2100 (CRIJ 1301). Crime and Justice in the United States. 3 hours. This course examines the societal responses to people and organizations that violate criminal codes; discusses the history, development, organization and philosophy of the justice process; and analyzes the complex inter-relationships between the major components of the criminal justice system (police, courts and corrections). Satisfies the Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement of the University Core Curriculum. (Same as SOCI 2100.)
2600. Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice. 3 hours. Critically examines race, gender and other diversity issues within the U.S. criminal justice system. Topics of emphasis include the importance of diversity issues in the development, organization and operation of the criminal justice system. Satisfies a portion of the Understanding the Human Community requirement of the University Core Curriculum.
2900-2910. Special Problems. 1–3 hours.
3201. Criminal Law. 3 hours. This course examines general and statutory bases and theories of criminal law and jurisprudence.
3210. Judicial and Legal Systems. 3 hours. This course examines the courts, the legal and judicial process and judicial behavior.
3300. Police Systems. 3 hours. This course focuses on the role and function of police in contemporary society, the problems arising between citizens and police from the enforcement of laws, the limitations of police in a democratic society and the methodologies used by the police to be a more effective component of the justice system.
3310. Organized and Consensual Crime. 3 hours. The study of the history, structure and governmental responses to organized crime; special emphasis is placed on consensual crimes such as drug abuse and trafficking, prostitution, pornography and gambling.
3320. Corporate Security and Loss Prevention. 3 hours. Overview of loss prevention problems and the security and management strategies designed to protect the private sector from crime, fire, accident, employee dishonesty and natural disaster.
3330. Introduction to Criminalistics. 3 hours. Overview of the field of criminalistics, with a focus on the recognition, collection, preservation and analysis of physical evidence. Introduction to topics such as fingerprint examination, trace evidence analysis and firearm examination. Prerequisite for more advanced criminalistics courses.
3340. Computer Crime. 3 hours. Introduction to computer crime through an examination of the crime and those individuals committing it, as well as the specific laws, investigative techniques, and criminological theories applicable to computer crime.
3400. Correctional Systems. 3 hours. This course focuses on prisons and jails. It examines the goals and history of punishment; the death penalty; the composition and social organization of jail and prison populations; bail, detention, sentencing and classification; institutional management and the conflicts between rehabilitation and punishment.
3410. Correctional Case Management. 3 hours. Study of the basic purposes and techniques of correctional case management with consideration given to the supervision and control of offender activities and the development of interpersonal skills required to enhance communication with and to effect lasting behavioral change in offenders.
3600. Criminology. 3 hours. This course provides an overview of the major criminological perspectives and an examination of the social, political and intellectual milieu within which each developed. The course focuses on the multi-disciplinary nature of criminological thought.
3610. Juvenile Justice. 3 hours. Examines the juvenile justice system and the handling of juvenile delinquents in the United States. Specific attention is devoted to the history of the juvenile justice system and current police, court and correctional policies and practices pertaining to juvenile offenders.
3620. Juvenile Delinquency. 3 hours. Examines juvenile delinquency in the United States. Specific attention is devoted to the definitions, measurement, and correlates of juvenile delinquency. Additional focus is paid to the various theories of juvenile delinquency and what each theory prescribes for preventing, treating and handling juvenile delinquents. (Same as SOCI 3620.)
3630. Drugs, Crime and Society. 3 hours. Examines the relationship between drugs, crime and human behavior. Explores the relationship between drug abuse and crime and the policy proposals developed to control drug trafficking, drug abuse, and drug-related crime, as well as the multi-faceted aspects and effects of chemical abuse and dependency. (Same as SOCI 3630.)
3700. Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice. 3 hours. A study of ethical issues facing the criminal justice system. Problems confronting police, the courts and the juvenile and correctional systems are addressed.
4200. Criminal Procedure. 3 hours. An examination of the constitutional and statutory bases and judicial interpretations of the procedures governing the administration of criminal justice.
4250. Law and Social Problems. 3 hours. This course examines the role of law in attempts to address and solve social problems.
4330. Domestic and International Terrorism. 3 hours. Provides in-depth knowledge about domestic and international terrorism. Specific focus on strategies designed to address the threat of terrorism from a criminal justice perspective, particularly involving the police assuming new roles in homeland security. Explores ideological theories of terrorism and identifies trends and patterns of terrorism and hate crimes in our world.
