Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology

CRIJ 2361. Intro To The Crim Justice Sys. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 261); An introductory course designed to familiarize students with the facets of the criminal justice system, the sub-systems and how they interrelate, processing of offenders, punishment and its alternatives, and the future of the criminal justice system.

CRIJ 2362. Criminology. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 262); Crime as a form of deviant behavior; nature and extent of crime; past and present theories; evaluation of prevention, control, and treatment programs.

CRIJ 2364. Fundamentals Of Criminal Law. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 264); A course in substantive criminal law which includes definition of law, definition of crime, general principles of criminal responsibility, elements of the major crimes, punishments, conditions or circumstances which may excuse from criminal responsibility or mitigate punishment, the court system of Texas and the United States, basic concepts of criminal law with emphasis on the penal law of the State of Texas.

CRIJ 2365. Correctional Sys & Practice. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 265); Analysis and evaluation of contemporary correctional systems; discussion of recent research concerning the correctional institution and the various field services.

CRIJ 2367. Police Systems & Practices. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 267); Philosophy and history of law enforcement; limitations imposed on law enforcement in a democratic society in accordance with the Constitution; agencies of law enforcement; role and place of law enforcement in the total justice process.

CRIJ 2368. Criminal Investigation. 3 Hours.

This course provides a brief overview of scientific crime detection and more detailed discussion of techniques 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. Particular emphasis may be placed on the investigation of particular types of crimes, for example, homicides, sex offenses, child abuse, hate crimes, and so forth. .
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2367 or consent of instructor.

CRIJ 2394. Courts And Criminal Procedure. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 294); Examines procedural requirements for judicial processing of criminal offenders. Examines concepts of evidence sufficiency, standards of proof, due process, and constitutional safeguards.

CRIJ 3339. His Of Criminal Justice System. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 339); A study of the major social, economic, legal and political events which have contributed to the formation of the American Criminal Justice System. Emphasis is on the common roots of the different components of the present system.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 .

CRIJ 3340. Gender and Crime. 3 Hours.

The course investigates definitions of gender and gender roles and how gender impacts offending, victimization, and criminal justice processing. This course also evaluates the influence of gender on working in criminal justice as professionals. Criminological theories are evaluated in light of gender and the relationship between gender and criminal justice.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361, CRIJ 2362.

CRIJ 3341. Aging, Crime and Victimization. 3 Hours.

This course combines a general education about aging in America with information about senior adults as crime victims, criminals or prison inmates. Future directions for public policy related to crime and aging are also evaluated.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361, CRIJ 2362.

CRIJ 3350. Victimology. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 480); Survey of the literature, research and current trends concerning the victim in the criminal justice system; particular attention is given to the victim rights and compensation, fear of crime measuring victimization, and the impact of victimization on the individual.

CRIJ 3351. Victim Service Delivery. 3 Hours.

This course analyzes the provision of social and criminal justice services to victims of crime. This is accomplished by examining community and inidividual services for that are afforded to crime victims. Material covered also includes how victim advocacy is positioned within the formal systems of criminal justice. Finally, this course addresses the social and legal issues that impose upon victim service delivery and the theories that explain these impediments to service provision.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 3350.

CRIJ 3361. Comparative Crimnl Jstc System. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 361); The study of criminal justice in societies other than the United States including, but not limited to, the European region, the Asian region, and the African region. Emphasis is on the uncommon roots of criminal justice in these regions and the effectiveness of such systems in responding to criminal behavior.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 and CRIJ 2362.

CRIJ 3362. White Collar Crime. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 362); The study of the ideas and perspectives that are dominant in the field of 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 will be discussed.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 and CRIJ 2362.

CRIJ 3363. Violent Offenders. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 363); This course provides an introduction to psychological issues relating to understanding, assessing, managing criminal and other abnormal behavior. An overview of mental disorders and their relationship to criminality and violence is provided. Topics include sanity, psychopathy, criminal profiling, serial killers, stalking, women who kill, and threat assessment.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 or CRIJ 2362 .

CRIJ 3364. Spec Offenders & Spec Needs. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 364); The identification and study of special or unusual offenders with special or unusual needs . Special offenders include those which rarely are covered in standard criminology classes, such as wildlife poachers, serial killers, computer hackers, substance abusers, and business and professional scam artists.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 and CRIJ 2362 .

CRIJ 3368. Understanding Sexual Offending. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 368); This course provides an overview of the sexual offender. The origins and various motivations for sexual offending are explored as are treatment strategies and their relative effectiveness with different offender groups. Various approaches to community supervision are examined as are controversial issues such as castration of sex offenders.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 or CRIJ 2362 .

CRIJ 3378. Intro To Methods Of Research. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 378); Methods and techniques of research in the behavioral sciences; historical development of psychological and social research; techniques and problems.

CRIJ 3394. Glbl Terrorism& Homlnd Securty. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 394); This course provides an overview of the field of terrorism. Using a multi-dimensional approach that draws from international relations, law, and police strategies, the course emphasizes research and analysis. Students also gain the ability to examine and scrutinize international strategies aimed at reducing terrorist incidents.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361 or CRIJ 2362 .

CRIJ 3396. Juvnl Delinqncy & Juvnl Justic. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 396); Nature and extent of delinquency, explanatory models and theories: the juvenile justice system; history, philosophy, and evaluation of the juvenile court, juvenile court practices and procedures; the role of the police officer and the correctional officer.

CRIJ 4330. Law And Society. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 430); The nature, functions, limitations and objectives of law; civil procedure; civil law and selected social problems, for example abortion, euthanasia; the civil courts; the grand jury and petit jury; torts; civil liability for police and correctional officers; family law.

