Graduate Courses in Criminal Justice

2008-2010 Catalog

All Courses are Web Based

All Criminal Justice Master's courses are designated writing intensive

CJ 5301 Overview and Administration of the Criminal Justice System (3-0)
An advanced and detailed overview of the criminal justice system and its administration. This course will take a systemic perspective of our system of police, courts, and corrections. Focus will be placed on how the system, as a system, reacts to changes in legislation and social mood. Some emphasis will be placed on the legislative and political process surrounding U.S. criminal justice efforts.

CJ 5303 Program and Policy in Criminal Justice (3-0)
Principles and Techniques of program and policy evaluation including models and case studies.

CJ 5304 Liabilities and Immunities of Criminal Justice Personnel and Agencies (3-0)
Theory and basic principles of liability and immunity of criminal justice personnel and agencies under both state and federal law. Emphasis on civil rights and tort liability. Impact on the criminal justice system and techniques for minimizing liability. Covers correctional, private security and law enforcement aspects.

CJ 5311 Advanced Law Enforcement Administration (3-0)
Management issues in modern police agencies including hiring, retention, training, dismissal, human relations and cultural sensitivity. Communication, management styles, policy development, effectiveness, problem solving and community policing are also covered.

CJ 5313 Seminar in Policing (3-0)
This advanced level course will focus on the history and development of modern professional policing and police administration. Emphasis will be placed on the evolving role of police in a democracy as well as the trends toward community oriented policing styles.

CJ 5314 Seminar in Corrections (3-0)
A course on the evolution and current state of corrections and correctional management. Theories of punishment will be addressed and management techniques will be covered. This course will go beyond concepts of institutionalized corrections to explore modern correctional alternatives and well as special topics relevant to corrections.

CJ 5315 Seminar in Courts and Judiciary (3-0)
Advanced study of the role and structure of the judiciary, (especially the U.S. Supreme Court), in the American system of justice.

CJ 5316 Women and Crime (3-0)

This course will cover topics relating to women and their interaction with the various components of the criminal justice system as victims, offenders, and employees. Each of these three categories of women will be covered in the context of police, courts, and corrections. Additionally issues relating to the rights women have in American society will be covered from a historical and contemporary perspective.

CJ 5317 Juvenile Delinquency (3-0)

This course will focus on the nature and extent of delinquent behavior, theories of delinquency and their implications for intervention, cultural and social factors related to delinquency, as well as the philosophy and functioning of the juvenile justice system. Emphasis will be placed on school related delinquency, the role of the media in creating delinquency panics, and the differences between males and females.

CJ 5318 Seminar in Criminal Justice Theory (3-0)
Advanced study of theories of crime and deviance and of the operation of the criminal justice system. Includes application of theory to policy issues.

CJ 5319 Use of Force in Criminal Justice (3-0)
Study of the use of and legal rules and concepts involved in the use of force by criminal justice personnel. The course will include both legal and conceptual dimensions of the issue. Among topics to be covered are force continuums, non-lethal force, verbal judo, and alternatives to using force.

CJ 5321 Domestic Violence (3-0)
This course will cover topics relating to domestic violence including spousal abuse, other types of family abuse, and caretaker abuse.  Discussion will include possible explanations for the abuse, reasons why the victims stay, and intervention issues.

5323 Homeland Security (3-0)
This course will explore the various aspects of the government entity – Homeland Security. Discussion will focus on defining the role for this agency, government restructuring, legal basis for actions and the various divisions within the agency. Also, special projects undertaken in support of the agency’s mission will be discussed with emphasis on the effect this will have on the various levels of government and the civilian population.

CJ 5325 Graduate Seminar (3-0)
Professional ethics and professionalism, role of the private sector in criminal justice, opportunities for employment and doctoral level study, criminal justice data sources, history and future of discipline and current developments.
Prerequisite: CJ 5304, CJ 5318 and CJ 5334

5327  Seminar on the U.S. Supreme Court (3-0)
Variable topic course. Study of the history, impact, personnel, and decision-making processes of the U.S. Supreme Court. Course may be repeated when topic changes.

CJ 5331 Topics in Criminal Justice (3-0)
Intensive study of selected issues in Criminal Justice. May be repeated when topic varies.

CJ 5332 Independent Research (3-0)
Individual study of a selected criminal justice topic under guidance of the faculty. May be repeated for credit with a different topic. Prerequisite: Permission of Graduate Coordinator, Department Chair and faculty member involved.

CJ 5333 Internship (3-0)
Supervised work experience in an approved criminal justice agency. Designed to allow the student to synthesize theory and practice. May be repeated once with a different agency. A student's compensated employment may not be utilized as an internship. Prerequisite: approval of Graduate Coordinator

5334  Legal Research and Analysis on Criminal Justice (3-0)
Basic legal research and analysis, use and interpretation of legal materials. (Required)

5340 Seminar on Firearms and Violence (3-0)
Variable topic course which will cover topics such as gun control, Second Amendment, firearms and suicide, and related issues. May be repeated when topic changes.

CJ 6301 Thesis (6-0)
Satisfactory completion of this course will result in an acceptable prospectus presented to the thesis committee. The student will normally register for this course no earlier than the second semester of graduate study. The student will enroll each semester or summer term in which assistance is provided by the thesis committee or when use is made of the library or other research facilities of Sul Ross State University. Prerequisite: CJ/PS 5307, and approval of Graduate Coordinator

CJ 6302 Thesis (6-0)
After satisfactory completion of CJ 6301, the student will enroll in this course each semester or summer term in which assistance is provided by the thesis committee or when use is made of the library or any other research facilities of Sul Ross State University. Satisfactory completion of this course will result in a completed thesis presented to the graduate committee, accepted by the Dean of the School, and filed in the office of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. Prerequisite: CJ 6301 and the approval of the Graduate Coordinator