CJ& 112 - Criminology

Credits: 5
Surveys the study of crime, causation, and criminals. Topics include types and characteristics of offenders and criminal behaviors, recidivism, environmental influences, diagnostic methods, prediction, prevention, and social policy.

Enrollment Requirement: CJ& 101 and ENGL& 101 or 126/127/128/235 with a grade of 2.0 or higher; or instructor consent.

Satisfies Requirement: Social Science
Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Define, recognize, and explain, key concepts related to the field of study called Criminology.
Explain the various methods of measuring crime, including the techniques of scientific methodology employed in each measure, the strengths and weakness characteristic of each measure, and the sociological, political, and economic usefulness of each measure.
Distinguish and explain the principle theories that attempt to explain various criminal behavior patterns that exist in the United States.
Compare and contrast the crime rate in the United States with that of other industrialized countries around the world.
Use theory to explain criminal behavior as it is commonly portrayed in the movies.
Identify the authors of the principle theories that attempt to explain various criminal behavior patterns.
Describe and articulate the historical development of criminological theories as they occurred and progressed throughout the world.
Critically analyze, compare and contrast the basic approaches to the control of crime utilized in this country.

Program Outcomes

Give reasons for conclusions, assumptions, beliefs and hypotheses.
Meet obligations necessary to complete individual and group tasks.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.