Criminology and Criminal Justice

362 University Hall • Box 19595 • 817-272-3318 • www.uta.edu/criminology

The Criminology and Criminal Justice Program at The University of Texas at Arlington is designed to strike a balance between theory and application. The program's curriculum emphasizes the theoretical foundations necessary to understand human behavior; the criminal justice system; and the application of theoretical knowledge to the development and critical analysis of policy implications. The curriculum provides strong preparation for graduate work in both academic and professional programs and prepares students to more fully understand, analyze, and operate in a variety of settings within or related to the justice system.

The curriculum includes (1) general education courses required to provide a background in the liberal arts, (2) disciplinary courses that provide valuable theoretical and methodological perspectives, and (3) courses that examine various aspects of crime and the judicial, law enforcement, and correctional processes that have been developed to deal with the crime problem.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice

English

Six hours of composition.

Literature

Three hours of English or foreign language literature or other approved substitute.

Liberal Arts Elective

Three hours above the freshman level of literature, or social and cultural studies designated as taught in the College of Liberal Arts, or fine arts or philosophy, or technical writing.

Foreign Language

1441, 1442, 2313, 2314 or equivalent.

History

1311, 1312.

Political Science

2311, 2312.

Mathematics

Six hours (level of college algebra or higher)

Science

11 hours (eight hours in a single lab natural science). The natural science core requirement was changed just prior to publication of the catalog, and there was not sufficient time for all departments to make corresponding revisions in their degree requirements. Students should refer to the core curriculum requirement on page 38 of this catalog and also consult with their academic advisor.

Fine Arts

Three hours from architecture, art, dance, music, or theatre arts.

Social/Cultural Studies

Three hours of designated courses in archaeology, classical studies, communication, economics, history, humanities, linguistics, politi
cal science, social or cultural anthropology, social/political/cultural geography, social psychology, sociology or women's studies.

Major

Core (Required)

Students majoring in criminology and criminal justice must complete CRCJ 2334 or equivalent, or have permission of advisor, before taking other criminology and criminal justice courses. PSYC 1315; SOCI 1311; CRCJ 2334, 3336, 3338, 4301, 4332 or 4333, 4380; SOCI 3305, SOCI 3313 or CRCJ 3300; SOCI 3352.

Major Electives

Nine hours, at least six of which must be in CRCJ-prefix courses.
CHEM 1463; CRCJ 2340, 3307, 3337, 3380, 3390, 4300, 4309, 4315, 4331, 4332 or 4333, 4345, 4352, 4386, 4387, 4388, 4389, 4390, 4394; HIST 4385; POLS 3331, 3333, 3335, 4331, 4332; PSYC 3303, 3324; PSYC 3318 or SOCI 4332; SOCI 3312, 3317, 3322, 3357, 4310, 4315; SOCW 2311.

Minor

18 hours, at least six of which must be 3000/4000 level.

Electives

Nine hours.

Total

127 hours, at least 36 of which must be 3000/4000 level, plus exercise and sport activities (EXSA) or ROTC or marching band as required.

Requirements for a Minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice

A minor in criminology and criminal justice consists of 18 semester hours, at least 12 of which must be 3000/4000 level. Students choosing to minor in this course of study are encouraged to complete CRCJ 2334 prior to taking other criminology and criminal justice courses.

Computer and Oral Competency

Oral Communications: Students majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice may use CRCJ 4345 Media and the Criminal Justice System to demonstrate oral communication competency.

This requirement may also be met by successful completion of SPCH 1301, 2305, 3315, 3302 or any other approved course. Students also have the option of passing the university oral communications competency exam.

Computer Use: Students majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice may CRCJ 3337 Advanced Criminal Procedure to satisfy requirements for competency in computer use.

This requirement may also be met by successful completion of CSE 1301 or any other approved course. Students also have the option of passing the university computer use competency exam.

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty

Director

Assistant Professors

Adjunct Associate Professor

Criminology and Criminal Justice (CRCJ)

Prefix and number in parentheses following the U.T. Arlington course number and title is the Common Course Number designation.

1317. ISSUES IN CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3-0) 3 hours credit. Review of selected crime-related issues in contemporary American society. Examination of their implications for the criminal justice system and for the society of which it is a part. Issues selected by instructor.

2334. INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (3-0) 3 hours credit (CRIJ 1301). An overview of the entire criminal justice system; history and development, law enforcement, prosecution and defense, courts and trial processes, and corrections. Formerly CRCJ 3334; credit will not be granted for both 3334 and 2334.

2340. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (3-0) 3 hours credit (CRIJ 2314). Fundamentals of criminal investigation, including theory and history, conduct at crime scenes, sources of information, collection and preservation of evidence, case and trial preparation. Formerly CRCJ 2314; credit will be given for CRCJ 2340 or 2314, but not both.

3300. PERSPECTIVES ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (3-0) 3 hours credit. The methodological and theoretical perspectives of the social and biological sciences as integrated into the criminal justice system.

3307. INTRODUCTION TO SECURITY SYSTEMS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Historical development of private security, its form and practice in modern society. Emphasis on three major divisions within the field: industrial, commercial and governmental security organizations and issues.

3336. LAW ENFORCEMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION (3-0) 3 hours credit. Examines the principles of administration, management, politics and leadership with emphasis on their applicability to law enforcement planning, organization, direction, control and personnel management.

3337. ADVANCED CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (3-0) 3 hours credit. The processes involved in the criminal justice system; the rules of evidence; the laws of arrest, search and seizure; and the judicial process from offense to conviction.

