MA Course Descriptions
5300 Crime and Behavior
Contemporary criminological theories of factors contributing to crime and social disorder.
5301 Judicial Process and Behavior
Literature on topics such as judicial selection, impact of court decisions, court procedure, factors affecting decision-making behavior of judges.
5302 Law and Society
Role of law in modern society; emphasis on legal theories shaping U.S. legal system, theories of justice, legal reasoning, and application of these theories to real-world problems as introduction to the role of law in helping settle social conflicts.
5380 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
Law enforcement, judicial, correctional systems of other nations; emphasis on comparison with U.S.
7300 Criminological Theory
Original works of criminological theorists from biological, psychological, sociological, and political perspectives; empirical, methodological adequacy of theories and literature; current application as viable explanation of criminal behavior.
7301 Proseminar
Original works of criminological theorists from biological, psychological, sociological, and political perspectives; empirical, methodological adequacy of theories and literature; current application as viable explanation of criminal behavior. A critical examination of the theoretical, methodological, and policy issues in criminal justice and criminology. Explores organized knowledge about enduring theoretical and policy questions concerning crime and justice; examines the theoretical foundations of crime control, the relationship between criminal justice agencies, and the relationship between the criminal justice system and its social, political, and economic environments. Also provides students with an overview of criminal justice in higher education and requirements of a graduate education.
7303 Criminal Justice Systems
This course will discuss the major functional components of the criminal justice system from the historical, philosophical and system perspectives. It will analyze the interrelationships among components, and identify the impact of social and political forces on roles and functions of criminal justice agencies.
304 Criminal Justice Policy
This course is designed to prepare students to understand and influence policy issues in criminal justice.The course will build upon the CJ Systems course to provide a base of knowledge in policy analysis, policy research, and working within the system for policy change. This course will be specific to criminal justice policy issues, and will prepare students to complete their public policy thesis.
7305 Seminar in Criminal Law
Major concepts of criminal law; includes various states’ approaches to definitions of crimes, criminal responsibility, criminal defenses. Major concepts of criminal law; includes various states’ approaches to definitions of crimes, criminal responsibility, criminal defenses.
7322 Foundations of Policing
Specific aspects of American police agencies’ organizational patterns, administrative problems, community issues, internal role systems.
7331 Community-Based Corrections
Traditional correctional functions; emphasis on development of community diversion and residential programs, involvement of correctional programs in the community.
7340 Correctional Administration
Problems with control and treatment of offenders in institutional correctional settings.
7360 Deviant Behavior
See Psychology 7360.
7361 Social Psychology
See Psychology 7361.
7370 Juvenile Delinquency Problems
Topics related to juvenile delinquency and prevention in the juvenile justice system.
7390 Internship in Criminal Justice
(Prerequisites: graduate standing, consent of program coordinator)
Semester-long, part-time experience in law enforcement, courts, corrections, probation or parole agencies, or juvenile justice system. Students are assigned to one or more agencies depending on interest and placement vacancies.
7391 Social Statistics
Logic, uses of statistical analysis in social science research; focus on statistical design of research projects, analysis of computer-generated output, statistical procedures and results; critique of statistical adequacy of related literature.
7392 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology
Methods and techniques of research in the behavioral sciences. Includes an in-depth analysis of the conceptualization of research and the design of appropriate research strategies. Topics covered include experimental design, questionnaire construction, observational techniques, and qualitative research designs.
7393 Seminar on Special Topics in Criminal Justice
Crucial criminal justice topic determined by student interest, available faculty resources; emphasis on exhaustive analysis of literature in the subject area.
8300 Thesis
Independent investigation demonstrating knowledge and methods of scholarship and culminating in a written thesis with oral defense. Variable credit of one to three hours.
8301 Thesis Preparation
This course is designed to prepare students to undertake independent research. The course builds upon statistics, research methods, and core courses to provide a base of knowledge in completing a research proposal. The course facilitates completion of the thesis required in the MACJ program. Topics covered in this course include review of the literature, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, multivariate statistical procedures, and application of research methods and statistics. The product of the course will be a completed thesis.
8302 Policy Thesis Preparation
This course will facilitate completion of the policy thesis needed for graduation from the policy track of the MACJ program. Topics covered in this course include review of the literature, to include cases and laws; gathering policies, mandates, and legislation on a topic; research concerning policies of agencies, and qualitative/quantitative research methodologies. The product of the course will be a completed policy thesis prospectus.