Master of Science - Criminal/Social Justice
Courses Description
81-504 Criminal Justice Agencies - Administration and Management (3)
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the responsibilities
of managers and supervisors in criminal/social justice agencies. Students
will explore various organizational, managerial and administrative
theories and principles and consider their application within various
criminal/social justice agencies.
81-507 Family Violence (3)
Individual and familial pathologies plus
violence dynamics are underscored. Operation of shelter networks
and multi-professional crisis intervention, drug abuse centers and
delinquency
prevention organizations are also covered in this course.
81-509 Criminal/Social Justice Information Systems (3)
This course
examines information technology and various network systems being
used by criminal/social justice agencies for the collection, storage
and
retrieval of criminal records and other vital data needed by criminal
justice agencies to efficiently and effectively operate in contemporary
society.
81-510 Administration of Institutions for Court Committed
Persons (3)
This course covers direct support services to clients,
executive,
professional,
custodial, security and clerical staffs; record management; transportation
and buildings and grounds. Institutions included are adult penitentiaries,
juvenile training schools, mental hospitals, and residential care
for persons who are mentally or physically handicapped, orphaned,
or aged.
81-511 Fiscal Preparation - Criminal Justice Agencies (3)
This course imparts knowledge relating to the planning, preparation
and implementation
of fiscal plans within the public sector. Students examine the
situational context in which public sector agencies currently
operate and consider
broad trends relating to various revenue sources and common expenditures
within the public sector. Various types of budgeting systems
are considered in relation to their capacity to effectively plan, manage
and control
fiscal operations in a public sector agency.
81-514 Fair Practices - Labor Relations in the Public Sector
(3)
This course broadly examines the emergence of the labor movement
and collective
bargaining within the United States, with a particular emphasis
on the public sector. Theory and practice are explored in relation
to
the major issues affecting labor relations in the public sector,
including at a minimum: federal and state legislative enactments;
NLRB policies
and provisions; collective bargaining; and issues relating to
securing
and executing a labor contract.
81-515 Federal Criminal Justice
Systems (3)
This course examines the authority, structure, philosophy, programs
and facilities of the federal justice agencies. The agencies
included are the Justice Department, the State Department,
the Treasury
Department and other related federal departments.
81-516 Diversions From Incarceration (3)
This course analyzes the research, purposes and accomplishments/shortcomings
of alternatives to incarceration. An examination is made
of the diversion phenomenon and related explanations based upon
the
crime index, political
and community climates, new construction, parole policies,
parole violations, recidivism and others.
81-517 Applied Research Methods -
Management (3)
This course emphasizes applied research skills
required related middle management personnel. Topics include
problem selection
and hypothesis, experimental design, format and protocol,
historic and bibliographic component, method or approach,
statistical
measurement and data processing analysis, summation, conclusion
and hypothesis
rationalization.
81-518 Crisis Management (3)
This
multi-discipline course includes the required principles
and techniques for helping people in crisis. The course’s
focus is to (a) assess and understand the person or family
in crisis, (b) prevent escalation
of crises resulting in possible injury to self and/or
others, and (c) implement a crisis management plan, including
the referral and follow-up
process. Issues of suicide and violence within law enforcement
families are also considered.
81-520 Homicide-Violent
Crime (3)
Investigation of homicide and deaths is both
an art and a science. There must be
a combination between
practical, common sense approaches and the application
of science. This course
provides the students with “real world” information
designed to further close the gap between knowledge and
experience and forensic
science. All police officers involved in these types
of investigations may be called investigators, but not
all can be called detectives.
This course increases the understanding of this fundamental
difference.
81-521 White Collar Crime (3)
This course
studies the problem of corruption and other financial-related
crime
in some
of our major
social institutions,
especially business and government. Students examine
the socio-historic aspect of the origin, development
and ramifications
of white
collar crime as a social and economic problem. The political,
social and
economic conditions involved in the appearance, spread
and the expansion of
white collar crime in America is also investigated. Students
also explore an analysis of the impact of organized crime
in the white
collar crime
arena.