4350. Seminar on Violence. 3 hours. An analysis of the incidence, patterns and causes of criminal violence; the characteristics of particular crimes (e.g., murder, robbery, rape, domestic abuse, terrorism); and society’s reaction to such violence.
4360. Criminal Investigation. 3 hours. The study of methods of obtaining and reporting information from the crime scene, victims, witnesses and suspects. Specific attention is given to investigation of index crimes (homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, arson, motor vehicle theft and larceny).
4370. Advanced Criminalistics I. 3 hours. Advanced examination of specified sub-disciplines of criminalistics, including analysis of firearms/tool marks, footwear/tire tread evidence, and bloodstain patterns. Designed to provide students with an understanding of the scientific method of analysis, the theory of individualization, and the application of critical thinking as applied to these sub-disciplines.
4380. Advanced Criminalistics II. 3 hours. Advanced examination of specified sub-disciplines of criminalistics, including analysis of latent prints, trace evidence and controlled substances. Designed to provide students with an understanding of the scientific method of analysis, the theory of individualization, and the application of critical thinking as applied to theses sub-disciplines.
4390. Crime Scene Investigation Theory. 3 hours. Designed to provide a thorough understanding of the scientific theories involved in the recognition, documentation, preservation and collection of physical evidence at crime scenes. Crime scene documentation methods included are digital imaging (still and video), notetaking, sketching and crime scene mapping. Safety considerations and biohazard concerns are emphasized. Proper evidence collection techniques and chain of custody issues are presented. The theory of crime scene reconstruction according to the scientific method is developed. Field exercises are used to further develop lecture topics.
4460. Community Corrections. 3 hours. This course examines the concept of community corrections from various perspectives. It also examines contemporary practices and trends in probation, parole, and other forms of community corrections.
4500. Administration of Criminal Justice Agencies. 3 hours. The study of principles and practices of administration and their application to criminal justice agencies. Special focus on the relationship of theoretical administrative concepts and practical criminal justice problems.
4650. Victimology. 3 hours. Exploration of the scope of victim issues in American society. Review of the programs and services provided victims of crime. The expanding roles of the courts, police, battered women shelters, victim/witness assistance programs, crisis intervention units and legislation are highlighted.
4660. Offender Behavior. 3 hours. This course examines the variables that correlate with or lead to criminal behavior, such as the family, schools, personality, economic forces and cultural values. It uses psycho-social explanations to illuminate the factors that cause crime and criminality and suggests solutions.
4700. Research Methods in Criminal Justice. 3 hours. Examines research methodology in criminal justice. Special emphasis is placed on methods and techniques for conducting research in criminal justice, including the relationship between theory and research, the nature of causation, research designs and techniques, conceptualization and measurement, operationalization, sampling, and ethical issues.
4850. Internship in Criminal Justice. 1–6 hours. Each student is placed as a participant observer in a criminal justice agency for a minimum of 120 hours to provide an opportunity to apply academic training to practical situations.
4860. Studies in Criminal Justice. 1–3 hours. Individual investigation of selected issues regarding criminal justice.
4870. Topics in Criminal Justice. 3 hours. Seminar class devoted to an investigation, analysis and discussion of significant problems in contemporary criminal justice. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
4900. Special Problems. 1–3 hours.
4901. Senior Seminar: Criminal Justice and Public Policy. 3 hours. The examination of the problems and issues involved in forming and implementing criminal justice policy in the United States. This course represents the final capstone experience for the student.
4951. Honors College Capstone Thesis. 3 hours. Major research project prepared by the student under the supervision of a faculty member and presented in standard thesis format. An oral defense is required of each student for successful completion of the thesis.
Date of initial release: July 1, 2009 — Copyright © 2008 University of North Texas
Page updated:
March 22, 2010
— Comments or corrections: catalog@unt.edu
UNT · Search UNT · UNT News · UNT Events
“University of North Texas,” “UNT” and “Discover the power of ideas” are officially registered trademarks of the University of North Texas; their use by others is legally restricted. If you have questions about using any of these marks, please contact the UNT Division of University Relations, Communications and Marketing at (940) 565-2108 or e-mail branding@unt.edu.
(800) UNT-8211
(868-8211) (toll-free)
AskUNT: unt.custhelp.com
(940) 565-2000
Schedule a tour online
(940) 565-4104