Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Home Page
Faculty
Finn-Aage Esbensen, E. Des Lee Professor of Youth Crime and Violence, Chairperson
Ph.D., University of Colorado
Robert Bursik, Curators' Professor
Ph.D., University of Chicago
Richard Rosenfeld, Curators' Professor
Ph.D., University of Oregon
Richard Wright, Curators' Professor
Ph.D., University of Cambridge
Janet L. Lauritsen, Professor
Ph.D., University of Illinois-Urbana
Beth Marie Huebner, Associate Professor, Ph.D. Director
Ph.D., Michigan State University
David Klinger, Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Washington
Kristin Carbone-Lopez, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
Stephanie DiPietro, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Maryland
Lee Ann Slocum, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Maryland
Terrance J. Taylor, Assistant Professor
Ph.D. University of Nebraska
Timothy Maher, Associate Teaching Professor, Undergraduate Director, Undergraduate Advisor
Ph. D., University of Missouri-St. Louis
G. David Curry, Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., University of Chicago
Allen E. Wagner, Associate Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Washington University
Kristy Matsuda, Assistant Research Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Irvine
Dena Carson, Assistant Research Professor
Ph.D. University of Missouri-St. Louis
Criminology and criminal justice faculty represent several academic disciplines. By integrating practice with theory, faculty members are able to present a comprehensive picture of crime and the justice system. This nexus of theory and application is found most directly in the department's emphasis on understanding policy in criminology and criminal justice. All components of crime and justice are represented in the curriculum including criminal behavior, delinquency, crime prevention, arrest, prosecution, defense, court processing, probation, prison, and parole. A special feature of the program is the cadre of local professionals who supplement the regular faculty.
General Information
Degrees and Areas of Concentration
The department
offers courses leading to the Bachelor of Science, the Master of Arts,
and Ph.D. in criminology and criminal justice.
Cooperative Programs
Faculty members in the criminology and criminal justice department hold appointments as fellows in the Center for International Studies and the Women's and Gender Studies Program. Workshops, projects, credit courses, and other social services are brought to the criminal justice community.
Internships
Majors are strongly encouraged to participate in CRIMIN 3280 Internship in Criminology and Criminal Justice, during their junior or senior year. The internship affords students the opportunity to gain experience in a criminal justice agency under the joint supervision of agency personnel and criminology and criminal justice faculty.
Minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice
The minor gives recognition to those students from other major areas who find that criminology and criminal justice courses fit their academic or professional needs and/or interests.
Chair’s List
Each year, faculty members nominate undergraduates who have done outstanding work in one or more of their courses to the department’s Chair’s List. In addition to being nominated by a faculty member, the student must meet a cumulative grade-point average threshold for placement on the Chair’s List. The list is featured on the department’s website, and the Dean of Arts and Sciences is notified of their accomplishment.
Undergraduate Studies
General Education Requirements
Majors must satisfy the university and college general education requirements. Courses used to fulfill the social science or state requirement may not be taken from courses in the major. Foreign language proficiency is not required, although students are encouraged to take foreign language courses. Majors may not take the following courses on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis: criminology and criminal justice courses; SOC 3220, Quantitative Techniques in Sociology; or SOC 3230, Research Methods. Additionally, substitutions approved by departmental advisers for these courses may not be taken on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory basis.
Degree Requirements
Courses used to fulfill the social science or state requirements may not be taken from courses in the major.
Students may register for 3000-5000 level courses only after completing ENGL 3100 (Advanced Expository Writing).
Students may register for 3000-5000 level courses only after obtaining a signature from the adviser in criminology and criminal justice or consent of the instructor. All prerequisites must be satisfied prior to enrolling in a course.
Criminology majors may not take course numbers 1100, 2260, or 3345 offered through UM-Independent Studies to fulfill degree requirements in the major.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Acquire basic knowledge of the theories, methods and substance of issues in criminology and criminal justice.
- Develop critical thinking skills through the application of criminological theory and social science research methods.
- Develop fundamental understanding of interdisciplinary underpinnings (e.g., from sociology, psychology, political science, economics) of criminology and criminal justice issues and policies.
- Acquire knowledge about the structure and functioning of the fundamental institutions (e.g., legislatures, police, punishment, supervisory) that are part of criminal justice systems.
