Criminal Justice Courses

JUS 101 - Survey of Criminal Justice

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

Survey of Criminal Justice provides an overview of criminal justice systems in the United States. Topics include the history, development and philosophy of criminal justice in our society, including the systemic inequities that presently exist. The course includes an introduction to agencies involved in the administration of criminal justice; career orientation; as well as a discussion of the constitutional limitations of criminal justice.

Offered Online: Yes
General Education Fulfillment: Cultural Analysis and Interpretation

JUS 105 - Introduction to Corporate and Homeland Security

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

Focuses on the needs, operations and administration of corporate and Homeland Security. The course stresses not only the past and current developments of security in the United States, but also the general functions of security operations, including asset protection, access control, investigations and management of emergency situations. The functions of security administration are also studied, including management, training and human resource management. The issues of Homeland Security will be emphasized in light of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which have dramatically altered the focus of security operations. 

Prerequisite:

JUS 101

JUS 121 - Legal Issues in Justice and Human Services

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

The purpose of the course is to familiarize students with the full range of legal issues emanating from the interaction of justice with human services. These issues may include mental health laws, commitment procedures, correctional law, and rights and liabilities of justice professionals and clients. 

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

JUS 101

JUS 122 - Race and Justice

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

This course will explore the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, crime and the functioning of the criminal justice system, more specifically law enforcement and the courts. Students will examine the impact of race and ethnicity on the type of criminal activities and the response or reaction particularly of law enforcement as a representative of our society. Students will analyze other factors (such as social status, circumstances, and resources) and how they intersect with the system. Students will review the research that exists dealing with the topic of race, ethnicity, and crime to analyze integral parts of the social construction of "criminality."

Offered Online: Yes
General Education Fulfillment: Cultural Analysis and Interpretation

JUS 131 - Technology in Criminal Justice

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

This course introduces students to the use of technology in the criminal justice field. The course will provide students with hands-on, practical experience using software programs developed for criminal justice. The course will also address legal and ethical considerations in the use of technology. Prerequisites: JUS 101, which may be taken concurrently. 

Offered Online: Yes
General Education Fulfillment: Technological Competency

JUS 151 - Police Operations

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

The study of line activities of criminal justice agencies. Topics studied include patrol functions, crime prevention, traffic, criminal investigations and specialized units such as juvenile and vice. 

Prerequisite:

JUS 101

JUS 171 - Juvenile Justice

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

Problems of delinquency, interdisciplinary communication and diversion of selected juvenile offenders from the formal justice system. Each component of the system—police, courts, probation and community corrections—is analyzed and recommendations for improvement are considered. The community and the schools and their role in delinquency prevention.

Offered Online: Yes

JUS 181 - Community Relations

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

The numerous and complex factors in human relations and their effects on the justice system. Prejudice and discrimination and their effects and implications for police, courts and corrections in a changing and interactive society. History and development of civil rights and liberties. 

Prerequisite:

JUS 101

JUS 191 - Victimology and Trauma

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

This course focuses on the criminal justice system from the perspective of the victim. It helps students develop an understanding of what victims may encounter while navigating the criminal justice system. The crimes studied include domestic violence, stalking, terrorism, gang-related violence, and murder. Additional topics include the dynamics of victimization; reporting methods and underreported crimes; theories of victimization (historic and current); indicators and prevention of victimization; social media and fear of crime; victims' rights; and community resources available to crime victims.

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

JUS 101, which may be taken concurrently.

JUS 201 - Introduction to Terrorism

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

This course considers the history of terrorism, the evolution of the definition of terrorism and the nature of both international and domestic terrorist groups, including the effect of modern technology on the activities of such groups. 

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

JUS 101

JUS 221 - Criminal Investigation

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

The principles and methods of investigating criminal offenses will be discussed, to include: history, theories and problems of criminal investigations; crime scene searches; collection, preservation and the recording of physical evidence; impartial gathering of information; interview and interrogation methods; identification of modus operandi and sources of information; scientific and technological aids to investigating; and the development and handling of confidential informants. 

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

JUS 101

JUS 235 - American Correctional Institutions

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

The focus of the course is on the institutionally-based aspect of the correctional system. The historical responses to crime and delinquency, theories underlying those responses, the impact of imprisonment, and measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of incarceration are highlighted. The degree to which the variables of sex, race and social class influence correctional policy is also addressed. 

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

JUS 101

JUS 237 - Community-Based Corrections

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

The focus of the course is on the community-based aspect of the correctional system. Strategies of supervision used in probation and parole, theories underlying these strategies and evaluative methods of assessing the impact of these strategies are highlighted. Particular emphasis will be given to the role of the helping relationship in the probation/parole agency setting. 

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

JUS 101

JUS 241 - Criminal Law

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

Local, state and federal laws; their development, application and enforcement. 

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

JUS 101 or PLS 101

JUS 251 - Comparative Police Systems

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

Police systems throughout the world; attention to the applications of particular techniques to American systems of criminal justice. 

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

JUS 101

JUS 261 - Criminal Evidence and Procedure

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

Criminal evidence for police; types of evidence; criminal procedure and various courts; arrest, search and seizure; collection of evidence; discretion and related topics. 

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

JUS 101

JUS 281 - Organized Crime

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

A foundation course in systematic criminality which examines those criminal organizations whose method of operation includes fear, violence and corruption to achieve strategic and tactical goals. The course investigates these highly-structured, perpetual organizations as well as law enforcement responses to them. 

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

JUS 101 or permission of the department head.

JUS 291 - Contemporary Ethical Issues in Justice

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

In this course students examine the role of ethical principles and behavior that permeate every aspect of the criminal justice system and apply these ethical concepts to contemporary and emerging issues in criminal justice. The specific topics discussed within each area will vary based, in part, on current trends and official court rulings in our judicial system.

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

JUS 241

JUS 298 - Criminal Justice Internship

2-0-10-3
Credit Hours: 3

This course provides students with practical experience in which they apply the knowledge learned throughout the Criminal Justice program in a work environment for a minimum of 100 hours during the semester. In weekly seminars and individual meetings with the course instructor, students explore career options, develop confidence as professionals and acquire career development skills.

Prerequisite:

JUS 241 and permission of the Department Head.