Course Descriptions By Program
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JUS101 - Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies
The course covers the nature, scope and impact of crime in the United States; independent and interdependent operations and procedures of police, courts and corrections; and introductory theories of crime and delinquency. The course introduces the justice model in a systematic way whereby students delve into the numerous components of the justice system, including law enforcement, legal and judicial process and correctional operations. Career opportunities will be fully covered throughout the course.
JUS102 - Introduction to Law Enforcement
An introduction to the law enforcement system in America, which is the gateway to the criminal justice process, this course covers topics such as the historical foundations of police processes, occupational roles and tasks of law enforcement, and the nature and designs of typical, as well as innovative, police systems. Perennial problems of policing, particularly as it relates to community interaction, are also essential components of the course.
JUS103 - Correctional Systems
Course examines the management, structure and organizational design of correctional institutions. Correctional planning, construction, program evaluation and community interaction will be considered, and improvement strategies for correctional operations will be debated and critiqued. The course provides a broad overview of the correctional system which incarcerates and confines, treats and reclaims criminal personalities, and protects and serves the state and the community by removing threats to the social order.
JUS104 - Introduction to Security
The various dimensions of security include physical, personal, and operational measures. Security professionals must not only prevent unauthorized access to equipment, installations, material, and documents; and safeguard against espionage, sabotage, damage, and theft, but protect VIPs from kidnapping and assassination and employees from discussing operational plans from the workplace. All public, private, corporate, and government agencies face new and complex security challenges across the full spectrum of operations. Globalization and new security threats challenge security operations, and could include the control of populations, information dominance, multinational and inter-agency connectivity, anti-terrorism or counter terrorism, target hardening, VIP protection and the use of other physical-security assets as a versatile force multiplier. This course will prepare the security and justice professional to operate in any environment that requires a need for complex coordination and security measures.
JUS105 - Introduction of Forensic Science
Forensic science applies scientific principles and techniques to the field of criminal justice. This introductory survey course is designed to expose students to the broad scope of forensic science. Special attention is paid to the collection, preservation, and analysis of physical evidence in criminal investigations across various scientific disciplines, as well as the introduction and presentation of evidence in a court of law. Topics discussed include: (a) the history of criminalistics; (b) crime scene documentation and investigative practices; c) the properties, collection, and categorization of physical evidence—e.g. fingerprints, bodily fluids (serology), DNA, hair, soil, plants, fiber, tool marks, firearms and projectiles (ballistics); (d) the analysis of documents, voice, and digital evidence; (e) biometric identification systems; (f) scientific instruments used in crime labs; (g) forensic evidence in judicial proceedings; and, (h) careers in the field of forensic science.
JUS201 - Criminal Investigation
This course is a comprehensive examination of civil and criminal investigations in both public and private modes, including most major felony processes and relevant civil actions. Focus is on the fundamentals of the investigative process and the range of skills necessary for successful performance and management of investigations, including evidence gathering and analysis, witness assessment, field techniques, and linkage between investigative and prosecutorial agencies.
JUS205 - Principles of Homeland Security
Students will gain an understanding of homeland security by analyzing the various security principles and policies that establish a foundation upon which to organize U.S. security efforts as a nation. Students will study how the national strategy aligns and focuses homeland security functions within critical areas such as: (1) intelligence and warning, border and transportation security, domestic terrorism; (2) protecting critical infrastructure and defending against catastrophic terrorism; and (3) emergency preparedness and consequence management. The first area focuses primarily on preventing terrorist attacks, the second area on reducing the nation's vulnerabilities, and the third on minimizing the damage and recovery from the aftermath of terrorist attacks.
JUS211 - Organized Crime
This course covers the historical, criminological/theoretical, legal, investigative, and juridical aspects of domestic and transnational organized crime. It includes traditional organized crime such as La Cosa Nostra, as well emerging nontraditional associations such as outlaw motorcycle groups and relationships with terrorist organizations. Studies will blend the scholarship surrounding organized crime with practical, contemporary investigative tools used to combat associated criminal activity such as racketeering, narcotics and dangerous drugs, syndicated gambling, and public corruption.
JUS215 - Victimology
This course will examine issues surrounding the central character in a criminal act – the victim. Contents are designed to develop an understanding of what it means to be victimized, including the physical, psychological and economic impact of crime upon victims, their families and society in general. Special consideration will be given to specific victim populations (i.e., survivors of homicides, sexual assault and family violence), secondary victimization by the criminal system, victim assistance program, and future trends in this field. A full review of how the American justice system has responded to the needs of victims is part of the course content and includes a look at victim testimony at sentencing and parole and probation hearings, victim notification, Megan's Law, victim advisory and protection services, and other means in which the judicial system assures victim participation during the adjudicative phase.