- Acquire understanding of the role of research and its application for informing policies about criminal justice issues.
Core Curriculum
Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice candidates must complete the core curriculum listed below:
Core Curriculum
The following courses in criminology and criminal justice are required:
CRIMIN 1100, Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice
CRIMIN 1110, Theories of Crime
CRIMIN 1120, Criminal Law
CRIMIN 2130, Criminal Justice Policy
CRIMIN 2210, Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice
CRIMIN 2220, Statistical Analysis in Criminology and Criminal Justice
CRIMIN 4390, Seminar in Criminology and Criminal Justice
One of the following courses in Criminology and Criminal Justice:
CRIMIN 3305, Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice
CRIMIN 4330, Violence Against Women
CRIMIN 4325, Gender, Crime, and Justice
CRIMIN 4340, Race, Crime, and Justice
One course from the following three:
CRIMIN 2240, Policing
CRIMIN 2250, The Courts
CRIMIN 2260, Corrections
One of the following courses in Criminology and Criminal Justice:
CRIMIN 3305, Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice
CRIMIN 4330, Violence Against Women
CRIMIN 4325, Gender, Crime, and Justice
CRIMIN 4340, Race, Crime, and Justice
Three additional courses at the 3000, 4000, or 5000 level:
CRIMIN 3043, History of Crime and Justice
CRIMIN 3230, Crime Prevention
CRIMIN 3270, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
CRIMIN 3305, Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice
CRIMIN 3310, Computers in Criminal Justice
CRIMIN 3320, The Death Penalty
CRIMIN 4330, Violence Against Women
CRIMIN 3330, White Collar Crime
CRIMIN 3345, Rights of the Offender
CRIMIN 4300, Communities and Crime
CRIMIN 4320, Forms of Criminal Behavior
CRIMIN 4325, Gender, Crime, and Justice
CRIMIN 4335, Probation and Parole
CRIMIN 4340, Race, Crime, and Justice
CRIMIN 4350, Victimology
CRIMIN 4380, Special Topics in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Elective Courses
CRIMIN 1150, Violence in America
CRIMIN 2180, Alcohol, Drugs and Society
CRIMIN 2251 , Youth Gangs
CRIMIN 2265, Capital Punishment
CRIMIN 3280, Internship in Criminology and Criminal Justice
CRIMIN 3290, Special Readings
Candidates must also have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in the major.
Requirements for the Minor
The minor has been designed to ground students in the basics of criminology and criminal justice.
All minor candidates must take:
CRIMIN 1100, Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice
The candidate must then select from two of the following three courses:
CRIMIN 1110, Theories of Crime
CRIMIN 1120, Criminal Law
CRIMIN 2130, Criminal Justice Policy
Candidates must then complete 6 hours of criminology and criminal justice course work at the 2000 level or above.
Candidates must also have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in the minor. None of the courses may be taken on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory (s/u) basis.
Graduate Studies
Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice
The department offers a Master of Arts degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, which provides students with advanced theoretical and methodological training for research and management careers in criminal justice.
Admission Requirements
The minimum GPA for regular admission to graduate study is 3.0 on a 4-point scale and students are expected to begin their course of study in the Fall semester. Admission is competitive.
Degree Requirements
The M.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice requires the completion of 33 credit hours, at least 21 of which are required to be in courses housed in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. 12 of these hours represent the core of the curriculum Students may choose between a thesis and nonthesis course of study. Students whose cumulative GPAs fall below 3.0 after 9 or more hours of work will be placed on probation and given one semester to raise their cumulative GPAs to at least the 3.0 threshold.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the theories, methods and substance of issues in criminology and criminal justice and demonstrate an ability to synthesize knowledge in these areas.
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of interdisciplinary underpinnings (e.g., from sociology, psychology, political science, economics) of criminology and criminal justice issues and policies.
- Develop critical thinking and communication skills through the application of criminological theory and social science research methods.
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the structure and functioning of the fundamental institutions (e.g., legislatures, police, punishment, supervisory) that are part of criminal justice systems.
- Develop comprehensive understanding of the role of research and its application for informing policies about criminal justice issues.
