BA in Criminal Justice/Human Services

PS2110 - Writing and Research in the Social Sciences

Credits: 4

This course helps students identify issues of interest and analyze how texts make claims, invoke social science literature, offer evidence, and deploy key terms. Through analysis and imitation, students are exposed to the challenges of the social science project, including the collection of data on human subjects and the ethical presentation of evidence.

ES1110 - Environmental Science: A Global Concern

Credits: 4

The course that satisfies the Las 5 Lab Science requirement - ES1110 - covers a broad range of current environmental problems including population growth, global climate change, famine and food resources, global warming, and the loss of biodiversity. The laboratory portion of the course provides students with hands-on field and laboratory experiences that introduce a variety of methods and techniques used to examine natural communities and air and water quality.

AR1230 - Introduction to Art and Art History

Credits: 4

This course will explore the ways in which social, cultural, religious, political and aesthetic values have been expressed in art and architecture throughout history. A thematic approach will encourage students to develop a deeper understanding of connections, issues and influences across time periods and cultures. Students will become familiar with the vocabulary and media of art and architecture as well as develop their visual analysis and critical thinking skills.

EN1930 - Survey of American Literature

Credits: 4

Beginning with the Native American voices, this course will progress through the 18th and 19th Centuries to modern times. Though this course focuses on the major writers and movements, it does not ignore the importance of some unrecognized voices that have shaped American literature.

EN1020 - Introduction to Literature

Credits: 4

This course introduces the student to different literary genres - the tale, the poem, the novel, the play - through close and varied readings of a few exemplary literary texts.

PO2420 - World Geography

Credits: 4

Beginning with a broad overview of certain physical aspects of geography and of map and globe skills, this course then moves to an examination of the different regions of the world. Attention will be given to customs of the people, urban and rural patterns of settlement, regional economic activities, and political units.

BU3620 - International Business

Credits: 4

This course focuses on special issues of international management enabling students to compete in the current global environment. Issues covered include evaluation of how the legal, political, financial, competitive, and cultural environment affect international business strategies.

WR1010 - Writing in the Liberal Arts and Sciences I

Credits: 4

The goals of this course are, first, to develop the students' critical and analytical thinking skills in the context of a sound rhetorical approach to written communication; and, second, to instill a fundamental sensitivity to and facility with language. Areas of study include the nature of the writing process, situation and audience, problem definition, invention techniques, thesis statements, organization, drafting, revisions, and the fundamentals of editing. Assignments follow thematic sequences leading students from experience‐based, issue-oriented arguments to the essentials of formal academic research. This course is offered every semester and is required of all students to meet institutional graduation requirements.

WR1020 - Writing in the Liberal Arts and Sciences II

Credits: 4

The goal of this course is to teach academic research as a tool for critical thinking that provides the basis for well-developed arguments. This course requires synthesis, analysis, and application of information through writing in a variety of rhetorical forms for a variety of audiences. Students are asked to research and discuss a variety of social issues through the use of selected readings from modern essayists and the available library resources. This course is offered every semester and is required of all students to meet institutional graduation requirements. Writing in the Liberal Arts and Sciences I. Students must earn a grade of C or better to fulfill the College Writing requirement.

MT1020 - College Algebra

Credits: 4

This course focuses on the application of algebra to real world problems and includes intermediate algebra topics such as solving linear equations and inequalities, solving quadratic equations, graphic linear, quadratic and other polynomial functions, rational functions, factoring, and solving systems of equations

MT1100 - Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning

Credits: 4

The goal of this course is to develop students' ability to think critically about quantitative statements and information. Students will have opportunities to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of numerical evidence and logical arguments, to apply mathematical methods in the context of real-world problems, and to study and employ strategies and methods for how to manipulate, understand, analyze, and interpret quantitative information.

LAS1110 - One Love: Marley, Language and Learning

Credits: 4

This seminar is designed to introduce students to the meaning and purpose of an education rooted in the liberal arts and sciences by presenting the fundamental question that reverberates throughout the program's curriculum, "What does it mean to be human?" LAS 1 seminars represent a variety of disciplines and topics related to the seminar theme. Regardless of instructor or disciplinary focus, each LAS 1 seminar prompts students to think about what it means to be human, individually and collectively. Students will consider what our shared obligations and responsibilities are as human beings, despite differences in race, class, gender, ethnicity, or other factors.

LAS1111 - History of Political Thought

Credits: 4

This course examines the basic concepts involved in the study of the great ideas and movements shaping the areas of history, philosophy and political science. Students will have the opportunity to examine the ideas and philosophers who have shaped our modern and historical understandings, from Plato and Aristotle to JS Mill and Karl Marx through John Rawls and Robert Nozick. Topics include nature of the state, purpose of government, justice, and the rights and responsibilities involved in various notions of citizenship.

