Criminal Justice (CRIJ)
CRIJ 2361. Introduction To The Criminal Justice System. 3 Hours. [TCCN: CRIJ 1301]
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 261); Students gain an introductory understanding on the U.S. criminal justice system. Students learn the facets and functions of the justice system, interrrelated sub-systems, the processing of offenders, punishment and its alternatives, and the future of the criminal justice system. Police, courts, and corrections are emphasized, which may include decision-making of justice system personnel, effectiveness of criminal justice policies, and the role of research.
CRIJ 2362. Criminology. 3 Hours. [TCCN: CRIJ 1307]
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 262); An introductory course designed to familiarize students with the scientific field of criminology. Students cover the nature and extent of criminal behavior; past and present theories for crime and delinquency; and the evaluation of prevention, control, and treatment programs.
CRIJ 2364. Fundamentals Of Criminal Law. 3 Hours. [TCCN: CRIJ 1310]
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 264); A course in substantive criminal law which includes the definition of law, definition of crime, general principles of criminal responsibility, elements of major crimes, punishments, conditions or circumstances which may excuse criminal responsibility, the court system, and the basic concepts of criminal law with an emphasis on the penal law of the State of Texas.
CRIJ 2365. Correctional Systems and Practice. 3 Hours. [TCCN: CRIJ 2313]
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 265); Students explore a brief history of corrections, an overview and evaluation of contemporary correctional systems, and discussion of recent research concerning correctional institutions and community corrections.
CRIJ 2367. Police Systems & Practices. 3 Hours. [TCCN: CRIJ 2328]
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 267); Students cover the philosophy and history of law enforcement in the United States; limitations imposed on law enforcement in a democratic society in accordance with the United States Constitution; agencies of law enforcement; and the role and place of law enforcement in the justice process.
CRIJ 2368. Criminal Investigation. 3 Hours.
Students are provided with a brief overview of the science behind crime detection and a detailed discussion of techniques used for case management and documentation, the concept of proof, the impact of emergent technology on the investigative process, interacting with victims and witnesses, and interviewing suspects. A particular emphasis is placed on the investigation of particular types of crimes including homicides, sex offenses, child abuse, and hate crimes. .
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2367 or consent of instructor.
CRIJ 2394. Courts And Criminal Procedure. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 294); Students examine procedural requirements for judicial processing of criminal offenders, including concepts of evidence sufficiency, standards of proof, due process, and constitutional safeguards.
CRIJ 3338. Introduction to Police Personnel Management. 3 Hours.
Students will gain a foundational understanding of recruitment, selection, training, performance evaluation, discipline, and labor relations within law enforcement agencies. Students will explore theories and application practices for future roles in police administration and management.
CRIJ 3339. History of the Criminal Justice System. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 339); Students explore the major social, economic, legal, and political events that have contributed to the formation of the criminal justice system in the United States. It covers how the components of the American criminal justice system have been shaped by the historical process.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 .
CRIJ 3340. Women and Criminal Justice. 3 Hours.
Students investigate the four major roles of women in the criminal justice system: as people who engage in offending behavior, as people who are incarcerated, as people who are victims of crime, and as people who are criminal justice professionals/practitioners. Each of these roles will be examined in relation to their lived experiences within society.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 and CRIJ 2362.
CRIJ 3361. Comparative Criminal Justice Systems. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 361); Students examine criminal justice systems worldwide, comparing international perspectives on law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Students may explore how legal traditions, political systems, and historical contexts shape justice systems across regions such as Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. International organizations and frameworks that facilitate global collaboration in crime prevention and justice reform are addressed. Major global crime issues and responses to them are also analyzed.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 and CRIJ 2362.
CRIJ 3362. White Collar Crime. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 362); Students analyze the ideas and perspectives that are dominant in the fields of criminal justice and criminology on white-collar crime. Topics such as organizational crime, occupational crime, legislation aimed at white collar crime, law enforcement, causes of white-collar crime, and possible forms of intervention may be discussed.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 and CRIJ 2362.
CRIJ 3363. Violent Offenders. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 363); Students examine the psychological and behavioral characteristics of the most violent criminal offenders. The course covers many topics of criminality, violence, and their causes and introduces students to the behavioral and psychological issues relevant for understanding, assessing, and managing violent criminal behavior. Topics may include sanity, psychopathy, criminal profiling, mental health disorders, gangs, serial killers, stalking, women who kill, threat assessment, and collective violence.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 or CRIJ 2362 .
