Criminal Justice BS

Criminal Justice, BS degree, typical course sequence

Course		Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
CRIM-100	Seminar in Criminal Justice This seminar acquaints students with key resources for understanding and conducting criminal justice research. The course involves extensive reading, writing, and discussion. It covers the principles of the criminal justice system including the relationship between system components, their effectiveness, and theories of operation and reform. Consideration is also given to specific problems within the branches of the criminal justice system. (This course is restricted to CRIM-BS Major students.) Seminar (Fall, Spring).	3
CRIM-110	Introduction to Criminal Justice This course provides an introduction to criminal justice. One of the primary goals of this course is to provide a general understanding of how the criminal justice system responds to crime in society. The main component parts of the criminal justice system (i.e., police, courts, and corrections) will be examined with a particular emphasis on developing an understanding of the behavior and interactions among the main actors in the criminal justice system. To accomplish this goal, we will examine how criminal cases are processed in the criminal justice system. We will also consider how external forces, such as political decisions, public opinion, and the media influence criminal justice decision-making. Students will also formulate, argue, and evaluate ethical perspectives regarding criminal justice systems, individual-level decisions, and recognize relationships with other ethical problems in society. Finally, throughout the course we will emphasize how the societal response to crime has evolved over time. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).	3
YOPS-10	RIT 365: RIT Connections RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring).	0
	Criminal Justice Elective	3
	General Education – Artistic Perspective	3
	General Education – Ethical Perspective	3
	General Education – First-Year Writing (WI)	3
	General Education – Global Perspective	3
	General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective‡	3
	General Education – Social Perspective	3
	General Education – Elective	3
Second Year
CRIM-300	Quantitative Methods for Criminal Justice This course is designed to provide students with a foundation in social science research methods. Through lecture, discussion and activities associated with a research project, emphasis is placed on the creation of null hypotheses, identification of the relationships among variables, establishment models, and analysis of data using both parametric and non-parametric statistics. Required course for criminal justice majors. (Prerequisites: CRIM-100 and CRIM-110 or equivalent course and at least 3rd year standing.) Lecture 3 (Fall).	3
CRIM-350	Theories of Crime and Criminality A comprehensive survey of historical and contemporary theories of the causes of crime. Included are theories that derive from biological, psychological, sociological, geographic, economic, and political perspectives. Development of criminological theory reviewed; fundamental distinctions between classical and positivist theories and between theories of crime and criminality discussed. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
CRIM-400	Research Methods This course is designed to provide students with a foundation in social science research methods. Through lecture, discussion, and activities associated with a research proposal, the different methods of conducting research are presented. Stress is on issues of deducting hypotheses from theoretical frameworks, variable construction, experimental design, sampling methodology, and the techniques and methods of data collection. Students will formulate a written research proposal that details a research question and the research question and the research design appropriate for addressing that question. (Prerequisites: CRIM-300 and CRIM-350 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).	3
	Criminal Justice Elective	3
	General Education – Immersion 1, 2	6
	General Education – Mathematical Perspective A	3
	General Education – Mathematical Perspective B	3
	General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective	3
	General Education – Elective	3
Third Year
	Criminal Justice Electives	9
	General Education – Electives	9
	General Education – Immersion 3	3
	Open Electives	9
Fourth Year
CRIM-500	Seminar in Criminal Justice and Public Policy (WI-PR) This course provides an overview of the public policy process as it relates to issues of crime and criminal justice. Students will gain an understanding of the socio-political context of criminal justice public policy, the public policy process, and the challenges facing successful policy implementation that are unique to criminal justice. The beginning of the course will emphasize public policy designed to control or limit the behavior and discretionary decisions of criminal justice officials. The remainder of the course will emphasize public policy designed to enhance the control, supervision, and processing of criminal offenders. (Prerequisites: CRIM-400 or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring).	3
CRIM-550	Field Experience Internship practicum for all criminal justice students. Gives the student first-hand experience in the field of criminal justice in an appropriate organization that meets the needs of the student's career objectives. Students are closely supervised at selected organizations, developing their preprofessional skills while learning the organization's programs and methods. (Prerequisites: CRIM-400 or equivalent course.) Internship (Fall, Spring).	3
	Criminal Justice Electives	9
	General Education – Electives	9
	Open Electives	6
Total Semester Credit Hours		120

Please see General Education Curriculum (GE) for more information.

