This course will provide students with an overview of the criminal justice system. The structure and function of the police, courts, and corrections, as well as the policies these agencies use to control crime, will be examined. Students will also debate controversial issues related to criminal justice processing and compare the ideal of justice with the reality under this system. This course also introduces basic concepts of capacity building, resiliency, and how the criminal justice system and the community interacts. (Equivalent to CRMJ 150)

This course will introduce students to the theories and scientific methods that sociologists use to explain human behavior and describe the organization of society. Students will acquire a sociological perspective to analyze how individuals are products of their social environments. Students will also examine the social patterns that comprise systems of social inequality and major social institutions within contemporary American society. Prerequisite: any 100-level VUSM course or transfer student placement. LDW, SS

Social psychology is a scientific area in the discipline of psychology that seeks an understanding of how people think, feel, and behave in social situations. This course will focus on gaining an understanding of social psychological explanations for social influence and to improve understanding of common research methodologies utilized in social psychological research.

This course provides an applied and in-depth exploration of the assessment, management, and rehabilitation of offenders, emphasizing evidence-based practices in criminal and community justice, corrections, and policing. Students will develop a strong foundation of offender rehabilitation across diverse socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds while examining strength-based approaches for working with both offenders and victims. Prerequisite: 150.

Independent reading and/or research under the supervision of a criminal justice faculty member. Refer to the academic policy section for independent study policy. Independent study contract is required. Prerequisite: 150. May be repeated for credit.

Non-classroom experiences in the field of criminal or juvenile justice. Placements are off- campus, and may be full- or part-time, and with or without pay. Credit for experiences must be sought prior to their occurance, and learning contracts must be submitted before the end of the first week of the semester. Police certification training may count as internship credits for interested students. See advisor and/or director of internship programs for details. Senior standing required. Graded CR/NC.

Courses on topics of interest to criminal justice students offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Prerequisite: 150. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.

This course examines the role of victims and victimology in the criminal justice system. The course emphasizes the history, theories, and patterns of victimization across various crimes, including violent offenses, domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The psychological, social, legal ramifications, and support systems for victims will be examined. Special attention will be given to marginalized and vulnerable populations, along with advocacy efforts. Prerequisite: 150.

This course provides an historical and sociological examination of the models, practices and rationalizations for community based punishment and incarceration. It includes an overview of early punishment and modern day incarceration, treatment, reform, and rehabilitation of criminal offenders. The course explores the historical movement towards and away from mass incarceration to the development of probation and parole systems, de-incarceration, community corrections, and the control of criminal offenders within our society.

In this course, students will examine key scholarly ideas and concepts that shape the practice of community policing, and how these concepts apply in both criminal justice and community settings. The course will focus on community engagement methods, capacity building, needs assessment, and fostering resilience within communities. As part of their final project, students will identify specific community members and groups, analyze the relationship between police and community needs, and develop a project aimed at addressing those needs.