Plan of Study
Required Coursework
CRIMIN 6400, Proseminar: Criminology and Criminal Justice (3; core)
CRIMIN 6405, Methods (3; core)
CRIMIN 6410, Statistical Applications in Criminology and Criminal Justice (3; core)
Three additional Criminology and Criminal Justice seminars at the 6000 level (9; non-core)
Electives (12 hours)
Twelve elective hours of coursework are required; some or all of these credits may be earned in Criminology and Criminal Justice 6000 level seminars not counted toward the 21 hour requirement. Students may take a maximum of two 4000-level courses in partial fulfillment of this requirement but they must have the prior approval of the Graduate Committee. All electives taken outside the College of Arts and Sciences also must receive prior approval of the Graduate Committee.
Transfer Courses
Transfer courses are evaluated for acceptance on a case-by-case basis subject to the rules and regulations of the Graduate School. A maximum of 11 credit hours earned at other institutions can be credited toward the UMSL M.A. degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Ph.D. Program in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Eligibility
Undergraduate applicants must have a baccalaureate degree or expect one by the end of the academic year in which they apply. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or greater (on a scale of A = 4.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. Admission is competitive.
Graduate applicants who have or will have a master's degree must have a grade point average of 3.0 or greater (on a scale of A = 4.0) for their graduate course work.
Application
To consider an applicant for admission, the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice must have transcripts, three letters of recommendations, GRE scores and a writing sample. Applicants with master's degrees should include a chapter of their thesis. International students whose native language is not English are required to submit scores from the TOEFL examination.
Amount of Course Work
Sixty post-baccalaureate hours of graduate work are required for the Ph.D. More than half of these hours must be completed in residence. Twelve credit hours of dissertation research (CRIMIN 7499) are required. Students may enroll for dissertation credits (CRIMIN 7499) only when all other degree requirements have been completed.
Required courses for the Ph.D. are:
CRIMIN 6400, Proseminar
CRIMIN 6405, Methods
CRIMIN 6410, Statistical Applications in Criminology and Criminal Justice
CRIMIN 6420, Contemporary Criminological Theory
CRIMIN 6440, Nature of Crime
CRIMIN 6450, Criminal Justice Process and Policy
CRIMIN 6465, Qualitative Research Design
CRIMIN 6470, Quantitative Research Design
CRIMIN 6471, Evaluating Criminal Justice Interventions
CRIMIN 6480, Multivariate Statistics in Criminology
Students are also required to complete at least 9 hours from
the following courses:
CRIMIN 5533, Philosophy of Law
CRIMIN 5555, Ethical and Legal Issues in Criminal Justice
CRIMIN 6431, The Nature of Punishment
CRIMIN 6434, Human Rights
CRIMIN 6435, Gender Crime and Criminal Justice
CRIMIN 6441, Juvenile Delinquency
CRIMIN 6442, Communities and Crime
CRIMIN 6443, Violent Crime
CRIMIN 6445, Property Crime
CRIMIN 6446, Sex Crime
CRIMIN 6447, Public Order Crime
CRIMIN 6448, Victimization
CRIMIN 6452, The Police
CRIMIN 6454, Corrections
Additional courses beyond the above requirements are taken as elective courses. These courses may be at the 5000 level. Students are also encouraged to take courses outside the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Comprehensive Examination
Graduate students in the Ph.D. program do not become recognized as Ph.D. candidates until they have passed the comprehensive examination. The goals of the comprehensive examination are to assess the student's familiarity with substantive literature, theory and methods of criminology and criminal justice and to evaluate the student's intellectual imagination and ability to apply knowledge to broad criminological questions.
Further information about the qualifying exam is available from the department.
The Dissertation
The dissertation is required of all Ph.D. candidates and demonstrates the student's scholarly expertise. The dissertation process formally begins when all other requirements of the Ph.D. program have been met. The dissertation committee assists in selecting and developing the research problem and evaluates the student's work on that problem.
Career Outlook
The orientation of the criminology and criminal justice faculty and of the degree program prepares the graduate to work professionally for local, state, and federal agencies concerned with maintaining public safety by the prevention of crime and apprehension and rehabilitation of offenders. The B.S. in criminology and criminal justice is also advantageous for careers with various social agencies, especially those connected with the juvenile court system, probation and parole, and local police. Many students use the B.S. in criminology and criminal justice as preparation for law school.
