MS – Criminal Justice Course Descriptions
Core Courses
SOC4005 Research Methods and Analysis (3 credits)
The functions of concepts, hypotheses, and theories for an empirical discipline; the operationalization of theoretical variables; the principles of research design; and the problems of inference. The association between criminological theories and research methods used to study crime is explored through the utilization of a variety of related data sources. Also covered are basic quantitative techniques, relevant statistics, data interpretation, and an overview of SPSS.
SOC4015 Criminological Theory (3 credits)
A systemic and critical analysis of the major theories of criminality, including an examination of both traditional and contemporary theories. Consideration will be given to conceptualizations of crime, the relationship of criminological theories to crime on the streets, and specific aspects of criminal behavior.
SOC4095 Ethics and Criminal Justice (3 credits)
This course will address ethical issues in the criminal justice system at both the theoretical and applied levels. Typical theoretical issues addressed might include the following: the relationship between law and morality; theories of punishment; conditions for the moral and/or legal responsibility of individuals; notions of procedural justice. Typical applied ethics issues might include the following: search and seizure rules; the insanity defense and the “guilty but mentally ill” verdict; plea bargaining; capital punishment; mandatory sentencing; civil disobedience; limits on the use of deadly force.
SOC4585 Professional Writing for Law Enforcement (3 credits)
The course is designed to develop the cognitive and technical skills of effective writing for law enforcement. Primary emphasis will be given to the "craft of writing", thus, learning the techniques and skills of effective communication in the law enforcement workplace. Class assignments will enhance students' use of computer technology in the writing process. These tools are then applied to a variety of topics, including correspondence, memos, investigative reports, and presentations.
Homeland Security Specialization
SOC4415 Terrorism (3 credits)
This course is designed to give the student an understanding of the concepts of terrorism, both domestic and international. Lecturer will address the causes and effects of terrorism as they relate to political structures from both religious and historical perspectives; noting its impact on the world today.
SOC4425 Homeland Security (3 credits)
This course focuses on the consolidation of responsibilities and functions across agencies, at various jurisdictional levels, that have the charge of mitigating hostilities, threats, hazards, and consequences. Further, this course incorporates the pillars of robust response systems. This course is designed to develop analytical skills that will prepare students to identify, evaluate and resolve complex policy issues and initiate practical actions. Though the range of relevant issues extends from local matters to national security, this course will concentrate on preparedness strategies for state, urban and local areas.
SOC4775 Sociology of Disasters (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide the graduate student advanced knowledge and understanding of the sociological issues and concerns related to both man-made and natural disasters. The purpose is to present the current research pertaining to community resilience and the effects on individuals who witness, become victimized, or are otherwise affected by disasters. Each student will be expected to increase their capacity in both oral and written communication through their individual and group participation. The course will also improve the student's analysis of the sociological implications related to disasters.
SOC4785 Risk Assessment (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide the graduate student advanced knowledge and understanding in the area of risk assessment and management. The focus is on the recognition of real and perceived threats, sharing information between communities and agencies, the collaboration of resources, and the management of risk. Students will examine the concepts of risk assessment, risk analysis, and the impacts of actual and suspected threats.
Behavior Analysis Specialization
SOC4605 Basic Principles of Behavior Analysis (3 credits)
Learning serves as the basis for behavior change. In the field of criminal justice, programs often attempt to rehabilitate delinquents and offenders. This is an advanced course on principles of learning. This course will cover studies of principles of learning from relatively simple animal studies to more complex issues such as the acquisition of human language. We will outline from a behavior analytic perspective on such issues as thinking, feeling, and imagining. We will follow the structure of Catania's text including an overview of learning processes, learning without words in an evolutionary context, and with words examining memory.
SOC4615 Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credits)
Often Criminal Justice Personnel are called to function as behavior managers. To function effectively as a behavior manager/analyst, Criminal Justice Personnel need to grasp the basic concepts of human behavior and its change. This course covers the practical aspects of being an applied behavior analyst working in the criminal justice system, school system and the community setting. The topics will cover: basic principles of applied behavior analysis; the application of these principles to children ADHD, ODD, and CD8; writing behavioral objectives; training parents and paraprofessionals to execute operant and respondent based treatments; programming for generalization; working as a behavior analyst in a CASSP system; and legal and ethical issues in the treatment of children in a diverse society.
SOC4625 Behavior Analysis and Consultation (3 credits)
Professionals in the field of criminal justice often serve as consultants. Consultation has become a major approach to service delivery of psycho-educational services to children and adolescents. This course focuses on behavioral consultation in the juvenile justice system, school system, workplace, and community settings. The topics covered are best practices in behavioral consultation, the verbal behavior of the consultant and the consultee, building a consulting relationship, problem identification interviewing, direct observation methodology, problem analysis interviewing, skills and functional behavioral assessment methodology, functional analysis, standardized behavioral assessment, positive behavioral support and developing a competing behaviors model, treatment plan design and implementation, and treatment evaluation using single subject designs and graphical analysis of the data.
SOC4635 Behavioral Development (3 credits)
Many people in the justice system today are there because of emotional and behavioral disorders. Conceptualization of behavior problems and the origins of behavioral disorders are critical to the functioning of a criminal justice professional. This course focuses on Basic Principles in Behavior Analysis and how they shape the development of normal and abnormal children. The role of these principles in normal development and developmental problems such as language delays, motor developmental delays, conduct and oppositional defiant disorder, childhood depression and autism are explored. The course reviews field applications including observations, functional behavioral assessment, curriculum-based measures and intervention strategies that involve both the school and the family.
SOC4645 Clinical Behavior Analysis (3 credits)
This course observes behavior analysis as it enters into the child clinical, adult clinical, supervisory level and organizational behavior. The primary goal of the course is to provide an overview and skills for behavior analysts in criminal justice to function as parole and probation officers with both adults and children, as well as organizational and system level change experts.
Elective Options
SOC4055 The Criminal Justice System (3 credits)
Provides a foundation and overview of the criminal justice system and process. The major components are discussed including crime, law, criminology, law enforcement, adjudication by the courts, corrections, juvenile justice, current issues and policies. This course is designed for students with only limited prior study in American criminal justice and little or no professional Criminal Justice experience in the United States.
SOC4245 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency: Issues and Responses (3 credits)
This course provides a contemporary overview of theoretical and programmatic issues and concerns in juvenile delinquency and the juvenile justice system, including a review of recent research. The course also focuses on a critical review of the trends in problem solving and delivery of services to this population.
SOC4515 Multiculturalism and Diversity in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to present a conceptual framework to provide understanding of the special conditions of minorities in the context of the criminal justice system and encourage the development of culturally and gender specific compatible skills and practical approaches to more adequately meet the challenges presented by working with minority population concerns, problems and needs.
SOC4375 Forensic Financial Analysis (3 credits)
This course covers the detection of illegal financial transactions. Major topics include money laundering, fraud, embezzlement, and illicit accounting practices. Students will learn data gathering and analysis techniques for financial transactions, records, legitimate businesses, illegal organizations, and individuals. The course will include preparation for trial.
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