(WI-PR) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.

* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.

‡ Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3 or 4 credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, students must take both the lecture and lab portions to satisfy the requirement.

Criminal Justice Electives

Course
CRIM-210	Technology in Criminal Justice Develops understanding of theories, management processes, organizational capabilities and social implications of criminal justice technologies. Many categories of technology are considered, ranging from communications and records management, to special assault and protection tactics. Students consider the role of industry, government, and user groups in the historical development and legal/ethical use of specific technologies. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
CRIM-215	Law and Society This course focuses on the relationships between law and other social institutions, and examines the values and interests that are expressed in law and shaped by legal structures and processes. Consensus and conflict perspectives of the law are compared and contrasted, and applied to understanding the law's impact on everyday life. This course takes an explicit interdisciplinary approach to understanding law. Lecture 3 (Biannual).
CRIM-220	Corrections Introduction to the basic organizations of the correctional system, their functions and performance. Prisons and jails, as well as probation and parole agencies, are discussed with the context of historical and contemporary philosophy. Attention also is focused on decision-making functions, the role of various personnel within the correctional system and the population of offenders within it. Strategies for rehabilitation and their effectiveness are surveyed. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
CRIM-225	Criminal Law Criminal Law deals with the substantive and procedural criminal law. Characteristics of crimes against people, property, and the state will be examined. Emphasis will be placed on the nature of criminal conduct, the requirement of criminal intent, and legal causation. In addition, the principal defenses will be examined. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
CRIM-230	Juvenile Justice This course examines the concepts, theories and environmental influences of juvenile offenders, the impact of the judicial system, control and corrections on juvenile justice. The course also examines the role of forces in the system including police, courts, community resources, and treatment. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
CRIM-235	Crime, Justice and Communities This course provides an overview of the role of communities in crime and criminal justice. The course begins by laying a foundation in community theory. Students will gain an understanding of the critical dimensions and attributes which define community. From here the course will emphasize how these critical community dimensions are related to both crime and criminal justice. We will discuss the extent to which structural characteristics (e.g., poverty, residential mobility, etc.) and social processes (e.g., social capital, collective efficacy, etc.) are related to crime and disorder. The course will also examine the potential that exists within criminal justice to intervene in communities to reduce crime and disorder and build community in the process. Central to this will be a discussion of co-production (i.e., the intersection between formal and informal social control). The remainder of the course will examine how the major components of criminal justice (i.e., police, courts, and corrections) have attempted to intersect with communities. These topics will include community policing, comprehensive community initiatives, community problem-solving, community prosecution, restorative justice, and community corrections/offender re-entry. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
CRIM-240	Law Enforcement in Society This course examines the social and historical origins of the various police systems; police culture, role and career; police in the legal system; social and legal restraints on police practices; police discretion in practice; police and community; police organization and community control mechanisms. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
CRIM-245	Prostitution and Vice This course will examine prostitution and vice in the United States and globally. Through empirical scholarship, various issues will be examined including issues faced by sex workers including crime, victimization, health and safety, and law and policy issues. Quality of life issues for communities will also be examined. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
CRIM-250	Domestic Violence This course focuses on domestic violence in the United States and globally. Various types of domestic violence will be examined, including intimate partner violence, child abuse, and elder abuse. The course will also examine criminal justice responses to domestic violence, including police, court processing of domestic violence cases and punishment of domestic violence offenders. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
CRIM-255	Seminar on Sexual Violence This course focuses on sexual violence in the United States and globally. Various types of sexual violence will be examined, including incest, elder abuse, and male victimization. The course will also examine criminal justice responses to sexual violence, including police, court processing of sexual violence cases and punishment and treatment of sexual offenders. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