JUS220 - High Technology Crime Investigations
High Technology Crime Investigation is an emerging area within the criminal justice/security discipline. This course exposes students to the legal and technical aspects of high technology crime. Students are able to learn and apply their knowledge and skills to identify and address the risks and damages associated with high technology crimes, including high-tech frauds, email-based crimes, high-tech vice crimes, hackers, terrorists, pedophiles, and online child enticement. High-tech intelligence gathering and online resources are also covered.
JUS225 - Private and Corporate Investigations
This course is a comprehensive examination of the private investigation profession, often glamorized in the media, but little understood in actuality. Investigative techniques utilized in corporate and private venues will be covered, as well as the legal and moral considerations private investigators are likely to encounter. In addition, students will learn the value of the Internet in conducting investigations.
JUS265 - Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals
This course examines the characteristics and importance of good report writing within the criminal justice system. Reports used in law enforcement and security, the courts, and corrections are explained and discussed. Elements of composition, required substance, proper and improper conclusions, and descriptions of persons and property are explained. Practice in writing reports is emphasized and proficiency must be demonstrated.
JUS305 - International Criminal Justice
This course compares and contrasts the criminal justice system of the United States with the systems of other countries on a substantive and procedural basis. It provides a thorough examination of other cultural models of law and justice so that differences in justice processing and definition become apparent. Emphasis is placed on international policing, international crimes and international courts.
JUS309 - White Collar Crime
This course considers crimes committed by corporations as well as white-collar criminals: how such crimes are defined; who commits or is victimized by them; which moral, ethical, legal and social contexts promote them; and how society responds. Procedural and policy considerations in the investigation and enforcement of relevant statutes will also be covered, including the concept of legal privilege, the role of the grand jury and other pretrial processes, evidentiary questions, litigation strategies, and potential sanctions and other punishments.
JUS320 - Applied Technologies in Criminal Justice
This course will examine the various technologies used in the criminal justice system, such as data collection, databases, data analysis, and forensic technology that is used by criminal justice practitioners. Students will also apply the technologies used in criminal justice for crime prevention, criminal investigations, criminal prosecution, border security, risk management in correctional facilities, forensics, social media investigations, and tracking and locating suspects and offenders. Students will also explore legal and privacy concerns with technologies used in criminal justice.
JUS331 - Juvenile Justice
This course covers the juvenile justice system, with special emphasis on the way it procedurally differs from adult offender adjudication. The parts of the juvenile justice system, hearings, due process standards and constitutional mandates are fully reviewed. Status offenders and other youth classifications are considered together with a historical summary of juvenile court philosophy. New trends in the procedural disposition of juveniles, especially transfer to adult jurisdiction, types of punishment, suitability of the death penalty, are discussed.
JUS335 - Corporate Security Law
A focused examination familiarizes students with the origins and development of private security, with an emphasis on defining security's role in the administration of justice, its historical underpinnings, types of security services in the American marketplace, and the legal aspects of private-sector justice. Further considerations are regulation, licensing, the civil and criminal liability of security personnel, and the ongoing constitutional debate that surrounds private security enforcement. Exactly how private-sector justice operatives are legally liable for their conduct, as contrasted with the public justice official, is a major feature of the course design.
JUS338 - Executive Protection
Assassinations and kidnapping of political and corporate leadership has increased significantly in the past century. Terrorists and extremists groups, rogue states, drug cartels, transnational criminal groups, to local criminals and extremists working alone, have found an effective strategy to influence polities and societies. This course will prepare the security and justice studies student to operate and develop security policy in any environment that requires complex coordination and security measures needed to protect executive leadership at all levels, to include their personal and organizational assets, and their families. This course will examine the theories of executive protection (security), analyze assassination and kidnapping case studies on the corporate, national, and international levels, determine security failures that have led to the assassination or kidnapping, and develop security policy to prevent such attacks.
JUS345 - Probation and Parole
This course examines the theory and practices of probation and parole with juvenile and adult offenders, including release philosophy, bail and petition, hearings on grant, revocation or denial, alternative community-based corrections, and legal issues that emerge in award revocation or imposition of probation and parole.
JUS361 - Court Systems
An examination of the American judicial system, highlighting state, local, and federal court systems, including an assessment of their hierarchy, subject matter and personal jurisdiction, this course will also review judicial reasoning, judicial process, and the chief personnel responsible for judicial operations. More particularly, the course will expose the various phases inherent in civil and criminal litigation, including the concepts of jurisdiction, venue, parties and the pleadings that guide advocacy.
