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Criminology & Criminal Justice Minors

Minors

CREDIT HOUR REQUIREMENTS—There are five minors you can choose from.

The minors in Criminology & Criminal Justice requires a total of 18 credits.  In addition, stuents must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.2 in all criminology and criminal just courses taken at ISU.  

Criminology and Criminal Justice Minor

Required

Electives

            3 credits in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Law Enforcement and Evidence Minor

Required

9 credits

Electives

9 credits from the following courses

 

Corrections Minor

Required

9 Credits

Electives

Select 9 credits of electives from the following:

 

Law and Administration Minor

Required 9 Credits

9 credits

Select 9 credits from the following courses:

Forensic Investigation Minor

Required

9 credits

Select 9 credits from the following courses:

 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

CRIM 150: INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (3 credits).  A study of the agencies and processes involved in the criminal justice system:  the courts, the police, the prosecutor, the public defender, and corrections.

*CRIM 200: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY (3 credits).  A consideration of criminality, its nature and extent, particularly in the United States; and an analysis of the etiology of criminal behavior, criminal law, and societal reactions to criminals.

CRIM 201: INSTITUTIONAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND COMMERCIAL SECURITY (3 credits).  Emphasizes prevention of security problems and the promotion and observance of effective security measures to protect lives, property, and proprietary information. A - F Grading.

CRIM 202: RETAIL SECURITY (3 credits).  Emphasizes the identification and development of physical security objectives, policies, procedures, and methods necessary to achieve efficient and effective retail security measures.  Prerequisites: CRIM 201. A - F Grading.

 

*CRIM 210: INTRODUCTION TO CORRECTIONS (3 credits).  An introduction to the field of corrections and a survey of the philosophies and practices relevant to processing the convicted offender through the several methods developed to change the offender from a law-violating person to a law-conforming person.  A - F Grading.

*CRIM 220: INTRODUCTION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT (3 credits).  Philosophical and historical background of law enforcement at the federal, state, county, city, and village levels.  An introduction to contemporary police organizations and methods of operation.

CRIM 222: POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS (3 credits).  An introduction to police-community relations, focusing on theory and case studies.  Emphasizes problem solving, conflict management, and police-community action in the prevention of crime and civic disorder.

*CRIM 230: INTRODUCTION TO THE COURT SYSTEMS (3 credits). This course provides an examination of the American criminal court system. Topics covered will include interaction of the courts with other agencies in the criminal justice system, the organization of the court system, the various personnel and their roles in the court system, the progress of a criminal prosecution from charging to appeal, and the juvenile court system.

CRIM 250: FORENSIC BIOLOGY (3 credits). Introduction to the importance, collection, and analysis of biological forensic evidence. Course covers ecological, entomological, and biotechnological techniques and some law enforcement, criminology, and wildlife enforcement. (Also listed as Life Sciences 250.)

CRIM 280: LAW OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits).  A survey of American criminal law and procedure relative to the functioning of criminal justice agencies.  A - F Grading.

CRIM 298: PRACTICUM IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits).  Planned program of visitation of selected criminal justice agencies representing the major components of the system, along with classroom discussion, including guest speakers.

CRIM 303: CRIME PREVENTION (3 credits).  Provides an overview of types of crime prevention programs that can be implemented by police departments; retail, commercial, or individual firms; and community action groups and individual citizens.  A - F Grading.

CRIM 315: TECHNIQUES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERVIEWING (3 credits).  An introduction to the strategies, techniques, tactics, and special problems of interviewing as they relate to one or more of the various criminal justice settings.  Prerequisites: 6 credits of criminology or consent of instructor.

*CRIM 316: CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORT WRITING (3 credits).  A survey of the most frequently used forms of reports and records required by local, state, and federal agencies directly involved in the administration of corrections.  Special attention will be given to the technical skills necessary for completing such forms and reports.  Prerequisites: 6 credits of criminology or consent of instructor.

CRIM 321: CASE STUDIES IN POLICE SERVICE (3 credits).  A study of the behavior of subjects and police officers under the stress situations of arrest, interrogation, incarceration, protest demonstrations, riots, and public catastrophes, using actual incidents taken from police log books, records, and accounts.  Prerequisite: 220 or consent of instructor.

CRIM 355: THE ECONOMICS OF CRIME (3 credits). This course surveys the intersection of two areas of human behavior: criminal and economic. Social science methodology and basic concepts from economics and criminology are reviewed. An economics framework is applied to analyze criminal behavior, the social response to crime and to evaluate the economic burden that crime imposes on a society. Lessons are applied to specific types of crime: property, white collar, illegal markets, and organized crime. (Cross listed as Economics 355)

*CRIM 375: VICTIMOLOGY (3 credit).  This course provides an in-depth study of the many facets of crime victimization.  Coverage will include the key social, economic, and demographic variables associated with crime victims as well as the differences in victimization rates in the United States and other countries.  Crime victim assistance programs, victim compensation, and victim participation in the criminal justice process will be covered.  Discussion will also include victim-oriented legislation and case law related to crime victims.  A - F Grading.