CRIM-260	Courts This course provides students with an understanding of the recognized functions of courts in the American criminal justice system. Jurisdiction, policies and procedures of courts in the administration of criminal justice, including trial and appellate courts, will be discussed. Courts will be examined at the local, state and federal levels. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
CRIM-265	Women and Crime This course deals with women as criminal offenders and as victims of crime, focusing upon theories about women in crime, types of crimes committed, patterns of criminality and the treatment of women offenders. Also examines the role of women as law enforcement officers, judges, lawyers and correctional officers in the criminal justice system. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
CRIM-270	Current Issues in Criminal Justice
CRIM-275	Crime and Violence This course focuses on the outbreak and prevalence of violent crime in the United States as one of the most important social realities of the past 100 years. In addition to a historical review, we will also scrutinize contemporary problems associated with violence. These problems include street violence, terrorism, riots, vigilantism, and how the criminal justice system has attempted to control these problems. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
CRIM-285	Minority Groups and the Criminal Justice System This course will investigate the roles played by racial minorities- African-Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans-- at each level of the criminal justice system in the United States of America and globally. The experience of African Americans will be emphasized since this group has been the subject of more extensive research by criminologists and criminal justice practitioners. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
CRIM-290	Computer Crime This course provides definitional, theoretical, and operational context for understanding computer-based competition, conflict and crime in the information age. Students study the history, nature and extent of computer-related crime, as well as differing types of computer criminals, their motivations and the methods they use to threaten, attack, compromise or damage physical, and cyber assets. The course considers legal and regulatory environments and the impact these have on policies and practices related to ethics in the management of information security, data encryption, privacy, and numerous other special topics. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
CRIM-299	Crime, Justice, and Ethics This course provides an introduction to ethical theories, consideration of justice as operationalized in contemporary criminal justice and emerging issues that accompany technological advancements such as video surveillance. Students will explore how ethical frameworks are embedded, implicitly and explicitly, in fundamental questions that are resolved by police, judges, and prosecutors. Conceptions of justice and criminal justice will be considered as they relate to criminological and criminal justice theories such as Procedural Justice/Legitimacy theories, Restorative Justice, as well as rationales for punishment. Implications for evaluation of technological changes in criminal justice will also be considered from the perspectives of ethical choices. Lecture 3 (Spring).
CRIM-310	Seminar in Law Focuses on the nature, function and limits of the rule of law. This course traces the history and development of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 14th Amendments of the United States Constitution. This will be accomplished by reading and discussing approximately 100 United States Supreme Court decisions from the early 1900's through the present. Students will also be introduced to the concept of briefing a case. Lecture 3 (Biannual).
CRIM-315	Evidence Provides the student with an awareness of what types of evidence are admissible in a criminal trial. Includes a comprehensive analysis of the most frequently used rules of evidence. There are readings and discussions pertaining to the nature of real, testimonial, hearsay and circumstantial evidence. Examines rules concerning the cross-examination of witnesses, exceptions to the exclusion of hearsay evidence, the burden of proof, the provinces of the judge and of the jury, legal presumptions, and the exclusion of illegally obtained evidence. Lecture 3 (Biannual).
CRIM-489	Major Issues in Criminal Justice Focuses on contemporary issues and topics not otherwise distinctly incorporated in established criminal justice courses. Concentrates on student discussion and interaction surrounding required readings on topics such as crime prevention and issues in the prosecution/court system. Recent examples include cyberlaw, prisoner re-entry restorative justice, wrongful convictions, crime mapping, crime analysis, non-traditional courts, legal controversies in the law, substance abuse, and legal research. (Prerequisites: CRIM-110 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).

Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees

The curriculum below outlines the typical course sequence(s) for combined accelerated degrees available with this bachelor's degree.

