Criminal Justice Minor
Mission Statement
The mission of the criminology and criminal justice department is to instill in the student a respect for the rights of all persons before and after coming into contact with the criminal justice system. We also desire to imbue in our students a commitment to a series of values that prepare them for leadership but also provide them with the ability to think critically with respect to the important issues facing them.
An overview of the design and functioning of the criminal justice system in the United States. The nature and extent of crime, criminal procedure, the constitutional basis for due process, principles of the criminal law, and the agencies of criminal justice will be examined.
Credit Hours: 3
Examines philosophy and administration of the juvenile justice system. Incorporates social science research and case law to understand the system. Focus devoted to: (1) history of juvenile justice, (2) theoretical explanations of juvenile delinquency, (3) family, school, and cultural influences on juvenile behavior, and (4) interventions for juvenile offenders.
Credit Hours: 3
Historical and contemporary perspectives on the causes of crime and deviance in society and the treatment of offenders. Major social, psychological, and economic theories will be assessed. Nonbehavioral science perspectives will also be examined.
Credit Hours: 3
The history and state-of-the-art in evaluating the police role in the community in attempting to balance peace, order and individual rights. Influential theoretical and empirical studies of police discretion, attitudes, and corruption will be examined. Other topics include: the effect of Supreme Court decisions on police practices, evaluating police performance and policewomen.
Credit Hours: 3
Credit Hours: 3