CRIJ 3368. Understanding Sexual Offending. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 368); Students explore an overview of sexual offending, which may include the evolution of sexual attitudes and laws, the etiology of offending, and personal and societal outcomes of sexual offenses. Different groups of offending types are explored, including males, females, and juveniles who have sexually offended. Responses to offending are presented, including the current state of risk assessment, prison programs and community supervision, the effectiveness of the public registry and policy, and treatment of individuals who have sexually offended.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 or CRIJ 2362 .
CRIJ 3370. Human Trafficking. 3 Hours.
Students learn the history of human trafficking, anti-trafficking enforcement efforts, theories of human trafficking, and legislation. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue of human trafficking and responses by the criminal justice system as well as non-legal system responses to prevent and monitor this form of crime.
CRIJ 3372. Foundations of Crime Analysis. 3 Hours.
Students learn about the discipline of crime analysis and how this approach is commonly used in local, state, and federal law enforcement. Students gain an understanding of the foundations of crime analysis as it relates to the profession and the role analysts play in criminal investigations and surveillance.
CRIJ 3374. Community Corrections. 3 Hours.
Students learn techniques and procedures utilized in the supervision of adults and juveniles on probation and parole, and other residents of community-based corrections facilities. Students also learn about the practical problems confronting probation, parole, and other community-based corrections officers. Prerequisites CRIJ 2361 and CRIJ 2365.
CRIJ 3378. Introduction To Methods Of Research. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 378); Students are introduced to the scientific approach to understanding the social world, the relation between theory and research, research design, and data collection. This course is designed to help students gain an understanding of the research process involved in examining criminal justice issues.
CRIJ 3390. Contemporary Issues in Police Management. 3 Hours.
Students gain an understanding of complex management issues for law enforcement agencies. Through case studies and lectures, students may explore key issues such as leadership, organizational culture, community relations, technology, and accountability. Students develop the critical thinking skills necessary to understand and address the complexities of managing modern police organizations.
CRIJ 3394. Terrorism & the CJ System. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 394); Students examine the role of the criminal justice system in responding to terrorism. Emphasis is on the motivations and actions of terrorist groups and the governmental response at all levels of the criminal justice system. Legal and constitutional issues, the debates over intelligence gathering, law enforcement strategies, and the future of domestic and international counterterrorism strategies are also addressed.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 or CRIJ 2362 .
CRIJ 3396. Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 396); Students cover the nature and extent of delinquency, explanatory models and theories for delinquent behavior, the juvenile justice system, juvenile court practices and procedures, and the role of the police officer and correctional officer when dealing with juvenile youths.
CRIJ 4073. Undergraduate Internship in Criminal Justice. 1-12 Hours.
Students complete a minimum of three months in an approved criminal justice or social agency setting taken preferably between junior and senior years. The course is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to apply academic learning in practical situations. See the College's Internship Coordinator for details about this program. Variable Credit (1 to 12). Course Equivalents: CRIJ 4373 .
CRIJ 4330. Law And Society. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 430); Students explore the nature, functions, limitations, and objectives of law through an examination of civil courts and procedures, civil law, and its application to contemporary legal concerns. Topics may include the grand jury and petit jury, torts, civil liability for justice system personnel, such as police and correctional officers, and family law. The course emphasizes legal reasoning, the role of law in society, and how legal institutions reflect and influence social and institutional norms and practices.
CRIJ 4332. Legal Aspects Of Corrections. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 432); Students examine legal issues throughout the correctional process—from conviction to release—which may include pre-sentence investigations, sentencing, probation, parole, and incarceration. Emphasis is placed on practical legal challenges faced by correctional administrators. The course also explores prisoners’ legal rights under the Constitution, the historical development of these rights, and the legal framework governing correctional systems.
CRIJ 4336. Understanding Human Behavior. 3 Hours.
Students examine underlying influences that affect human behavior, including biological, cultural, psychological, and social factors. Students will explore a wide range of influences that contribute to personality development and social behaviors commonly observed in the criminal justice system.