PS1000 - Overcoming Prejudice and Discrimination

Credits: 4

This course examines the forces that promote unity, theories and concepts related to prejudice and discrimination, and specific strategies to reduce conflict and promote respect and understanding among diverse populations. This course was created as a collaborative effort of faculty in criminal justice, education, kinesiology, psychology, and sociology, and has a strong applied (project-based) component.

CW1100 - Introduction to Creative Writing

Credits: 4

This course is a writing workshop that exposes students to the various genres of creative writing such as poetry, fiction, non‐fiction and drama.

PS2310 - Statistics for the Social Sciences

Credits: 4

The focus of the course is on the application of statistics to answer questions in social science. Students will be introduced to the theoretical aspects of probability, sampling, and hypothesis testing and taught to utilize statistical software for social science research. Topics include data file creation, data entry, descriptive statistics, basic inferential statistics, pictorial representation of data, and the interpretation of statistical analysis. Students will learn when to use the various statistics, how to interpret them, and how to write up an APA-style results section.

CJ4000 - Issues in Professional Practice: Criminal Justice

Prerequisite: Senior status

Credits: 4

This capstone course prepares students for the challenges and responsibilities of professional practice and study in the field of criminal justice. Discussion of ethics in research and practice, consideration of current controversies in the fields and exploration of future trends and opportunities within the discipline is included.

CJ1110 - Introduction to Criminal Justice

Credits: 4

This course is an overview and analysis of the various parts of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, criminal law and courts, and criminal punishment and corrections.

SO1130 - Criminology

Credits: 4

This course examines the types, patterns and extent of crime in US society; the immense and varied individual and social costs of crime; and the many responses to crime that are found at the local and national levels. Though the focus is on crime in the US, some international comparisons will be integrated into the course.

CJ2320 - Criminal Justice Ethics

Prerequisite: CJ1110 - Introduction to Criminal Justice

Credits: 4

This course introduces basic ethical theories, emphasizing how ethical theory can be applied to contemporary problems in law enforcement, corrections and adjudication. Topics covered include criminal justice policy, and the ethics of law enforcement, court processes, and corrections. The course also considers issues such as police corruption and brutality, race, class and gender disparities, capital punishment, gun control, drug policy, pornography, gambling and other current issues in criminal justice.

CJ3010 - Corrections

Prerequisite: CJ1110 - Introduction to Criminal Justice

Credits: 4

This course examines current correctional practices (diversion, community supervision, and institutionalization) in terms of the historical, philosophical, and social perspectives.

CJ3210 - Contemporary Law Enforcement

Prerequisite: CJ1110 - Introduction to Criminal Justice

Credits: 4

This course examines current law enforcement practices including community policing, theories of incarceration, minority group relations, constitutional issues, and the special problems associated with law enforcement in this decade.

CJ3140 - Criminal Law

Prerequisite: CJ1110 - Introduction to Criminal Justice and junior or senior status

Credits: 4

This course is designed to introduce students to the study of crimes and criminal law. We will examine the origins of criminal law, its role in society and the concept of criminal responsibility. In addition, we will discuss the sources of criminal law; definitions within the field; the general principles of criminal responsibility; defenses; the specifics of numerous crimes including homicide, sex offenses, crimes against persons, and property crimes; narcotic and alcohol offenses; punishment; and sentencing options.

CJ3150 - Victimology

Prerequisite: CJ1110 - Introduction to Criminal Justice

Credits: 4

This course examines the role of the victim in the justice system - the evolution of victimology as a separate and distinct discipline and contemporary theories of victimology. To that end, we will consider: victim-offender relationships and victim precipitated crimes; the connection between demographics and the risk of victimization; the impact of the victims' rights movement on policy and legislation; victims of specific types of crimes such as rape, murder and stalking; the emergence of forensic victimology as an investigative tool; and victims of the criminal justice system-those wrongfully convicted of and imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.

PS4120 - Substance Abuse

Credits: 4

This course focuses on the various types of addiction as well the effects of Substance Use and the various medical and mental health conditions that may coexist with addiction. The second part of the course examines the various aspects of substance use disorder treatment processes and interventions.

PS3230 - Delivery of Human Services

Credits: 4

This course explores the knowledge, ethics and skills needed to effectively work as a human service professional in a multidisciplinary setting. Topics for inquiry include assessment, interventions, and theories of causality, cultural competency, organizational structure, leadership style and social policy.

PS3210 - Abnormal Psychology

Prerequisite: PS1110 - Introduction to Psychology

Credits: 4

This course focuses on the causes, symptoms, definition, and treatments of psychological disorders. Emphasis is on the more serious forms of psychopathology. The complexities involved in judging normalcy (i.e. the forensic vs. clinical model); the correlation between delinquency and mental illness, de-institutionalization, and the rights of the mentally ill are also studied.

Available Electives

Credits: 32

Elective courses available will vary depending upon your individual situation.