81-522 Public Agencies and Community Relations
(3)
This course examines the growing demand for improved rapport
between
communities and the
agencies that serve them. Emphasis is placed on public
relations, education, the media and ombudsmanship.
The following problems
and possible solutions
are also examined, past grievances, confrontation,
indignities and harassment. The role of the law enforcement manager
is discussed in solving the police/community problems.
81-525
Drugs - Distribution and Impact (3)
This course looks at the advent
of narcotics and its derivatives
from a historical
perspective
and contemporary amalgamation; any international
network of suppression agencies involved in combating the cultivation,
processing, marketing
and smuggling of narcotics; any laws, agreements,
treaties
that are
stringent enough to be recognized and enforced by
the participating nations; and whether the United States
has been successful
in stopping or curtailing the influx of narcotics
within its
boundaries.
81-526 Special Population Groups (3)
This course focuses on the many special population groups and
their relationship
to
and
demands on
the criminal justice system. There has been an
increase in the number and types of special population groups
such as
the aged
and the many
variations of groups that are mentally or physically
challenged. These populations are examined both
as potential victims
and potential offenders.
81-528 Community Policing (3)
Community policing
is the first major reform in law enforcement in
the last
30
years and
will change
the way police think and act. This course examines
what community policing
is and what role the community will play in policing
itself. It also looks at the various police departments
throughout
the nation
who
have implemented community policing.
81-529 Terrorism
(3)
The objective of this course is to present a detailed and exhaustive
overview
of terrorism.
An historical
exploration
of
terrorism will be presented followed by a more
contemporary examination of terrorism and terrorist
groups.
81-549 Environmental Protection Enforcement
(3)
Some Americans believe that environmental crime
is more
serious than drug
dealing, bank
robbery and attempted murder. After 20 years
of regulatory activity, ground,
water and air pollution still threaten the
public health and ecological balance of the U.S.A. Environmental
law has grown
rapidly and those
in the criminal justice field should be aware
of the
problems.
81-550 Comparative Justice Systems
(3)
Comparisons and contrasts are made among selected aspects
of foreign criminal justice
systems and
those of the United States. Structures, international
jurisdiction and basic criminal law are examined.
81-551 Gang Organizational Structure (3)
A study of the historical
emergence of street gangs, their racial and ethnic composition,
organizational structure and resulting
factors. How international gangs have now
evolved with local gangs to create
a worldwide dilemma is addressed. Discussion
also
includes how the local, state, federal
and international police
are dealing
with the
international gang problem.
81-552 Status
for the Criminally Insane (3)
This course analyzes the legal,
psychological and social ramifications of the insanity
defense. Examination
of etiologies of mental
and neurological pathologies is discussed.
81-553
The Management of Criminal Organizations (3)
This course presents
its material
historically and
transitionally
and with
regard to the
current status of organized crime families.
Stress is placed upon multi-ethnic and
global aspects.
Worldwide criminal
organizations and their impact
on the United States and its economy
are examined.
81-555 Criminal Law Update (3)
The objective
of this course is to obtain an overall
view of recent
changes
in the areas
of criminal
law and
the administration of justice. A wide
range of topics are discussed with a
special
emphasis on the changes
in the
social, economic
and
moral views of the legal community.
81-556
Uniform Code of Military Justice (3)
This course provides a comprehensive
overview
of the
military and
the controls
placed over
the armed forces. Armies of Russia,
the United Kingdom, Japan and other countries
are discussed.
Key figures
and events
in history
are covered.
81-557 Victimless Crimes
(3)
The main topics covered in this course deal
with what is
referred to as “victimless” crimes:
prostitution and gambling. The historical
conditions and the question of whether
or not our modern society is responsible
for the increase in this criminal
activity are discussed. Finally,
how the police
manager utilizes his/her
resources to combat this criminal
element is addressed.
81-559 Police
Civil Liability (3)
This course provides
an examination
of current
issues
regarding the
liability of
police officers.
Case law and landmark decisions are
discussed.
81-562 Techniques of
Dealing With
Violence (3)
This course examines
the theories and types of strategies
and
data on violence.
The focus
is on the
phenomenon, its roots,
occurrences, consequences and prevention.
