Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration

3 Credits

This course introduces students to the constitutional foundations and governing institutions of the federal government. Throughout the course, students address common political themes, such as the nature and scope of governance, democracy, and patterns of political behavior.

3 Credits

This course is an introductory overview of the organization and jurisdictions of local, state, and federal law enforcement, judicial and corrections agencies, and processes involved in the criminal justice systems. It examines the historical aspects of the police, the courts, and the correctional system, as well as the philosophy. Additionally, career opportunities and qualifying requirements, terminology, and constitutional limitations of the system will be covered.

3 Credits

This course is an introduction to the set of perspectives on human life that allows us to understand how our personal lives are affected by our place in society. It explores ways of looking at the world that allow us to understand how the events and experiences of our lives are part of group dynamics, of social institutions, and of cultural meanings. It allows us to see personal events and meanings as affected by historical forces and to see how historical events may be shaped by personal choices.

3 Credits

This course introduces the topics of critical and creative thinking. This overview course defines and differentiates the two topics, and helps students explore how personal beliefs are formed and evaluated. Special attention is placed on how critical and creative thinking are used to create solutions to problems encountered by criminal justice and security personnel.

3 Credits

This course provides students with an introduction to the organization, administration, and functions of American state and local governments. The relationship between state and federal governments is also analyzed.

3 Credits

This course is an introduction and overview of the legal system, the participants, the courtroom process, and post conviction process of the court system. It demonstrates the connection among all participants and how they relate to each other. Additionally, the course covers the history of the court system and the different types of court at the state and federal levels.

3 Credits

This course provides an introduction to forensic science. This survey course is developed specifically for non-science majors to familiarize them with the different forensic science disciplines, the types of examinations crime laboratories conduct, and how forensic science is applied in current American criminal justice systems. Students gain a basic understanding of the principles of science, specifically the scientific method and its application.

3 Credits

This course is an introduction to the study of personality. The course examines theoretical explanations for understanding personality development and explores each theory. The course also investigates how personality is assessed. The focus is on approaches that psychology has developed for understanding personality and on applications for organizational processes.

3 Credits

This course is a general introduction to the field of juvenile justice, including an overview of the juvenile justice system and the differences between dependency and delinquency. Students address current problems facing juveniles, and compare adult and juvenile justice systems. Special attention is given to the problems inherent in the police handling of juveniles, the function of juvenile courts, sentencing, and future juvenile justice system issues.

3 Credits

This course offers a survey of the major historical developments, structural cosmology, symbolic interpretation, and values of the Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, and Shinto traditions.

3 Credits

This course provides a survey of the major historical developments, structural cosmology, symbolic interpretation, and values of the Judaic, Christian, and Islamic religious traditions.

3 Credits

This is an introductory course in the study of criminal law, general legal principles, and how the criminal law functions in and affects modern society. This course highlights a variety of key topics, including the concept of crime and the development of criminal law, defenses to criminal charges, and a number of specific types of crimes, including personal crimes, property crimes, public order crimes, and offenses against public morality. Legal issues affecting punishment will also be discussed, as will ways the criminal law impacts victims of crime.

3 Credits

This course explores the basic core knowledge of constitutional criminal procedure. Emphasis is placed on the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, searches and seizures, interrogations and confessions, identifications, and pretrial and trial processes. In addition, the United States Constitution, as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court, is examined along with philosophical policy considerations. Application of core knowledge is developed through simulation exercises and examination of homeland security issues.

3 Credits

This course is a survey of the origins and development of organized crime in the United States. It examines the structure and activities of organized criminal enterprises, considers different models that have been employed to describe organized crime groups, and explores theories that have been advanced to explain the phenomenon. Major investigations of organized crime and legal strategies that have been developed to combat it are also considered.