CRIJ 4332. Legal Aspects Of Corrections. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 432); Legal problems from conviction to release; pre-sentence investigations, sentencing, probation and parole; incarceration; loss and restoration of civil rights. Emphasis on practical legal problems confronting the probation and parole office and the correctional administrator.

CRIJ 4336. Understanding Human Behavior. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 436); The dynamics of human behavior; analysis of the biological, cultural, sociological and psychological factors.

CRIJ 4338. Child Abuse And Neglect. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 438); Students will develop knowledge concerning key concepts and terminology related to child abuse and neglect, related laws and court procedures, ways to address and investigate cases, and programs available to assist in the prevention of child abuse and neglect, as well as programs designed to protect children. This course will also provide a foundation for students who may enter professional careers that place them in a position to address and/or investigate suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.

CRIJ 4351. Trauma and Crisis Intervention. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on understanding and effectively assisting victims of traumatic events. Students will learn how the context in which trauma occurs can affect the cognitive, affective, behavioral, and neurological functioning of an individual. Multicultural aspects that either impair or facilitate recovery are assessed. Crisis intervention models and the pertinent legal and ethical issues for service provision are evaluated. Prerequisite CRIJ 3350.

CRIJ 4360. Crime And The Media. 3 Hours.

(Prior SH course id: CJ 460); This course surveys the connections between the mass media, crime, and criminal justice. It explores how the criminal justice system, criminals, and crime are portrayed in film, TV drama and news media and examines how the media reflect our collective perceptions of crime, violence and victimization and shape attitudes toward crime.

CRIJ 4362. Substance Use And Abuse. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 462); The description, classification, and analysis of the extent of the drug problem.

CRIJ 4363. Cybercrime. 3 Hours.

This seminar focuses 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 & Ethics In CJ. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 465); The study of theories and practices in areas of legality, morality, values and ethics as they pertain to criminal justice. Included will be such topics as police corruption, brutality, and methods of dealing with such practices, as well as the concept of profession and professional conduct.

CRIJ 4367. Correctional Strategies. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 467); This course examines treatment options in both institutional and field corrections settings. There is a focus upon special populations, including mental health populations and their treatment, aging in prison, women, HIV populations, and issues surrounding race and ethnicity.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing and CRIJ 2365 .

CRIJ 4368. Global Organized Crime. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 468); Historical survey of organized crime in America, areas of influence, remedial practices and control.

CRIJ 4370. Interviewing & Counseling. 3 Hours.

(SH Course Prior ID: CJ 470); Counseling psychology with emphasis on principals and procedures; the theoretical foundations of therapeutic psychology; therapeutic techniques and therapeutic process.

CRIJ 4373. Ungr Intern Criminal Justice. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 473); A minimum of three months in an approved criminal justice or social agency setting taken preferably between junior and senior years. 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.

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 CJ. 1-3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 476); Designed for advanced students in the behavioral sciences who are capable of 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. Spc Topics In Criminal Justice. 3 Hours.

Designed to give the advanced undergraduate student academic flexibility. Maybe repeated for credit.

CRIJ 4382. Social Deviance. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 482); The psychological and sociological aspects of socially deviant behavior; theoretical overviews and implications for social control and social policy.

CRIJ 4383. Family Violence. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 483); The course will address the theoretical issues, both past and present, regarding family violence in order to provide the student with an understanding of the salient issues. In addition, attention will be given to the impact family violence has on the victim and society, legal aspects of family violence, key factors associated with recognition of family violence (especially child abuse), and pertinent research focusing on the subject.

CRIJ 4384. Police Strategies. 3 Hours.

Analysis of 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. Integration of established scientific knowledge with practical police experience in the various areas of police functioning.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2367 .

CRIJ 4385. Criminl Justc & Social Divrsty. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 485); This course is the study of how social diversity and inequality shape the way criminal behavior is defined and controlled through the application of the criminal law and criminal justice system. Attention is given to the disparity of criminal offending, victimization, and criminal justice processing across demographic groups as well as explanations for observed disparities. The course also explores subordinate group members as criminal justice professionals.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 2361, CRIJ 2362, CRIJ 3378 .

CRIJ 4386. Problem Analysis In CJ. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 486); This course serves as a capstone for the Criminal Justice undergraduate student. Students will use skills and knowledge from prior courses to address challenges facing the criminal justice system. The class will focus on application of research skills and analytic techniques to address these issues.
Prerequisite: Senior Standing, CRIJ 3378 and STAT 3379 or equivalent .

CRIJ 4390. Violence Against Women. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to help students understand the deeper social context in which violence against women occurs. Topics to be covered include domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, and sexual harrassment. Attention will be given to the ways in which violence against women affects women, men, and children. This class will also address the ways that the criminal justice system responds to these types of crimes including how the criminal justice system and social service agencies may better address the needs of victims and offenders.
Prerequisite: CRIJ 3350.

CRIJ 4394. Constitutnl Issues In Law Enfr. 3 Hours.

(SH Prior Course ID: CJ 494); The course focus is the intersection of the U.S. Constitution and the criminal justice system. Major decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court serve as the core resource, including those addressing Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment governmental authority issues. Emphasis is placed on development of analytical reasoning skills through the case study method.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing and CRIJ 2364 .

CRIJ 4398. Prblm Analysis in Vict Studies. 3 Hours.

This course serves as a capstone for Victim Studies undergraduate students. Students will use skills and knowledge from prior victim studies courses to address victimization issues. The course will consist of applications of research skills and analytic techniques to address facets of victimization including intimate partner violence, violence against women, elder abuse, and child abuse and neglect.
Prerequisite: Senior standing and CRIJ 3350.