Criminal Justice (CJS) Courses
CJS1002 Introduction to Criminal Justice
This course presents an overview and analysis of the American criminal justice system. The concept of crime and the roles of police, courts, defense attorneys, prosecuting attorneys and corrections are considered. In addition, an overview of the causes of crime, the problems associated with the measurement of crime, and the concept of "justice" in the American criminal system is examined.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits
CJS1070 Criminal Courts
This course is an examination of the problems, policies and practices of the criminal court system with emphasis placed on the structure and organization of the court system. The role of the courts, from arrest to conviction and appeal, is explored.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits
CJS2050 Criminology
This course is an overview of the study of criminal behavior. Major theories of the causes of crime are explored through an interdisciplinary approach emphasizing the sociological, psychological, scientific, medical, biological, psychiatric, psychoanalytic, economic, political, cultural, and other social and behavioral approaches.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits
CJS2085 Juvenile Justice
This course presents an analysis of the historical development of the juvenile justice system in the United States. The student is introduced to the changing view of juveniles from early America, when children were treated as little adults, through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries where they came to be considered as children and adolescents that had to be protected from abusive families and their environment. Socializing agents such as the family, schools and peers are studied as to their influence on the development of delinquency. Youth are studied as victims of crime, as perpetrators of crime, and their likelihood to become involved with gangs. Additionally, law enforcement, the courts and corrections are studied to show their impact on delinquency.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore status.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits
CJS3075 Criminal Investigation
In this course, the student is exposed to the fundamentals of criminal investigation. Emphasis is placed on the collection and evaluation of crime scene evidence related to specific crimes (i.e., homicide, arson, burglary, etc). Since criminal investigation must be conducted within the framework of our constitutional system of government, opinions of the United States Supreme Court that affect the collection of evidence are emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): CJS1090.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits
CJS3820 Cyber Crimes
In this course, students explore the rise and evolution of crimes involving computers and the Internet that are fast becoming the most prolific area of criminal activity in the 21st century. This course distinguishes between crimes in cyberspace and cyber-terrorism as a form of warfare upon the global community. It defines cyber crimes (including type, nature, and origin) and the expanding criminalization of computer and Internet conduct involving concepts of privacy violation, information protection and unauthorized access of digital data. An analysis of existing and new domestic and international law enforcement innovations that prohibit digital crimes is also covered.
Prerequisite(s): LAW3025.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits
CJS3850 Homeland Security
This course provides an in-depth foundation for understanding the wide range of agencies and activities involved in the field of homeland security, and the varying roles that individual terrorists, terrorist groups and state sponsors of terrorism play in the formulation of the domestic and international homeland security policy of the United States. Students are provided with a comprehensive overview of the legal aspects of homeland security, and the role that intelligence and counterintelligence play in the formulation of the domestic and international homeland security policy. Additional topics include the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, border security and immigration, and the financing of terrorist activity via a wide range of highly organized criminal activities occurring both domestically and internationally.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits
CJS5610 Advanced Administration of Criminal Justice
This course is a seminar that provides students with an opportunity to learn more about organizational and administration theories and how they apply to the criminal justice system. Theoretical knowledge is linked with best practices in law enforcement, court and correctional agencies. The course is intended to be an advanced seminar for graduate students; much of the work is scenario-based.
Offered at Online
3 Semester Credits
CJS5620 Contemporary Criminology and Crime Prevention
This course provides a strong academic background in criminological theory and helps students develop critical evaluation skills to assess the efficacy of particular theories. Students have the opportunity to connect criminological theory to criminal justice policy and practice. Crime prevention examples and techniques are used throughout the course to teach students how to apply theory to practice. Critical thinking and communication skills are utilized throughout. This course is intended to be an advanced seminar for graduate students.
Offered at Online
3 Semester Credits
CJS5630 Advanced Legal Issues in Criminal Justice
This course is a seminar that provides students with an opportunity to learn more about legal issues and implications in the context of criminal law. The course is intended to be an advanced seminar for graduate students, and provides students with a challenging and rigorous experience in legal thinking and applications.
Prerequisite(s): CJS5610 or RSCH5700.
Offered at Online
3 Semester Credits
CJS5650 Criminal Justice Ethics and Diversity in a Global Environment
This course examines applied ethics in criminal justice practice. By applying moral philosophy to a variety of different scenarios, students gain valuable skills in ethical decision-making for the diverse global environment of the criminal justice workplace. This course examines professional ethics for the courtroom, in law enforcement, in corrections, and while doing research. The goal of this course is not to present a single unified ethical system in the criminal justice field, but to expose students to a variety of thought-provoking ethical behaviors, and allow students to explore relevant ethical dilemmas faced by individuals working in the criminal justice system or subject to the control of the criminal justice system.
Offered at Online
3 Semester Credits
CJS5680 Juvenile Justice Issues
This course begins with a brief history of the juvenile justice system and an overview of current juvenile justice agencies and processes. Current issues and trends in the field of juvenile justice and juvenile crime prevention are explored in more detail with a focus on evidence-based practice.
Prerequisite(s): CJS5620.
Offered at Online
3 Semester Credits
CJS5700 Special Needs Populations in the Criminal Justice System
This course addresses the growing recognition that a large proportion of individuals who come into contact with the criminal justice system have special needs. Practical examples from law enforcement, courts and corrections highlight the issues faced by special needs populations and the ways to address these issues through policy and practice.
Prerequisite(s): CJS5620 (or concurrent).
Offered at Online
3 Semester Credits
CJS5740 Global Criminal Justice Issues
This course provides students with an overview of transnational crimes and the international responses to those crimes. Topics include drug trafficking, human trafficking, weapons trafficking, cybercrime and transnational environmental crime. Students gain an understanding of the nature and extent of transnational crimes and the challenges facing crime prevention and control efforts.
Prerequisite(s): CJS5610 (or concurrent).
Offered at Online
3 Semester Credits
CJS5760 Technology and GIS in the Criminal Justice System
This course is designed to give students a glimpse into how technology is being used in the criminal justice system and the social issues stemming from that use. Broken into 2 parts, students first examine basic controversies surrounding technology as it relates to citizen rights and its use in policing, courts and corrections. The second section dives into the widespread practice and theory of using geographic information systems/science (GIS) in crime mapping. Students are expected to read up-to-date academic literature on current discussions surrounding each section and defend positions on the favorability of its use or application.
Prerequisite(s): RSCH5700.
Offered at Online
3 Semester Credits
CJS5780 Social, Community and Restorative Justice
This course examines the concepts of social justice, community justice and restorative justice. Topics include strategies for planned change that address social justice issues like racism, economic inequality, sexism and poverty. Students explore how programs based on different justice models can be utilized to improve public safety.
Prerequisite(s): CJS5620 (or concurrent).
Offered at Online
3 Semester Credits
CJS6900 Criminal Justice Capstone Project
This course provides students the opportunity to integrate the knowledge and skills learned throughout the program in the capstone project. A problem in the criminal justice environment is presented and students analyze and develop a proposed solution using theories, skills and knowledge learned during the program. Guidance is provided throughout the course to assist students with addressing the problem according to professional and scholarly standards.
Prerequisite(s): CJS5610, CJS5620, CJS5650, RSCH5700.
Offered at Online
3 Semester Credits