Criminology

This course introduces the field of criminology and provides a broad overview of sociological and interdisciplinary theories for criminal behavior. Students investigate several theories and research on crime and consider how they relate to policies for crime prevention and control.

We examine the social, economic, and ideological causes and solutions of issues such as inequality, racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty, crime and violence, drug abuse, and human population and environmental change. We will also examine the roles of policymakers, social advocates, and the media in the process of defining social problems.

This course will examine the nature and extent of juvenile delinquency, risk and protective factors of juvenile delinquency, prevention and early intervention programs targeting youth, and rehabilitation programs for juvenile offenders. Included therein are discussions of the history, theories, policies, and practices of the juvenile justice system.

A variable topics course which allows instructors to present different developments, problems, and controversies within and surrounding the justice system. The course offers students an opportunity for the advanced study of a special topic in crime, criminology, or criminal justice practice. The course content may vary from year to year in response to new and emerging theoretical and practical issues in the field. May be repeated as different topics to a maximum of nine semester hours. May also be repeated as different topics during the same semester.

This course introduces the main components of the criminal justice system including, but not limited to, policing, courts, and corrections. Students will explore how the criminal justice system operates at various levels as well as how it functions within and between prevailing socio-political and cultural forces.

This course explores domestic and family violence, covering its causes, effects, and societal responses. Students will learn through theory and case studies, developing skills in intervention and support to help prevent and mitigate violence, aiming to prepare future professionals for impactful roles.

Explore the field of victimology, examining victimization’s scope, causes, and responses in the U.S. and globally. This course delves into the latest research, including cyber victimization, trauma neurobiology, and LGBTQ+ issues, focusing on the interplay between victims, justice systems, and social services.

This course explores ways in which deviant behavior is socially constructed and how individuals are labeled and stigmatized. It also examines how mechanisms of social control are activated and challenged, as well as treatment methods related to deviancy. Theoretical formulations regarding deviant behavior are analyzed from sociological and criminological perspectives.

This course focuses on the history, theories, policies, and practices inherent to corrections. Students will learn about philosophies of punishment and social control, examine the intricacies of both institutional and community corrections, study inmate culture, and explore the difficulties inherent to community reintegration post-incarceration.

This course offers a comparative study of global criminal justice systems, highlighting their diversity and commonalities with a focus on the United States. It covers the evolution of modern criminology, examines varying legal systems, and explores new global crimes, providing students with an international perspective on criminal justice.

Students will consolidate their understanding of the criminology field by conducting research and/or completing a significant experiential learning project. The work will culminate in a paper and oral presentation to the faculty. The project will be completed with support of a Criminology faculty member.

This course introduces the field of criminology and provides a broad overview of sociological and interdisciplinary theories for criminal behavior. Students investigate several theories and research on crime and consider how they relate to policies for crime prevention and control.

We examine the social, economic, and ideological causes and solutions of issues such as inequality, racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty, crime and violence, drug abuse, and human population and environmental change. We will also examine the roles of policymakers, social advocates, and the media in the process of defining social problems.

This course explores ways in which deviant behavior is socially constructed and how individuals are labeled and stigmatized. It also examines how mechanisms of social control are activated and challenged, as well as treatment methods related to deviancy. Theoretical formulations regarding deviant behavior are analyzed from sociological and criminological perspectives.

This course will examine the nature and extent of juvenile delinquency, risk and protective factors of juvenile delinquency, prevention and early intervention programs targeting youth, and rehabilitation programs for juvenile offenders. Included therein are discussions of the history, theories, policies, and practices of the juvenile justice system.