81-565
Police Assessment and Policies (3)
This course examines the concept
of accreditation
and department/agency
standards.
The relationship
of assessment and accreditation
is analyzed, measuring the success
of
each to each
other. In addition,
history and development
of
and changes in police policies
will be discussed. Impact of the
reality
of politics on police policies
will also
be
explored.
81-567 Intelligence Gathering:
Issues and Controversies (3)
This
course
provides students with an introduction
to the
collection and retention
of information and the impact on
the
individual,
business, government
and society in general. Also discussed
are the basic structure of information
systems,
their
implementation, applications
and uses,
abuses, including
freedom of information and the
threat to privacy and the needs
and implementation
of public
policy to control
abuses
in the
intelligence community. Exposure
is provided to create
concepts dealing with
selection,
utilization, and retention of sources
of
information. The course structures
the design and evaluation
of the collection
of information
needed to
accomplish a specific law enforcement
task.
81-569 Prediction of Criminal
Behavior (3)
Many criminals commit crimes in
the same fashion, not varying their
methods.
These
criminals
all have something
in common – predictability.
This course will study criminals’ methods
of criminal operation, lifestyles,
likes and dislikes, including their
profiles. The
law enforcement
manager will be able to train his
or her subordinates to look for
these traits.
81-571 Private Security
Management (3)
Private security
and loss prevention
is studied consisting
of, but
not limited to, environmental
design,
physical security surveys, designing
security with the architects
and approaches to physical security.
This course analyzes such functions
as
loss
prevention planning and evaluating
data analysis
in crime
prevention.
81-575 The Use and Abuse
of Power (3)
This course identifies and
examines the use
and abuse of
power by various
segments of society
both in a
historical and current perspective.
Through research and in-depth
class discussions,
assessments are
made as to
the actual benefits
and detriments
given to a segment of society
as a
result of use and abuse of power.
81-584
Issues in Juvenile Crime (3)
Juvenile crime is increasing
at an
alarming rate.
Six- and eight-year-old
juveniles
are now committing heinous
crimes. Historical trends in the treatment,
incarceration
and
rehabilitation of the juvenile
offender are studied. Community
based networks,
D.C.F.S.,
boot camps,
and current
crime
rates are also
discussed.
81-585 Consumer Fraud
(3)
Consumer fraud is a crime that the law
enforcement professional
is
seeing
more frequently
but
is unfamiliar
with. This
course examines how unethical
practices differ from the
Criminal Consumer
Fraud Act. Processes
and procedures
for handling
consumer fraud complaints
through the criminal justice
system are identified.
81-590
Independent Study (3)
A student prepares a
proposal
in
consultation
with his or her
advisor and the Program
Director. The proposal
must be submitted reasonably
well in advance of registration
to allow
for consideration and modification
as needed. The written
report will
conform
to the standards set forth
by the American Psychological
Association.
The completed
report must be submitted
three weeks before the
close of the semester.
Prerequisites: 27
semester hours and a
minimum
GPA of 3.5.
81-596 Research and Thesis
(6)
The student prepares
a proposal
in consultation
with
the thesis advisor
and
Program Director.
Upon acceptance
of the
proposal, the students
must complete the research
and
thesis within
two calendar years. The
thesis will conform
to the
format and standards
set forth by the American
Psychological Association.
The student will
make an oral
defense of
the thesis before a panel
consisting of the
thesis advisor and either
one member of the department’s graduate
faculty or a member of the University’s
Graduate Council and the
Program Director. Upon
invitation of the Program
Director,
others
may attend. Upon acceptance,
the completed thesis will
be delivered to the University
librarian for placement
in the library collection.
Prerequisites: 81-517 and
a minimum GPA of
3.5.
81-597 Internship/Practicum
(3)
Open to qualified non-sworn
master’s
degree students, this internship
opportunity provides experience
in a law enforcement
agency or a corporate unit
with security responsibilities,
under the supervision of
an appropriate staff
member. Students must possess
a GPA of 3.5 or above at
time of application for
the internship
and must receive the approval
of the internship coordinator.
Students
serve at least 300 clock
hours.
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