvenile offending.

CRJ 3573  Restorative Justice
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Provides students with a detailed study of the principles and practices of restorative justice aimed at creating a just peace within a community, a just public order for the community, vindication for victims and opportunities for accountability and restoration to offenders.

CRJ 3613  Legal Research and Writing
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Detailed study of theory and practice of legal research. Development and refinement of legal writing techniques. (Same as LGS 3013. Credit cannot be earned for both CRJ 3613 and LGS 3013.)

CRJ 3623  Substantive Criminal Law
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Jurisprudential philosophy and case study of common law and statutory crimes. Includes functions and development of substantive criminal law, elements of specific offenses, and defenses.

CRJ 3633  Trial and Evidence
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Issues and problems of proof in civil and criminal trials, admissibility, examining witnesses, constitutional considerations, and exclusionary rules.

CRJ 3713  Ethics in Criminal Justice Practice
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Survey of major schools of ethics theory; sources of ethical and philosophical foundations for criminal justice functions; common quandaries confronting officers, supervisors, and executives in justice organizations. Examines the role of criminal justice within modern civil societies.

CRJ 4113  Intimate and Family Violence
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Historical, social, and legal responses and policies of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and child abuse. Characteristics of victims and perpetrators of violence, and the progression and cycle of violence are examined. In-depth study of the process of violent victimization and victimizing.

CRJ 4123  Investigations
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Examination of the investigative process. Focus on the history, structure, and success rates of investigation units, theories of investigation, and the information that is used to produce case clearances. (Formerly titled “Concepts of Investigations.”)

CRJ 4143  Legal Issues in Forensic Science
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Examination of statutory and case law governing the admissibility of scientific evidence at trial, focusing on the constitutional, statutory, and administrative regulations and restrictions on the collection, analysis, and usage of forensic evidence; study of the roles and responsibilities of expert witnesses.

CRJ 4303  Victimology
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
This course will familiarize students with victimology concepts, theories, and literature as a field of study within criminology. Topics may include nature and incidence of victimization, victim and offender relationships, victim justice, victim rights and services. Consideration may be given to responses to victims with special needs and crime prevention strategies. (Formerly titled “Victims and the Justice System.”)

CRJ 4403  Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
This course examines experiences of racial and ethnic groups in the criminal justice system. Topics include: the nature and extent of overrepresentation by racial and ethnic minorities as justice system clients, culture-specific crime and victimization patterns, research evidence and theoretical explanations for these patterns. (Formerly CRJ 4313. Credit cannot be earned for both CRJ 4403 and CRJ 4313.)

CRJ 4413  Contemporary Police Practices
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
A survey of leading research-based law enforcement practices for crime prevention and problem solving.

CRJ 4443  Special Topics in Policing and Crime Prevention
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Considers special topics in policing and crime prevention not ordinarily evaluated in depth in other courses, such as comparative policing systems, personnel issues, police civil and criminal liabilities, job satisfaction and stress, diversity issues, ethics, police use of force, and future of policing. May be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor's degree.

CRJ 4453  Drugs and Crime
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
An overview of the scope and role of drugs in society and the relationship between illicit substances and crime. Leading theories of drug use and enforcement will be surveyed. Major topics include: the social construction of drug issues, the war on drugs, drug control policy, and the function of drugs in popular cultural mediums. Contemporary topics to be examined include: asset forfeiture, the confidential informant role in drug enforcement, drug ethnography, corrections-based substance abuse treatment, and drug enforcement strategies.

CRJ 4463  Gender and Crime
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
This course examines gender differences in criminal offending and victimization. Topics also include traditional and gender-specific theories offered to explain female involvement in crime, the experience of female victims and offenders in the criminal justice system, and women working in the criminal justice system. (Formerly CRJ 4313. Credit cannot be earned for both CRJ 4463 and CRJ 4313.)

CRJ 4523  Special Topics in Forensic Science
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
In-depth examination and analysis of issues in forensic science beyond topics covered in CRJ 3233 Introduction to Forensic Science. May be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor's degree.

CRJ 4563  Special Topics in Juvenile Justice
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Considers special and contemporary topics in juvenile justice not ordinarily considered in other courses. May be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor's degree.

CRJ 4613  Supervising the Correctional Client
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Examines the components of effective supervision of correctional clients, including risk and needs assessment. Provides skills for successful face-to-face encounters with correctional clients. Study of service delivery programs tailored to the specific needs of the correctional clients.

CRJ 4633  Constitutional Criminal Procedure
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
A procedurally oriented discussion of criminal law, including law of arrest, search and seizure, preliminary examination, bail, the grand jury, indictment and information, arraignment, trial, and review.

CRJ 4653  White Collar Crime
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Study of the theory, nature, scope, and impact of occupational, political, and organizational/corporate crime. Comparison of white collar crime to street crime. Examination of the structural foundations for these types of crimes and current and future systems for control of white collar crimes.

CRJ 4663  Special Topics in Corrections
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Considers special topics in corrections not ordinarily evaluated in depth in other courses, such as the death penalty, special correctional populations, and correctional administration. May be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor's degree. (Formerly titled “Special Topics in Corrections and Juvenile Justice.”)

CRJ 4833  Violent Crime
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Examination of various forms of violence including homicide, robbery, assault and rape. Discussion of major theories of violent personal behavior and examination of historical and current data on violent crime. Consideration of rates of violent crime, how these rates have changed, and factors that contribute to violent crimes.

CRJ 4843  Study Abroad: International Criminal Justice
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
A lecture/seminar course associated with a study abroad program related to the study of cross-cultural differences in crime and applications of criminal justice systems and practice. Involves international travel and field trips. May be repeated for credit when the destination country varies.

CRJ 4853  Sex Crimes and the Law
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Examination of the nature and etiology of the major categories of sexual offending and overview of contemporary justice system responses.

CRJ 4863  Special Topics in Legal Issues and Adjudication
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Considers special topics in courts and adjudication not ordinarily evaluated in depth in other courses, such as judicial administration, specialized courts, judicial intervention and emerging areas of criminal law. May be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor's degree.

CRJ 4913  Independent Study
3 hours credit. Prerequisites: Permission in writing (form available) of the instructor, the student’s advisor, the Department Chair, and Dean of the College in which the course is offered.
Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree.

CRJ 4933  Internship in Criminal Justice
3 hours credit. Prerequisites: CRJ 2153, CRJ 3213, and CRJ 3623; consent of academic advisor and Internship Coordinator.
Supervised experience in an administrative setting that provides the opportunity to integrate theory and practice in justice-related agencies. May be repeated for credit in a subsequent semester when agency setting varies, but not more than 6 semester credit hours will apply to a bachelor’s degree.

CRJ 4953  Special Studies in Criminal Justice
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
An organized course offering the opportunity for specialized study not normally or not often available as part of regular course offerings. May be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree.

CRJ 4993  Honors Thesis
3 hours credit. Prerequisites: Enrollment limited to candidates for Honors in Criminal Justice during the last two semesters; completion of honors examination and approval by the honors program coordinator.
Supervised research and preparation of an honors thesis. May be repeated once with advisor’s approval.