Criminal Justice, BS/MS degree, typical course sequence

Course		Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
CRIM-100	Seminar in Criminal Justice This seminar acquaints students with key resources for understanding and conducting criminal justice research. The course involves extensive reading, writing, and discussion. It covers the principles of the criminal justice system including the relationship between system components, their effectiveness, and theories of operation and reform. Consideration is also given to specific problems within the branches of the criminal justice system. (This course is restricted to CRIM-BS Major students.) Seminar (Fall, Spring).	3
CRIM-110	Introduction to Criminal Justice This course provides an introduction to criminal justice. One of the primary goals of this course is to provide a general understanding of how the criminal justice system responds to crime in society. The main component parts of the criminal justice system (i.e., police, courts, and corrections) will be examined with a particular emphasis on developing an understanding of the behavior and interactions among the main actors in the criminal justice system. To accomplish this goal, we will examine how criminal cases are processed in the criminal justice system. We will also consider how external forces, such as political decisions, public opinion, and the media influence criminal justice decision-making. Students will also formulate, argue, and evaluate ethical perspectives regarding criminal justice systems, individual-level decisions, and recognize relationships with other ethical problems in society. Finally, throughout the course we will emphasize how the societal response to crime has evolved over time. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer).	3
YOPS-010	RIT 365: RIT Connections RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring).	0
	General Education – Ethical Perspective	3
	General Education – Artistic Perspective	3
	General Education – Global Perspective	3
	General Education – Social Perspective	3
	General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective‡	3
	General Education – First Year Writing (WI)	3
	General Education – Elective	3
	Criminal Justice Elective	3
Second Year
CRIM-300	Quantitative Methods for Criminal Justice This course is designed to provide students with a foundation in social science research methods. Through lecture, discussion and activities associated with a research project, emphasis is placed on the creation of null hypotheses, identification of the relationships among variables, establishment models, and analysis of data using both parametric and non-parametric statistics. Required course for criminal justice majors. (Prerequisites: CRIM-100 and CRIM-110 or equivalent course and at least 3rd year standing.) Lecture 3 (Fall).	3
CRIM-350	Theories of Crime and Criminality A comprehensive survey of historical and contemporary theories of the causes of crime. Included are theories that derive from biological, psychological, sociological, geographic, economic, and political perspectives. Development of criminological theory reviewed; fundamental distinctions between classical and positivist theories and between theories of crime and criminality discussed. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
CRIM-400	Research Methods This course is designed to provide students with a foundation in social science research methods. Through lecture, discussion, and activities associated with a research proposal, the different methods of conducting research are presented. Stress is on issues of deducting hypotheses from theoretical frameworks, variable construction, experimental design, sampling methodology, and the techniques and methods of data collection. Students will formulate a written research proposal that details a research question and the research question and the research design appropriate for addressing that question. (Prerequisites: CRIM-300 and CRIM-350 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).	3
	Criminal Justice Elective	3
	General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective	3
	General Education – Mathematical Perspective A	3
	General Education – Mathematical Perspective B	3
	General Education – Elective	3
	General Education – Immersion 1, 2	6
Third Year
	Criminal Justice Electives	9
	General Education – Electives	9
	General Education – Immersion 3	3
	Open Electives	9
Fourth Year
CRIM-500	Seminar in Criminal Justice and Public Policy (WI-PR) This course provides an overview of the public policy process as it relates to issues of crime and criminal justice. Students will gain an understanding of the socio-political context of criminal justice public policy, the public policy process, and the challenges facing successful policy implementation that are unique to criminal justice. The beginning of the course will emphasize public policy designed to control or limit the behavior and discretionary decisions of criminal justice officials. The remainder of the course will emphasize public policy designed to enhance the control, supervision, and processing of criminal offenders. (Prerequisites: CRIM-400 or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring).	3
CRIM-550	Field Experience Internship practicum for all criminal justice students. Gives the student first-hand experience in the field of criminal justice in an appropriate organization that meets the needs of the student's career objectives. Students are closely supervised at selected organizations, developing their preprofessional skills while learning the organization's programs and methods. (Prerequisites: CRIM-400 or equivalent course.) Internship (Fall, Spring).	3