The interdisciplinary curricula unify a body of knowledge from criminology, social science, law, public administration, and corrections, and provide the student with an understanding of the assumptions, values, and processes of the system of justice. Many prelaw students choose criminology and criminal justice as an undergraduate major because of the excellent preparation offered for law school. An internship program is offered for college credit. The liaison, supervision, and experience with public agencies that form an integral part of this program help the student arrive at a career decision.
Course Descriptions
Prerequisites may be waived by consent of the department or instructor.
CRIMIN 1100 Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice (3)
Introduction to the basic concepts and approaches in the study of criminology and criminal justice. The major components of the criminal justice system are examined. Course fulfills the state requirement for non-criminal justice majors.
CRIMIN 1110 Theories of Crime (3)
Prerequisite: CRIMIN 1100. Introduction to major theoretical approaches
to the study of crime and justice.
CRIMIN 1120 Criminal Law (3)
Prerequisite: CRIMIN 1100. Analysis of substantive criminal law, evidence
and judicial procedure.
CRIMIN 1150 Violence in America (3) [SS]
Prerequisite: CRIMIN 1100 or consent of instructor.
Overview of patterns and correlates of violence in America. Emphasis on the variety of forms of violent crime, such as murder, assault, robbery, rape, and gang violence. Includes an examination of violence as a response to lawbreaking.
CRIMIN 1200 Foundations of Law: An Introduction to Legal Studies (3)
Same as POL SCI 1200. As a broad liberal-arts approach to the study of law, this course is designed to familiarize students with legal ideas, legal reasoning, and legal processes. It also provides comparative and historical perspectives on law that will help explain legal diversity and legal change. Finally, it offers opportunities to explore some of the persistent issues in law and legal theory: for example, issues about the sources of law, the responsibilities of the legal profession, or the relative merits of the adversary system.
CRIMIN 2130 Criminal Justice Policy (3)
Prerequisite: CRIMIN 1100. Examination of situational, social, and legislative approaches to the prevention of crime and delinquency. Emphasis on theories, implementation and consequences of these approaches.
CRIMIN 2180 Alcohol, Drugs, and Society (3)
Same as SOC 2180. Prerequisite: SOC 1010 or PSYCH 1003. This course examines the medical, legal, and social aspects of alcohol and drug use. Medical aspects considered include treatment approaches and the role of physicians in controlling such behavior. In the legal realm, past and present alcohol and drug laws are explored. Cultural and social influences on alcohol and drug use are discussed.
CRIMIN 2210 Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice (4)
Prerequisite: CRIMIN 1100. Examination of basic methods of research design,
measurement and data collection in criminology and criminal justice.
CRIMIN 2220 Statistical Analysis in Criminology and Criminal Justice
(4)
Prerequisites: CRIMIN 2210 and the university math proficiency requirement. An introduction to techniques of
quantitative data analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics are applied to problems in criminology and criminal justice. Includes a one hour lab. Courses with CRIMIN 2220 prerequisite require a minimum grade of “C” to be earned by the student in this course.
CRIMIN 2226 Law Politics and Society (3)
Same as POL SCI 2260. Prerequisite: POL SCI 1100 or POL SCI 1200 or consent of instructor. This course will cover the litigation process, access to the courts, how and why individuals and groups bring litigation to pursue political and policy goals, and how lawyers, judges and other political actors use the law to solve policy problems. Attention will be placed on current legal policy issues facing American society.
CRIMIN 2240 Policing (3)
Prerequisite: CRIMIN 1100. Overview of current and historical perspectives on the function of American policing. Emphasis on the management of police organizations and relationships with the community.
CRIMIN 2250 The Courts (3)
Prerequisite: CRIMIN 1100. This course provides an overview of current and historical perspectives on the function of the American courts. Emphasis on the dynamics of courthouse justice, with special attention placed on the roles of the prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, defendants, victims, and jurors regarding the decisions that impact the adjudication process.
CRIMIN 2251 Youth Gangs (3)
Prerequisite: CRIMIN 1100 or consent of instructor. This course provides an overview of research and policy concerning youth gangs. Definitional and methodological issues will be examined, along with both qualitative and quantitative research. Topics include: the causes of gangs and gang involvement; crime, victimization, and drug involvement; and variations by race, gender, time period, and geography.