CRIM 385: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINALISTICS (3 credits).  A study of the application of the physical, biological, medical, behavioral, and computer sciences to crime investigation and detection.  The use that is made of hairs, fibers, blood stains, paints, scrapings, weapons, polygraphs, voice prints, computers, photography, prints, and chemicals in the detection of crime will be considered.  Prerequisite: 200 or consent of instructor.

*CRIM 396: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits).  A survey of current research methods relating to all aspects of the criminal justice system.  A - F Grading.

CRIM 407: POLICE ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION (3 credits).  Principles of organization and management in terms of line, staff, and auxiliary functions; specific concentration on (1) organization for police service, (2) administrative services, (3) operational services, and (4) auxiliary services.  A - F Grading.

CRIM 416: SYMPOSIUM ON CRIMINOLOGY (1-3 credits).  Consideration is given to a specific area of criminology.  Course is offered for credit or non-credit, and for in-service or pre-service students.  A different topic is selected for each symposium.  Repeatable: Five times for a maximum of 15 credits if topic is different. Note: Open to graduate students. Graduate students are required to do additional work of a research nature. A - F Grading.

*CRIM 420: CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE I (3 credits).  An analysis of the history and development of the criminal law as a system of social control; the scope, purpose, and general principles of criminal law; and the essential characteristics of various crimes.  Note: Open to graduate students. Graduate students are required to do additional work of a research nature. A - F Grading.

CRIM 421: CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE II (3 credits).  The study of law, rules, and procedures that govern the administration of criminal justice and the application of the Constitution to criminal investigation and trials. Topics covered include laws of arrest, search and seizure, interrogation, right to conceal, right to trial, and double jeopardy.  Note: Open to graduate students. Graduate students are required to do additional work of a research nature. A - F Grading.

*CRIM 423: JUVENILE DELINQUENCY (3 credits).  Definitions and interpretations of theories of causation and prevention; organization and functions of community agencies and institutions, including police, courts, and probation.  Note: Open to graduate students. Graduate students are required to do additional work of a research nature. A - F Grading.

*CRIM 427: DYNAMICS OF CRIMINAL AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR (3 credits).  The theoretical study of crime causation and prevention, crime topologies, and their practical application to the criminal justice system. Prerequisite: Senior standing.

CRIM 430: CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS (3 credits).  The correctional institution in the United States as it exists today in terms of its development, objectives, and standards; includes jails, detention homes, reformatories, furlough-detention camps, open and closed institutions.  Note: Open to graduate students. Graduate students are required to do additional work of a research nature. A - F Grading.

CRIM 431: COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS (3 credits).  This course covers the variety of alternatives to incarceration which collectively are known as community-based corrections, including diversion, pretrial release, fines, home confinement, restitution, community service, half-way houses, probation, and parole.  Note: Open to graduate students. Graduate students are required to do additional work of a research nature. A - F Grading.

CRIM 432: THE LAW ON EVIDENCE (3 credits).  Analysis of the rules of evidence, their functional relationship to the culture in which they operate, and their effect on law enforcement, criminal prosecution, and the correctional processes.  Note: Open to graduate students. Graduate students are required to do additional work of a research nature. A - F Grading.

CRIM 435: CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (3 credits).  Organization and functions of investigative agencies, basic considerations in the investigation of crime, collection and preservation of physical evidence, elements of legal proof in the submission of evidence, investigation of specific types of offenses.  Note: Open to graduate students. Graduate students are required to do additional work of a research nature. A - F Grading.

*CRIM 440: ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits). A study of ethics, crime, and the criminal justice system. This course explores a variety of theoretical perspectives relative to the study of ethical behavior and then applies this discussion to the practice of law enforcement and corrections.

CRIM 497: INDIVIDUAL DIRECTED STUDY (1-3 credits).  An individual study of a particular area or problem in criminology as decided upon by the student and the instructor.  An outline of the proposed study must be submitted to the instructor for approval prior to enrollment in the course.  Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

*CRIM 498: INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINOLOGY (3-6 credits).  Placement in any one of several settings, such as law enforcement, courts, or correctional institutions, in accordance with the interests of the student and recommendation of the faculty. Prerequisite:  senior standing or consent of instructor.

CRIM 499: DANGER AND DISORDER: CRITICAL ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY (3 credits). This course examines crime, justice, and civic life from historical, comparative, social science, and contemporary cultural perspectives. Topics include law and society, violence in America, criminal subcultures, drug policy, essential issues in criminal justice, mass media and crime, and citizen involvement in criminal justice.  Prerequisites: 78 credits minimum.  Credits [GE 2000: Capstone Course (majors only)].

*  Criminology & Criminal Justice Major Requirement

 

School of Criminology and Security Studies