LSCJ-Criminal Justice

LSCJ 2283. Introduction to Criminal Justice.3 Credit Hours.

Investigation and analysis of the three major components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections. Topics include the criminal justice system's ability to balance crime control and individual civil liberties, the use of formal and informal decision-making processes, and the effectiveness of criminal justice policies, practices, and programs. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 2700. Topics in Criminal Justice.1-9 Credit Hours.

May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit nine credit hours. Specific course content will be defined each time the course is offered. A problem-oriented approach to Criminal Justice. Reading and research, arranged and directed in consultation with the instructor, in specified areas of Criminal Justice. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3063. Statistics in Criminal Justice.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. An introduction to the basics of social statistics, the methods and techniques which sociologists, policy analysts, and other social scientists use to summarize numeric data obtained from censuses, surveys, and experiments. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3113. Comparative Justice Systems.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. Examines and compares the legal and criminal justice systems of different nations. Focuses on historical, political and social factors, and explains their influence on legal institutions and systems of justice. Discusses points of divergence between other societies and the United States in perceived causes of crime and differing approaches to rehabilitation and crime prevention. Countries representing Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America are included. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3133. Theories of Criminal Behavior.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. An overview of theories of criminal behavior as well as current issues in criminology. Students will be exposed to biological, sociological and psychological theories of crime, as well as opposing viewpoints on important topics in criminology. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3173. Deviance and Social Control.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. Students will be introduced to the sociological study of deviance and social control, with a focus on the social construction of deviant behavior and the relative nature of such definitions through time and across cultures. Current research on selected types of deviance will be reviewed to understand the individual and structural dimension of behavior as well as implications for policy and social control. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3203. Criminal Justice Administration.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. Covers the development, proliferation, institutionalization, and goals of the components of the criminal justice system and their administration. The course will also cover the ethics of managing justice and punishment. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3223. American Judicial Processes.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. Acquaints students of criminal justice with the overall structure of state and federal courts, including jurisdiction, sources of law, civil and criminal legal procedures from initial pleadings through appeal, substantive civil and criminal law, and policy issues about the role of the judiciary in representative government. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3233. Restorative Justice and Problem-Solving Courts.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission from advisor. Exploration of the philosophies, principals and strategies of non-incarceration justice models that seek to rehabilitate offenders as well as reduce harm to society and victims. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3243. Capital Punishment.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing, or permission from academic advisor. An exploration of historical, legal, ethical, and sociological aspects of capital punishment in the American experience. Topics include an examination of capital punishment as practiced from colonial times to present, the moral, legal, and political conflicts surrounding the American death penalty, the players and personalities in our capital punishment system, and representations of capital punishment in American culture. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3333. Special Populations in Corrections.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission from academic advisor. Introduction to the management challenges presented by special populations in the criminal justice system, including individuals with mental illness, addictions, the disabled and the elderly. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3413. Crime Scene Processing.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission from academic advisor. Introductory training in the process of crime scene management and how to become proficient in recognizing evidence and determining the proper packaging and preservation methods. Topics include basic methods in crime scene photography, sketching, collection, and documentation. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3423. Computer Crime and Digital Investigation.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or departmental permission. The course will examine the ways in which the digital world has changed legal concepts developed in the brick-and-mortar world. It will focus on cutting-edge legal issues related to cybercrime, obtaining digital evidence, privacy issues, and the intersection of these issues with civil liberties. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3440. Mentored Research Experience.3 Credit Hours.