CRIMIN 2252 Philosophical Foundations of Criminal Justice (3)
Same as PHIL 2252. Addresses fundamental conceptual and ethical issues that arise in the context of the legal system. Questions may include: How does punishment differ from pre-trial detention? How, if at all, can it be justified? Is the death penalty ever justified? When is it morally permissible for juries to acquit defendants who are legally guilty? Is plea bargaining unjust? When might people be morally obligated to obey?
CRIMIN 2260 Corrections (3)
Prerequisite: CRIMIN 1100. Examination of correctional philosophies and practices. Emphasis on the history of correction, the formal and informal organization of correction facilities, inmate rights, and correctional alternatives.
CRIMIN 3043 History of Crime and Justice (3)
Same as HIST 2043. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. The analysis, development, and change in philosophies and responses to crime. Emphasis on major forms and definitions of crime, the emergence of modern policing, the birth of the prison, and the juvenile court.
CRIMIN 3209 Forensic Anthropology (4)
Same as ANTHRO 3209. Prerequisite: ANTHRO 1005 or BIOL 1102 or consent of instructor. Students learn basic human dental and skeletal anatomy and the methods used by biological anthropologists and archaeologists to collect and analyze human skeletal remains, including how to age and sex skeletal remains, identify ethnic markers, determine stature and handedness, and identify the presence of trauma and/or pathology. Also covers the role of the forensic anthropologist in crime scene investigations and human rights issues. In the weekly lab section students will have an opportunity for hands-on application of techniques to skeletal remains.
CRIMIN 3230 Crime Prevention (3)
Prerequisites: Junior standing, CRIMIN 1110, CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 1130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, and ENGL 3100, or consent of instructor. Examination of situational, social, and legislative approaches to the prevention of crime and delinquency. Emphasis on theories, implementation and consequences of these approaches.
CRIMIN 3270 Juvenile Justice & Delinquency (3)
Prerequisites: Junior Standing, CRIMIN 1110, CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 2130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, (must earn at least a “C” grade in CRIMIN 2220) and ENGL 3100, or consent of instructor. Examination of formal and informal responses to juvenile delinquency. Emphasis on theories of delinquency and the decision-making processes of police, court and probation officials.
CRIMIN 3280 Internship in Criminology and Criminal Justice (3)
Prerequisite: Junior standing. Internship under faculty supervision in a criminal justice setting. May be repeated once.
CRIMIN 3290 Special Readings (1-6)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Individualized study, under regular faculty supervision, designed to meet particular educational needs of selected students.
CRIMIN 3305 Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice (3)
Prerequisites: CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 2130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, (must earn at least a “C” grade in CRIMIN 2220) and ENGL 3100, or consent of instructor. Analysis of crime and criminal justice systems in selected cultures. Emphasis on the ways in which these cultures define and respond to criminal behavior. Fulfills Crimin diversity requirement.
CRIMIN 3310 Computers in Criminal Justice (3)
Prerequisites: CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 2130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, (must earn at least a “C” grade in CRIMIN 2220) and ENGL 3100, or consent of instructor. Use of computers, data base systems, and software applications in research and professional practice.
CRIMIN 3320 The Death Penalty (3)
Prerequisite: CRIMIN 1100. An examination of the history, application,
and attitudes toward the death penalty.
CRIMIN 3330 White Collar Crime (3)
Prerequisites: Junior Standing, CRIMIN 1110, CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 1130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, and ENGL 3100, or consent of instructor. This course examines the physical and financial harm caused by crimes committed by corporations and business employees. Theoretical and empirical perspectives will be examined. Topics include: definitional issues and ethics; public perceptions; social, political and economic impact; and legal decision-making.
CRIMIN 3345 Rights of the Offender (3)
Prerequisites: CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 2130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, (must earn at least a “C” grade in CRIMIN 2220), and ENGL 3100, or consent of instructor. Analysis of the objectives of criminal law regarding the rights of persons suspected or convicted of crime. Emphasis on rights regarding the police, the court, and in correctional settings.
CRIMIN 4300 Communities and Crime (3)
Same as SOC 4300. Prerequisites: CRIMIN 1110, CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 1130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, and ENGL 3100 or consent of instructor. Analysis of the sources, consequences, and control of crime within communities. Emphasis on social and ecological theories of crime, and on population instability, family structure, and the concentration of poverty as causes of crime.