CRIJ 4360. Crime And The Media. 3 Hours.
(Prior SH course id: CJ 460); Students survey the connections between the mass media, crime, and criminal justice; explore how the criminal justice system, criminals, and crime are portrayed in film, TV drama, and news media; and examine how the media reflect our collective perceptions of crime, violence, and victimization as well as shape attitudes toward crime.
CRIJ 4362. Substance Use And Abuse. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 462); Students analyze the causes, consequences, and societal responses to substance use, focusing on the relationship between drugs and crime, U.S. and global drug control policies, and the effects of major psychoactive substances. Emphasis is placed on developing critical understanding and evidence-based perspectives on substance use and its broader impacts.
CRIJ 4363. Cybercrime. 3 Hours.
A seminar in which students focus on topics related to cybercrime, including legal, enforcement, behavioral, and social factors that influence its perpetration, prevention, and prosecution.
Prerequisite: Junior/Senior standing .
CRIJ 4365. Professionalism and Ethics In Criminal Justice. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 465); Students examine the philosophical foundations of American criminal justice and its associated ethical issues for professionals. Particular attention is given to major theories and approaches to ethics, and the practical application of these approaches to issues which arise in various areas of criminal justice. Topics of focus may include law enforcement, corrections, and legal professions.
CRIJ 4367. Correctional Strategies. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 467); Students examine treatment approaches used in institutional and community correctional settings. Emphasis is placed on addressing the needs of distinct groups, which may include individuals with mental health conditions, older adults, women, and those managing chronic health concerns such as HIV. The course also may explore how various social and demographic factors influence treatment practices and outcomes within correctional environments.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing and CRIJ 2365 .
CRIJ 4368. Global Organized Crime. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 468); Students examine the evolution and development of global and transnational organized crime. Various theories that explain the existence of organized crime around the world are examined in addition to a survey of how global organized crime groups have adapted to the 21st century, barriers to international police cooperation, the impact of failed states, civil war and corruption, and the modern relationship between organized crime and terrorists groups.
CRIJ 4374. Philosophy of Crime & Justice. 3 Hours.
Students examine foundations of the American criminal justice system, considering questions such as: is there a moral justification of punishment; what basic principles guide law enforcement in practice; how did these principles come to be in place; and how do they connect to the moral and political ideals on which the country was founded? Students critically engage with philosophical, legal, sociological, and historical resources.
CRIJ 4376. Independent Studies in Criminal Justice. 1-3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 476); This course is designed for advanced criminal justice and criminology students who are capable of rigorous independent study. Registration upon approval of the appropriate Assistant Dean of the College of Criminal Justice and the instructor directing the course. Credit to be arranged.
CRIJ 4377. Special Topics In Criminal Justice. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to give advanced undergraduate students academic flexibility. May be repeated for credit.
CRIJ 4382. Social Deviance. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 482); Students examine the psychological and sociological aspects of socially deviant behavior and its relevance for social control and social policy. Key principles, methods, concepts, and perspectives surrounding the study of deviance are discussed. Changes over time in what is and is not defined as “deviant” are explored. How deviance is associated with and different from crime in society is considered. The regulation of deviance through formal and informal social control is highlighted.
CRIJ 4384. Police Strategies. 3 Hours.
Students analyze police policies with particular attention to the current major problem areas from the point of view of both the administrator and the line operations officer with an integration of established scientific knowledge with practical police experience in the various areas of police functioning.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2367 .
CRIJ 4385. Criminal Justice and Social Dynamics. 3 Hours.
(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 485); Students will explore how social factors shape the study of crime and the administration of justice. Attention is given to examining patterns of criminal offending, victimization, and criminal justice processing across different population groups, as well as possible explanations for these patterns. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of individual experiences at various stages of the justice system (e.g., policing, courts, corrections).
Prerequisite: Senior standing .
CRIJ 4394. Police Law. 3 Hours.
Students address constitutional issues faced by law enforcement officials within the criminal justice system by focusing on cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. It emphasizes three key constitutional amendments: the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, the Fifth Amendment’s prohibition against compulsory self-incrimination, and the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel. Primary emphasis is on the judicial interface with criminal justice processes and the rationale for judicial mandates, while considering broader policy implications for law enforcement.