CRIM-700	Pro-Seminar In Criminal Justice Theory In this pro-seminar, students examine the theoretical foundation of criminal justice. This course integrates studies of criminal justice systems, enforcement organizations, judicial decision-making, courtroom communities and correctional systems by focusing on the study of governmental social control premised on punishment or blameworthiness. It examines the underlying causes and patterns of official responses to behavior that may be labeled criminal, and the structures, policies, and practices of criminal justice. (CRIM-MS) Seminar (Fall).	3
CRIM-703	Advanced Criminology This course will provide students with a detailed understanding of the theories that have guided criminological research and policy. Subject matter will cover the major influences in criminology: the classical school, the Chicago School, strain theories, socialization, and learning theories, and conflict theories, among others. The prerequisite for this course will be a strong undergraduate foundation in theories of crime and criminality. (CRIM-MS) Seminar (Spring).	3
	General Education – Electives	9
	Open Electives	6
	Criminal Justice Elective	3
Fifth Year
CRIM-701	Statistics The purpose of this course is to provide students with training in quantitative analysis of social science data. Students will develop a conceptual understanding of techniques, the ability to recognize the appropriate selection of techniques, and the ability to use those statistical measures and interpret their results. Students will gain experience with inferential statistics through the level of commonly used multivariate analyses. The prerequisite for this course will be a strong undergraduate foundation in statistical analysis. With the consent of their adviser and the graduate coordinator, qualified students may substitute more specialized statistics courses or courses in such areas as geographical information systems (GIS). (CRIM-MS) Seminar (Fall).	3
CRIM-702	Pro-Seminar in Research Methods This seminar will focus on the principles and techniques of research with a special focus on evaluation research. The course will cover research conceptualization and design, development of appropriate measures, collection and analysis of data using a wide range of methods. Students will gain a thorough understanding of the research process as well as the policy implications and consequences of research and evaluation. Students will also begin to develop a thesis research proposal. (CRIM-MS) Seminar (Fall).	3
CRIM-704	Crime, Justice and Community This course provides an overview of the role of communities in crime and criminal justice. The course begins by preparing a foundation in community theory. Students will gain an understanding of the critical dimensions and attributes which define community. The course will emphasize how these critical community dimensions are related to both crime and criminal justice. The course will involve an examination of community-based theory and research, with a special emphasis on the criminology of place and how crime and justice patterns are embedded in particular social structures and cultures. We will discuss the extent to which structural characteristics (e.g., poverty, residential mobility, etc.) and social processes (e.g., social capital, collective efficacy, etc.) are related to crime and disorder. The course will also examine the potential that exists within criminal justice to intervene in communities to reduce crime and disorder and build community in the process. Central to this will be a discussion of co-production (i.e., the intersection between formal and informal social control). (CRIM-MS) Seminar (Spring).	3
CRIM-705	Interventions and Change in Criminal Justice This course will focus on theory and research regarding the effectiveness of broad anti-crime strategies and specific intervention efforts at the local, state, national and international level. Theoretical explanations of crime and ideological orientations towards crime will be linked with the crime control and prevention strategies associated with those perspectives. Each strategy of crime control/prevention (including deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and community crime prevention) will be assessed in terms of research findings on its effectiveness. Detailed attention will be given to prevention/control strategies aimed at both juvenile and adult offenders. Programs will also be examined in the broader context of the ideology and philosophy of justice. Students will become familiar with the state of the art in crime and justice related interventions by studying the theory, practice and evaluation of contemporary crime and justice interventions. (CRIM-MS) Seminar (Spring).	3
CRIM-775	Criminal Justice Capstone The criminal justice capstone involves guided research on a topic approved by the instructor. The capstone requires students to develop, design and complete an original research project. Satisfactory completion involves the execution of a substantial research paper and includes a public oral presentation. Project 3 (Fall, Spring).	3
	Electives	9
Total Semester Credit Hours		144

Please see General Education Curriculum for more information.

(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.

* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.