CRIMIN 4320 Forms of Criminal Behavior (3)
Same as SOC 4320. Prerequisites: CRIMIN 1110, CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 1130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, and ENGL 3100 or consent of instructor. Examination of major types of criminal behavior including violent, property, public order, and organizational offenses. Emphasis on theories of and responses to these crimes.
CRIMIN 4325 Gender, Crime, and Justice (3)
Same as SOC 4325. Prerequisites: CRIMIN 1110, CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 1130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, and ENGL 3100 or consent of instructor.
Analysis of the role of gender in crime and in the justice system. Emphasis on gender differences in crime commission, criminal processing, and the employment of women in criminal justice agencies. Fulfills CRIMIN diversity requirement.
CRIMIN 4330, Violence Against Women (3)
Same as GS 4330. Prerequisites: Junior Standing, CRIMIN 1110, 1120, 1130, 2210, 2220, and ENGL 3100, or consent of instructor. This course examines the nature, extent, causes and consequences of various types of violence against women, including rape, sexual assault, stalking, and intimate partner violence. Criminal justice policy and practice regarding violence against women are also examined.
CRIMIN 4335 Probation and Parole (3)
Prerequisites: CRIMIN 1110, CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 2130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, (must earn at least a “C” grade in CRIMIN 2220) CRIMIN 2260, and ENGL 3100 or consent of instructor. Analysis of alternatives to incarceration and postincarceration supervision. Emphasis on diversion, restitution, and community reintegration.
CRIMIN 4340 Race, Crime, and Justice (3)
Same as SOC 4340. Prerequisites: CRIMIN 1110, CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 2130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, CRIMIN 2260 or consent of instructor. Analysis of the involvement of racial minorities in crime and the criminal justice system. Emphasis on group differences in offending, processing, victimization, and employment in criminal justice agencies. Fulfills CRIMIN diversity requirement.
CRIMIN 4350 Victimology (3)
Prerequisites: CRIMIN 1110, CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 2130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, (must earn at least a “C” grade in CRIMIN 2220) and ENGL 3100, or consent of instructor. Analysis of major perspectives on victimization. Emphasis on patterns of victimization, the role of victims in the generation of crime, and the experience of the victim in the criminal justice system.
CRIMIN 4380 Special Topics in Criminology and Criminal Justice (3)
Prerequisites: CRIMIN 1110, CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 2130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, (must earn at least a “C” grade in CRIMIN 2220) and ENGL 3100, or consent of instructor. In-depth study of a selected topic in criminology and criminal justice.
CRIMIN 4390 Seminar in Criminology and Criminal Justice (3)
Prerequisites: CRIMIN 1110, CRIMIN 1120, CRIMIN 2130, CRIMIN 2210, CRIMIN 2220, (must earn at least a “C” grade in CRIMIN 2220) and ENGL 3100, and senior standing, or consent of instructor. In this capstone course, students demonstrate the ability to work independently, integrating theory and research in criminology and criminal justice in a major research paper supervised by the instructor.
CRIMIN 4487 Philosophy of Law (3)
Same as PHIL 4920. Prerequisite: CRIMIN 1100, and 3 hours of philosophy or consent of instructor. An examination of typical problems raised by law, including the basis of legal obligations and rights, relations between law and morality, the logic of legal reasoning, and the justification for punishment. This is a variable content course and may be taken again for credit with consent of instructor and department chair.
CRIMIN 5415 Foundations of Criminological Theory (3)
Same as SOC WK 5415. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and consent of instructor. Examination of the history of criminological thought incorporating the major works of such theorists as Bentham, Beccaria, Marx, Durkheim, Lombroso, Sutherland and Merton.
CRIMIN 6400 Proseminar (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Must be taken in the first semester. A critical examination of theoretical, methodological and policy issues in criminology and criminal justice. Focus is on the nature of crime, policing, pretrial processes, adjudication, and corrections.
CRIMIN 6405 Methods (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Examination of basic methods for research design and data collection. Topics include participant observation and interviewing, survey research, aggregate data analysis, and experimental design.
CRIMIN 6410 Statistical Applications in Criminology and Criminal Justice
(3)
Prerequisite: CRIMIN 6405. Examination of elementary principles of quantitative analysis and their application to crime and justice problems. Topics include univariate, bivariate and multivariate procedures for discrete and continuous data, and a comprehensive introduction to ordinary least squares regression.