0 to 3 hours. Prerequisites: ENGL 1113 or equivalent, and permission of instructor. May be repeated; maximum credit 12 hours. For the inquisitive student to apply the scholarly processes of the discipline to a research or creative project under the mentorship of a faculty member. Student and instructor should complete an Undergraduate Research & Creative Projects (URCP) Mentoring Agreement and file it with the URCP office. Not for honors credit. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3463. Homeland Security and Emerging Threats.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission from advisor. An introduction to the organizational and process aspects of Homeland Security at federal, state, and local levels and the emerging threats to the U.S. homeland. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 3953. Prospectus-Writing for Criminal Justice.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing and LSTD 3003, or permission from advisor. Preparatory course for LSCJ 4953 focusing on research methods, critical evaluation of academic literature, identifying and developing research topics, and improving academic writing. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4123. Introduction to Forensic Science/Criminalistics.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. Using the study and application of science to examine the relationship between science disciplines, and the criminal investigative process, students will be presented with theories and principles related to methods in the recognition, collection, preservation and analysis of physical evidence. Actual forensic cases will be presented and discussed throughout the course. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4143. Drugs and Society.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. Examines the impact of drug abuse on contemporary American society. Students learn about drug regulation and legal issues, how drugs affect the brain and shape behavior, and the various categories of drugs and their characteristics. Also focuses on drug abuse prevention, treating drug dependence, and law enforcement programs to address drugs in society. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4233. Community Policing and Problem Solving.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission from academic advisor. An introduction to the concept of community policing. Topics include an historic overview of policing in the US, the definition of and strategies used in community policing, and an exploration of challenges related to modern policing. Specific emphasis is placed on developing a tool set for law enforcement professionals to effectively lead police agencies into the future. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4243. Police and Policing.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. Provides a historical perspective of policing as well as up-to-date information on policing and the issues that police deal with in a post-9/11 society. The course will provide students with a basic understanding of the CSI effect, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and developments in community policing. The course also highlights the role of officers in society and within the criminal justice system. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4253. Corporate Security: Private Policing in the 21st Century.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission from academic advisor. An examination of the operational aspects of private security and private forms of policing with particular emphasis towards how these functions relate to the broader public safety and homeland security landscape. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4263. The American Correctional System.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. A survey course covering the development of the field of corrections from its early American roots to the present. Included are discussions of the role and function of jails, traditional and modern correctional facilities, private/contract corrections, and probation and parole. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4273. Community Corrections.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission from academic advisor. Introduction to the topics of probation, parole, and other alternatives to incarceration, collectively referred to as Community Corrections. Emphasis will be placed on the role of research and program evaluation in determining policy/program effectiveness. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4403. Criminal Investigation.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. Provides students with the theoretical and practical aspects of criminal investigation. Students develop an analytical and practical understanding of investigative methodology, the collection and preservation of physical evidence and explore current crime solving technology. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4413. Intelligence Analysis for Law Enforcement.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission from academic advisor. A survey of intelligence analysis and the use of data, cyber, and human sources of information to predict, interdict, and investigate crime. Topics include understanding the role of intelligence analysis and dissemination in modern law enforcement and homeland security, crime analysis techniques, geographic information systems, cyber data gathering, and human sources of intelligence. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4423. Cyberspace Security.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. Provides an in-depth exploration of cyberspace crime and security. An intensive study of the types of crimes committed in cyberspace, a profile of offenders, and current legal issues in cyberspace. Students will explore emerging issues in information assurance and prevention of cyberspace crimes and will examine the proper collection, preservation and examination of digital evidence. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4443. Juvenile Delinquency.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. An overview of juvenile delinquency in the United States, including current issues. Students will read both classic studies on the emergence of the juvenile system and current research on trends in juvenile delinquency. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4453. Human Trafficking.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission from academic advisor. An examination of human trafficking and slavery, including bonded labor, forced migration, and sex trafficking. Topics include historical and modern examples from both the United States and global contexts, as well as current policies and laws intended to combat human trafficking. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4463. Homeland/Global Security and Justice.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. Designed to help the student understand how governments deal with the problem of securing the homeland. Examines what terrorism is, and how America has traditionally dealt with homeland security, and how that perspective is evolving. Once we understand what terrorism is, the focus of the course will be on how law enforcement and the courts have taken on the challenge of providing global security while ensuring justice. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4493. Organized Crime and International Drug Trafficking.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission from PACS advisor. An examination of trends relating to international drug trafficking and organized crime. Topics include the history of the drug trade, criminal organizations and governments involved in drug trafficking, and emerging issues relating to the digital world and cyberspace. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4700. Advanced Topics in Criminal Justice.1-9 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from CLS adviser. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit nine hours. Specific course content will be defined each time the course is offered. A problem-oriented approach to criminal justice. Reading and research, arranged and directed in consultation with the instructor in specified areas of criminal justice. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4920. Internship in Criminal Justice.1-3 Credit Hours.

1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: junior standing and permission from CLS adviser. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit nine hours. Field experience in issues related to a student's area of study. Students will gain knowledge through experiential and on-the-job practice. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4943. Practicum in Criminal Justice Leadership - Self-Study.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Criminal Justice major with senior standing, retention GPA of 2.8 or higher, consent of the Criminal Justice Department Lead Faculty, and any additional criteria as specified by the internship manual. A comprehensive work experience that promotes essential knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed in the field of criminal justice. Options include cooperative education, apprenticeships, extended job shadowing, internships, and other systematic, planned work experiences. Approval of work experience and number of credits to be earned is required. (F, Sp, Su)

LSCJ 4953. Capstone in Criminal Justice.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing, LSTD 3003, and LSCJ 3953, or permission from advisor. Senior capstone course for criminal justice culminating in a scholarly paper focusing on a specialized topic or case study. Students will demonstrate mastery of research skills, critical and analytical thinking, academic writing, and programmatic knowledge. (F, Sp)

LSCJ 4960. Directed Readings.1-4 Credit Hours.

1 to 4 hours. Prerequisite: junior standing and permission from PACS adviser and instructor. May be repeated; maximum credit four hours. Designed for upper-division students who need opportunity to study a specific problem in greater depth than formal course content permits. (Irreg.)

LSCJ 4970. Special Topics/Seminar.1-3 Credit Hours.

1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from PACS adviser. May be repeated; maximum credit nine hours. Special topics or seminar course for content not currently offered in regularly scheduled courses. May include library and/or laboratory research and field projects. (Irreg.)

LSCJ 4990. Independent Study.1-3 Credit Hours.

1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: Junior standing and permission of PACS adviser and instructor. May be repeated; maximum credit nine hours. Contracted independent study for a topic not currently offered in regularly scheduled courses. Independent study may include library and/or laboratory research and field projects. (Irreg.)