Course Descriptions

This course is an introduction to the philosophical and historical background of the American criminal justice system. Discussed are the organization, operation and processes of the justice system components: police, courts, and corrections. 47 contact hours.

Prerequisites: REA 0001 and Program Director permission. This course provides the students with an overview of crime prevention and analysis. Students will learn the theories and methods of crime prevention. They will also learn analytic techniques to gauge the relative merit of specific crime prevention efforts. Areas will include the development of crime prevention as a field of criminological inquiry, as well as data sources that assist in analyzing crime patterns and the effectiveness of prevention efforts. 47 contact hours.

Prerequisite: permission of the program director. This course introduces the student to the interrelationship of gangs, drug trafficking, conspiracy, and terrorism. The course is designed to provide the student with knowledge of legal elements of a criminal conspiracy to include terrorism operations, drug interdiction, and gang organizations. 47 contact hours.

Prerequisite: Program Director's Approval. This course is an examination of the unique problems that are associated with the institution of corrections. The student will be introduced to the philosophies, history, contemporary issues, and sentencing. The student will also examine the issues of race and gender as they are associated with corrections. 32 contact hours.

This course provides students with an overview of street gangs, the social factors, and the general classifications necessary for the law enforcement, corrections, and public safety professional. This course explores the history, membership, activity, current trends, and influence of street gangs. Students will be challenged to define community-based solutions, and strategies to combat the criminal activity associated with street gangs. 47 contact hours.

Prerequisite: permission of the program director. This course provides the student with the knowledge and strategies to vigorously target, investigate, prosecute and prevent resurgence of criminal street gangs. This course provides an overview of the origins of gangs, the relationship between gangs and organized crime, and the identification and investigation of criminal street gang members and organizations. The student will explore the factors and programs that can deter and impact gang membership, and the prosecution of encountered criminal street gangs throughout the country. 47 contact hours.

Prerequisite: Program Director's Approval. This course is an examination of psychology of human behavior as it relates to crime. The student will be introduced to psychopathology, the sexually violent offender, and serial murder. The student will also examine violent juvenile offenders and the process of psychological conditioning which allows them to commit violent criminal acts. 47 contact hours.

Prerequisite: CCJ 1020. This introductory course will examine research strategies, data collection, and data analysis in the investigation of questions which arise in criminology and criminal justice. Particular focus will be placed on understanding the role, theory, and functions of the research process for criminal justice professionals. 47 contact hours.

Prerequisite: Permission of Program Director. This course is designed to provide students with supervised work experience in public safety or social service institutions that deal in the prevention, intervention, suppression, or prosecution of gang crime or activity. This work experience may be voluntary or paid and is at the discretion of the institution. The student must fulfill the requirement of a minimum of 60 hours on the job work experience. The student will be required to complete writing assignments related to the work experience. 47 contact hours.

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