3338. JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Organization, processes, and functions of the juvenile justice system in the United States, its historical antecedents, and contemporary challenges. Consideration also given to sociopolitical factors in juvenile justice decision-making. $45 course fee for Section 501.

3350. INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3-0) 3 hour credit. This course introduces students to the research methodology used in criminological research. Emphasis is on the development of a general understanding of why and how research can be and is conducted in the field of criminology and criminal justice. Other dimensions of research are discussed including the nature of scientific thought, the link between research methods and criminological theory, and the various ethical issues concerning research in the field of criminology.

3370. INTRODUCTION TO FORENSICS (3-0) 3 hour credit. This course provides an overview of forensic science. Emphasis is on crime scene investigation, physical evidence, organic and inorganic analysis, forensic toxicology and use of DNA in investigations.

3380. ETHNIC AND GENDER ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3-0) 3 hours credit. An overview of ethnic and gender issues focusing on victims, offenders, and professionals in the criminal justice system. Also listed as WOMS 3380; credit will be granted only once.

3390. VICTIMOLOGY (3-0) 3 credit hours. The relationship between victims of crime and the criminal justice system. Includes an analysis of the characteristics of crime victims, victim reporting and nonreporting patterns, treatment of victims by the various segments of the criminal justice system, victim assistance programs, and the issue of compensation and/or restitution for victims of crime.

4300. EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR OFFENDER POPULATIONS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Design, implement, and evaluate educational curricular for offender populations. Special attention is given to diversity issues such as culture, ethnicity/race, religion, gender, and class.

4301. THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM (3-0) 3 hours credit. Federal, state, and local judicial systems, with special emphasis on state trial courts having criminal jurisdiction. Court structure and function, court management, and judicial behavior.

4309. PRIVATE SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (3-0) 3 hours credit. The essentials of governmental and proprietary security development and program planning; including personnel recruitment and training, developing and conducting security audits, records and information protection, and general applications of modern management techniques to security organization. Prerequisite: CRCJ 3307.

4310. ADVANCED LEGAL AND TECHNICAL WRITING (3-0) 3 hours credit. Designed to develop or enhance skills in varied writing styles in the administration and study of criminal justice. Legal and technical writing requirements are presented with emphasis on purpose, form and content. Specific focus is on technical reports required by law enforcement, corrections, and community corrections as well as the drafting and reporting of statutory and case law.

4315. CRIMINAL CAREERS AND BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Study and analysis of criminal syndicates, corporate crime, computer crime, criminal corporations, organized crime, and transnational criminal operations.

4331. CORRECTIONAL LAW (3-0) 3 hours credit. Major civil liberties issues associated with institutional and community-based supervision of adult and juvenile offenders. Includes statutes, jail standards, case law, constitutional rights, recommended standards by professional groups and government commissions. Recent and future trends are examined.

4332. COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Evaluation of practices, issues, and trends in community corrections. Emphasis is on the de-institutionalization movement, probation, parole, intermediate punishments, and other community alternatives to incarceration.

4333. INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Examination and evaluation of practices, issues, and trends in institutional corrections. Emphasis is on administration, organization, and effectiveness of incarceration.

4345. CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE MEDIA (3-0) 3 hours credit. An examination of crime and the criminal justice system as depicted in the media; special emphasis on the roles of the media in influencing individual and societal perceptions of, and reactions to, crime and the criminal justice system.

4352. TERRORISM AND MASS VIOLENCE (3-0) 3 hours credit. Examination of historic and current trends in civil disruption from domestic/international perspectives. Considers literature and philosophical basis of political terrorism; costs of terrorism; future trends and deterrence by civil or military intervention. Formerly CRCJ 3352; credit will not be granted for both 4352 and 3352.

4380. COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS (3-0) 3 hours credit. An overview of criminal justice systems in other countries. Includes an intensive study and analysis of materials on their law enforcement, judicial, and corrections components; review of comparative studies on a variety of criminal justice topics.

4386. TOPICS IN CORRECTIONS (3-0) 3 hours credit. May be repeated for credit as the topics vary, but credit will not be granted for more than 12 semester hours of CRCJ-prefix topics courses without permission of advisor.

4387. TOPICS IN CRIME AND CRIMINOLOGY (3-0) 3 hours credit. May be repeated for credit as the topics vary, but credit will not be granted for more than 12 semester hours of CRCJ-prefix topics courses without permission of advisor.

4388. TOPICS IN LAW AND JUDICIAL PROCESSES (3-0) 3 hours credit. May be repeated for credit as the topics vary, but credit will not be granted for more than 12 semester hours of CRCJ-prefix topics courses without permission of advisor.

4389. TOPICS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PRIVATE SECURITY (3-0) 3 hours credit. May be repeated for credit as the topics vary, but credit will not be granted for more than 12 semester hours of CRCJ-prefix topics courses without permission of advisor.

4390. INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3-0) 3 hours credit. Provides the student with an opportunity to apply academic experience to practical situations by serving for a specified number of hours as participant-observer in a criminal justice agency. May be taken for a total of six semester hours. Internships must be arranged with internship supervisor in the semester prior to enrolling for this course. Formerly listed as CRCJ 4394; credit will be granted only once. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

4391, 4291, 4191. CONFERENCE COURSE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (Variable credit). Directed individual study; research and study on a topic agreed upon by instructor and student. No more than six hours credit will be granted for conference courses in criminal justice. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

4394. HONORS THESIS/SENIOR PROJECT (3-0) 3 hours credit. Required of all students in the University Honors College. During the senior year, the student must complete a thesis or a project under the direction of a faculty member in the major department.