JUSTICE POLICY (CRJ) COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
5053 History of Justice Policy Development
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
The history and development of crime control policy in America. Studies sources of policy initiatives (e.g., economics, law, social conditions, political environment); criminal justice policy process, dynamics of policy formation, and implementation and evaluation. (Formerly CRJ 5023. Credit cannot be earned for both CRJ 5053 and CRJ 5023.)
5073 Research Methods
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: CRJ 3013 or equivalent.
Introduction to methodologies used in justice research. Topics include research design, sampling theory, data collection, measurement, and analysis.
5083 Quantitative Analysis
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: CRJ 5073 or equivalent.
Advanced practice in research design, quantitative techniques, and statistical software used in criminal justice research. Familiarizes students with conventions for statistical report writing and data presentation.
5123 Justice Policy Formation and Implementation
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Detailed study of policy formation and implementation process, stakeholder networks, agenda setting, policy crafting, constituency building, consideration of alternatives, political decision making and resolution, short-term and long-term implementation issues, and role of evaluation and evaluators.
5133 Management of Justice Organizations
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
The study of management theory, organizational dynamics, leadership and administration research related to public and private justice organizations, case studies and simulations of common administrative problems, operational policies, and implementation and evaluation.
5323 Criminal Justice Program Evaluation
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: CRJ 5083 or equivalent.
Introduction to program evaluation strategies and methods. Surveys implementation, process, and outcome evaluation research designs and the utilization of both quantitative and qualitative analytic techniques. Ethical dilemmas and real-world barriers common to evaluation are examined.
6103 Seminar on Topics in Theory of Crime and Justice
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Consideration of selected topics related to the theory of crime and justice. Explores particular theories or perspectives of crime and its implications for justice policy. Topics may focus on traditional or emerging theories of crime and justice. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.
6113 Advanced Research Applications
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: CRJ 5083 or equivalent.
Survey of multivariate statistical techniques. Advanced practice conducting quantitative analyses using criminal history, offender tracking, and other justice policy information systems. Introduction to problems of data manipulation and interpretation using common agency or other relevant databases.
6123 Seminar on Topics in Research Methods
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: CRJ 5083 or equivalent.
Study of qualitative or quantitative methods not addressed as part of the regular course offerings. Topics may include systems analysis in criminal justice, interrupted time-series analysis, and qualitative methods in criminal justice research. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.
6203 Seminar on Topics in Corrections Policy
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Consideration of selected topics in the field of corrections. Topics may include offender classification, case management, pretrial supervision, management of confinement facilities, juvenile justice, special needs populations, comparative corrections, offender re-entry, restorative justice, and criminal sanctions on individuals or corporations. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.
6213 Gender Issues in the Criminal Justice System
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to provide students with an overview of gender issues in the criminal justice system. The course integrates research design and both qualitative and quantitative methods to develop a graduate level understanding of gender and justice policy issues. Students will learn to examine issues and problems associated with changes in the representation of men and women in justice organizations, explore the internal/psychological and structural barriers to equal treatment of men and women in the justice system, as well as examine employment and policy decisions within a framework of traditional and non-traditional gender role expectations and justice system needs.
6223 Ethics and the Practice of Social Control
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Survey of the major schools of ethics theory; sources of the ethical and philosophical foundations for justice, social control, and criminal justice functions; common ethical quandaries confronting formal agencies of social control; the role of law, facts, and values in ethical use of formal social control. Externalities related to operational, administrative, and political decision making.
6233 Minorities in the Criminal Justice System
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
This course is an interdisciplinary exploration of the historical and contemporary differences and similarities in the study of minorities within the criminal justice system. The course integrates a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives used in the past to study minority issues and to empirically test the most important ideas concerning these topics. Topics for discussion may include the following: deviance, juvenile delinquency, substance use, gang membership, images of criminality, as well as involvement with police, courts, and correctional institutions.
6303 Seminar on Topics in Policing and Crime Control
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Consideration of selected topics related to police and private sector crime control practices. Topics may include the roles, responsibilities and limitations of public and private enforcement; surveillance, use of force, minority relations, extralegal practices, labor relations, security operations, terrorism, and national security. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.
6313 Survey of Best Practices in Policing
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Consideration of the measurement of police effectiveness within the context of contemporary policing strategies. Examination of the impact that police have on crime as well as the role that police discretion plays in everyday
police work.
6353 Jury Trials in American Jurisprudence
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Opportunity for advanced study of jury trials. Focus on readings and cases that impact jury selection, deliberations, outcomes, peremptory challenges, juror stress and jury nullification.
6363 Paradigms of Justice Policy
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: CRJ 5123 or equivalent.
Examination of the major paradigms of justice policy from early deistic and philosophical perspectives to modern and postmodern perspectives of social justice, and exploration of policy implications of these perspectives.
6373 Crime Theory and Justice Policy
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Examination of theoretical perspectives on crime and their impact on justice policy. Includes progression of criminology as an interdisciplinary field, theory construction and evaluation, and approaches to preventing and controlling crime in the United States.
6403 Seminar on Topics in Law, Society and Justice Policy
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Consideration of selected topics related to law and society issues. Topics may include decision making by groups or individuals, criminal law and courts, international law, sentencing reforms, and history of law. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.
6951,3 Independent Study
1 or 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and permission in writing (form available) of the instructor and the student’s Graduate Advisor of Record.
Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a faculty member. For students needing specialized work not usually available as part of the regular course offerings. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 hours will apply to the Master’s degree.
6961 Comprehensive Examination
1 hour credit. Prerequisite: Approval of the Graduate Program Committee to take the Comprehensive Examination.
Independent study course for the purpose of completing the Comprehensive Examination requirement. May be repeated as many times as approved by the Graduate Program Committee. Enrollment is required each term in which the Comprehensive Examination is taken if no other courses are being taken that term. The grade report for the course is either “CR” (satisfactory performance on the Comprehensive Examination) or “NC” (unsatisfactory performance on the Comprehensive Examination).
6983,6 Justice Policy Research Project
3 or 6 hours credit. Prerequisites: Permission of the Graduate Advisor of Record and Faculty Thesis Advisor.
A policy research project of thesis quality involving interaction with one or more justice agencies, conducted by the student under the supervision of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but no more than 6 hours
may be applied to the Master’s degree. Credit will be awarded upon submission and acceptance of the formal
research report.
6991,3,6 Master’s Thesis
1, 3, or 6 hours credit. Prerequisites: Permission of the Graduate Advisor of Record and Faculty Thesis Advisor.
Thesis research and preparation. May be repeated for credit but no more than 6 hours will apply to the Master’s degree. Credit will be awarded upon completion of the thesis. Enrollment is required each term in which the thesis is in progress.
