Criminal Justice

CJS 220

Introduction to Legal Studies provides a broad understanding of the American legal system and how the law impacts our society. The course reviews the court systems, and how laws are made, enforced, interpreted, and applied. Students will be exposed to an overview of the fundamentals of law in several areas including ethics and professional responsibility, civil litigation, tort law, contract law, administrative law, family law, constitutional law, criminal law, criminal procedure, property law, evidence and other legal matters. This course also provides a hands-on application of legal research, legal writing, and case briefing.

3

Credit Hours

CJS 251

Introduction to Criminal Justice focuses on the various processing stages, practices, and personnel in the criminal justice system. This course examines the problem of crime in American society. Both historical and contemporary components of the system, including the police, the courts, and correctional agencies are explored. This course is designed to provide the student with a foundational, broad-based understanding of both the effects of crime upon communities, as well the criminal justice system response to crime in our contemporary society through the lens of a Christian Worldview.

3

Credit Hours

CJS 310

Reviews criminal law and specific offenses and applies constitutional restrictions on government’s power emphasizing basic criminal law, inchoate crimes, crimes against persons and property, contraband and regulatory offenses, public order crimes, operating while intoxicated, court functions and civil law and process. This course will also explore Biblical expressions of law and applications to modern laws and sanctions.

3

Credit Hours

CJS 315

Focuses on the substantive criminal procedure and on the constitutional restrictions on government’s power to search, seize and question. The course emphasizes basic police criminal procedure, laws of arrest, search and seizure, laws on suspect identification, admissions and confessions, use of force, and other related topics. This course will include an analysis from the Christian worldview of justice and on the topics studied.

3

Credit Hours

CJS 330

Law Enforcement and Corrections examines the history, policies and laws that impact those working in the criminal justice field. Laws of arrest, evidence, admissions, confessions, search and seizure are highlighted as it guides warrant request and testimony preparation. The history, purposes and organizational structure of jails and prisons are studied. Ethical punishment and treatment are highlighted, with a focus on the legal rights of prisoners and responsibilities of officers. Emphasis is devoted to report writing and the importance of precise record keeping.

3

Credit Hours

CJS 350

Criminology and Social Deviance explores the social and psychological influences on criminal behavior. Current theories that attempt to explain the causes of illegal behavior will be examined, including violent crime, media (video game, TV) influence, gangs, and group deviance, white- collar crime, and ‘victimless’ crime. Attention will be given to understanding criminal behavior as multifactorial within the context of a biblical worldview.

3

Credit Hours

CJS 370

Juvenile Law and Delinquency focuses on the unique challenges of working with youth within the criminal justice system. Theories that seek to explain juvenile delinquency, including the nature and extent of illegal behavior will be explored, while also considering the significant role of media violence. The justice process for juveniles will be critiqued, highlighting the structure and function of juvenile justice, probation, detention, parole, diversion for child offenders and the roles of family and social institutions in addressing illegal juvenile behavior. A biblical worldview will be promoted in responding to juvenile delinquency.

3

Credit Hours

CJS 380

Current Issues in Security discusses topics related to personal, building, and corporate security. Security knowledge in the workplace is extremely valuable and this course will help students understand the foundations of security and how to defend and react against potential threats. This course will also review legal issues, identifying suspicious behavior, technology in security, personal and structural security, internal and external threats and other related topics.

3

Credit Hours

CJS 440

An exploration of the relationships between culture, crime, and social justice with a special emphasis on ethical considerations in light of a biblical worldview. This course seeks to develop the learner’s cultural intelligence and foster compassion and a greater understanding of diverse groups who are affected by the criminal justice system.

3

Credit Hours

CJS 456

Focuses on the traits responsible for surviving in high-stress environments, including responding directly to high-threat encounters. Pro-survival behaviors are presented, including the “gift of fear” and balancing independence and leadership versus the need for teamwork collaboration in responding to stressful events. Organizational and professional psychological traits present in law enforcement, paramilitary organizations and high stress organizations are explored, as well as healthy lifestyle factors that lead to career effectiveness and avoiding burnout, such as managing vicarious trauma and promoting self-care.

3

Credit Hours

PSY 282

An introduction to research methodology and statistics as a liberal arts discipline, this course will not primarily be a number crunching course, though many statistical concepts will be presented in context. The emphasis of the course will be on developing an understanding of the principles and concepts underlying the use of statistics in social sciences research and applications. Topics to be explored include the formulation of questions and hypotheses, appropriate experimental design, sampling methodology, data analysis, and the presentation of results using graphical summaries and proper statistical notation. Offered alternate years.

3

Credit Hours

PSY 325

Examines individual behaviors within the context of one’s society. It is a study of how people think about, influence and relate to one another. Components of the behaviors studies in this course include attitudes, beliefs, prejudices, aggression, leadership, altruism, conformity, attraction, persuasion, and stereotypes.

3

Credit Hours

SOC 243

An exploration of cultural diversity and multiculturalism from a Christian faith perspective. This course provides a process to understand and practice cultural diversity competence. It is designed to initiate and provide ongoing preparation for effective interaction with everyone in our culturally diverse world. Growth in these skills equips individuals with the social graces needed to form bonds of mutual trust that will bridge the differences that ordinarily divides people.

3

Credit Hours

SOC 251

A study of contemporary Western society with emphasis on culture, socialization, group life, social institutions, social processes and social change.

3

Credit Hours

SOC 255

An introduction to human services in public and private settings. Course discussions will include the history and development of professional human services and a survey of potential local resources, which will include casework, group work, community organizations and self-study. Consideration of professional approaches will be used in working with people in the human services professions (especially psychology and social work). This course will also require site observations with special emphasis on environmental variables and diversity, including socioeconomic status (SES) and differences in power. Instruction will include lecture, discussion, field internship experiences, experiential exercises and small group experiences. Students will also begin to explore their commitment to a human service career.

3

Credit Hours

CJS 320

A faculty-supervised internship that involves placement in a local human service agency. The student will begin integrating classroom concepts and theory with practical interventions that have been the foundation from the theoretical and conceptual basis of prior learning. Internships require a minimum of 40 hours of contact time per credit earned. The typical Criminal Justice Internship is three credits, a minimum of 120 hours under agency supervision. Students also complete additional coursework in collaboration with their supervising faculty for practical integration and growth of the developing human services professional.

1-6

Credit Hours

CJS 420

Continuation of CJS 320. Internships require a minimum of 40 hours of contact time per credit earned. The typical Criminal Justice Internship is three credits, a minimum of 120 hours under agency supervision. Students also complete additional coursework in collaboration with their supervising faculty for practical integration and growth of the developing human services professional. Prerequisite: CJS 320

3

Credit Hours

CJS 426

A faculty-supervised internship that involves placement in an approved agency or setting. The student will integrate classroom concepts and theory with practical interventions that have been the foundation from the theoretical and conceptual basis of prior learning. The intensive six credit internship requires a minimum of 240 hours under agency supervision. Students also complete coursework in collaboration with their supervising faculty for practical integration and growth of the developing professional.

6

Credit Hours