CRIMIN 6420 Contemporary Criminological Theory (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Examination of contemporary explanations of crime and criminal justice. Theories covered include strain, control, cultural, labeling, conflict, as well as more recent attempts at theoretical integration and multidisciplinary integration.
CRIMIN 6435 Gender, Crime and Criminal Justice (3)
Same as GS 6435. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing. This course provides an analysis of theories of crime, crime processing and gender. Topics examined include the role of gender in criminal offending and victimization. The impact of gender on criminal/juvenile justice system processing and treatment will be addressed.
CRIMIN 6436 Comparative Legal Systems (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Examination of crime and criminal justice systems in world perspective.
CRIMIN 6440 Nature of Crime (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Examination of patterns and correlates of crime at the individual, situational, and aggregate levels. Topics include definitions of crime, offending typologies, and criminal careers.
CRIMIN 6441 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Examination of youth crime and juvenile offenders. Topics include definitions of juvenile crime, and theories of juvenile crime causation in the United States
CRIMIN 6442 Communities and Crime (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Examination of the trends and sources of crime and social disorder across communities. The course emphasizes relationships among crime, fear of crime, neighborhood change, neighborhood responses to crime, and public policies.
CRIMIN 6443 Violent Crime (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Examination of the sources and patterns of violent offending across time and space. Topics include conceptions and typologies of violent crimes and offenders, victim-offender relationships, and efforts to predict and control violent offending.
CRIMIN 6445 Property Crime (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Examination of the sources and patterns of property offending across time and space. Topics include conceptions and typologies of property crimes and offenders, victim-offender relationships, and efforts to predict and control property offending.
CRIMIN 6446 Sex Crime (3)
Same as GS 6446. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and consent of instructor. Examination of consensual and non-consensual sexual offending. Topics include historical development of laws regulating sexual conduct, controversies surrounding the application of these laws, and the nature and distribution of sexual offenses.
CRIMIN 6448 Victimization (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Examination of the risks and consequences of crime for its victims. Issues considered include victim-offender relationships, characteristics of victims, the nature of the injuries they experience and criminal justice procedures that involve them.
CRIMIN 6450 Criminal Justice Process and Policy (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. An analysis of criminal justice as a network of decisions and complex organizations. Topics include sources of criminal justice policy, policy agendas, implementation and evaluation.
CRIMIN 6452 The Police (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Historical, social and political analysis of policing in America. Examination of federal, state, county, and municipal agencies.
CRIMIN 6454 Corrections (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Examination of the history, forms, and functions of correctional philosophies, institutions, programs, and policies. Topics include the structure and functions of prisons and jails, community corrections, intermediate sanctions, and the growth of correctional control in modern society.
CRIMIN 6465 Qualitative Research Design (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Examination of participant observation and informant and respondent interviewing. Topics include gaining access, sampling, data collection and analysis, and legal and ethical concerns.
CRIMIN 6470 Quantitative Research Design (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Examination of experimental, longitudinal, and cross-sectional designs. Sources of data, sampling procedures, operational definitions, and issues of reliability are also discussed.
CRIMIN 6471 Evaluating Criminal Justice Interventions (3)
Prerequisites: CRIMIN 6405 and CRIMIN 6410. This course examines a broad range of interventions designed to prevent crime or improve some aspect of the criminal justice system. The validity, reliability, and feasibility of differing intervention designs are addressed. Several major criminal justice evaluations are discussed.
CRIMIN 6480 Multivariate Statistics in Criminology (3)
Prerequisites: CRIMIN 6405 and CRIMIN 6470. Introduction to the general linear model with applications to multivariate problems in criminal justice and criminology. Topics include advanced ordinary least squares, modeling, time series analysis, simultaneous equations, and analysis of limited dependent variables.
CRIMIN 6485 Directed Readings/Research in Criminology and Criminal
Justice (1-6)
Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor. Directed reading and research,
under faculty supervision, designed to meet particular educational needs
of selected students.
CRIMIN 6495 Internship in Criminology and Criminal Justice (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Supervised placements with criminal justice agencies. Designed primarily for students with limited field experience.
CRIMIN 6498 M.A. Thesis Research (1-6)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.
CRIMIN 7499 Ph.D. Dissertation Research (1-6)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. To be arranged.