JUS365 - Mock Trial Concepts
Courtroom procedures used in criminal and civil trial courts are studied as students examine the courtroom environment through guided reading and critical evaluation of a mock trial case study. Students are expected to participate in simulated mock trial proceedings in the classroom with an emphasis on the roles of law enforcement, attorneys, prosecutors, forensics, and expert witnesses in the trial process. This course requires both independent work product and team collaboration. It is recommended for students pursuing careers in legal fields, law enforcement, and forensics.
JUS375 - Criminal Law
An introduction to substantive criminal law that reviews the social, philosophical and legal foundations of criminal codification, the course also covers the historical development of criminal law in the U.S. Other subject matter includes parties to crimes, including principals/accessories, criminal capacity, criminal elements (e.g., mensrea and actusreus), and the specific crimes against person, property and public order. Lastly, the course captures criminal law from the defendant's perspective by reviewing the accused's mental states, potential defenses and uses of mitigation.
JUS376 - Criminal Procedure
Criminal Procedure is the study of the criminal justice process including the law of arrests, search and seizure; the making of bail; adjudication; pretrial and post-trial activities; and the nature of plea bargaining. Substantial emphasis is given to the constitutional protections afforded through the Bill of Rights, particularly the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th and 14th. This course deals extensively with case law applications of these principles and the role of judge and jurist in the crafting of criminal process standards. This is a writing intensive course. Prerequisite: JUS 101 or permission of the instructor. (3 crs.)
JUS380 - Crime Scene Imaging
This course is designed to expose students to the crime scene imaging process while learning traditional film, video and digital imaging techniques. Techniques and methods of crime scene imaging focus on practical exercises as well as general viewports of crime scene documentation. Topics include the fundamentals of photographing scenes from general to specific utilizing the overall, middle range and close-up "three-step" method. Crime scene imaging techniques, both basic and advanced, will be discussed and practiced while photographing mock crime scenes. The advanced technique of crime scene imaging includes the use of digital cameras; the digital darkroom; crime scene panorama; creation of court charts; and the enhancement and analysis of latent prints, footwear, tire impressions, questioned documents, security video image enhancement and restoration, etc.
JUS385 - Violence and the Media
This course will analyze media violence and its potential influence on various audiences. Specific variables will be examined in relation to aggression and consequently, violence. Violence will be examined within different media contexts - including news, film, television, pornography, advertising and Internet. The daily repetition of media violence will also be examined as it promotes the normalization and legitimization of violent behaviors. This course will also examine violence and aggression in relation to its historical, cultural, and contemporary influences and sources.
JUS394 - Problems in Policing
This course involves discussion and study of specific problems of law enforcement and policing in contemporary American society. It emphasizes the development, nature and function of law enforcement as it relates to public criminal justice rather than private sector justice. Topical coverage consists of ethics, corruption, deadly force and civil liabilities, and other dilemmas commonly faced in the modern police system.
JUS395 - Death Penalty
An examination of death penalty policies in the American justice system from a legal, ethical and jurisprudential perspective, this course includes analysis of case and statutory law, the principles of due process, and appellate rights.
JUS397 - Law and Evidence
This course is a comprehensive review of evidentiary principles and reveals how judges and trial lawyers actually think about evidentiary rules - particularly the Federal Rules of Evidence. It will show how evidentiary issues arise before and during trial. The course will logically track the stages of a trial, from the opening statement(s) through direct examination, cross examination and closing arguments. Students will be required to advocate their respective case utilizing the evidentiary principles in a real criminal court environment and must use due diligence in preparing their respective roles.
JUS399 - Selected Topics in Criminal Justice
Focused examinations of an emerging and dynamic problem or issue are in the study and practice of criminal justice. Special subject matter not ordinarily covered in the existing curricula can be presented by interested faculty. Examples include but are not limited to: alternative punishment schemes, euthanasia and mercy killing, civil disobedience and the rule of law, minorities in the justice system, affirmative action policy, and police use of force and women in criminal justice.
JUS400 - Foreign Study in Law and Justice
This course provides students with a culminating opportunity to learn about and apply their content specific knowledge within the employment setting and/or abroad. Students will gain discipline perspective as well as be able to apply their knowledge gained in the field criminal justice to the vast agencies within the justice system. This course is an educational experience that contributes to the methods of inquiry that are employed within the coursework and it facilitates civic engagement on regional, state, national and global levels.
JUS405 - Cyber Security
Many aspects of our lives rely on the Internet and computers, including digital media communications (email, cell phones, texting, social media), government records, financial information, personal medical record. How are the data and the computer systems on which that data resides kept safe? The increasing volume and sophistication of cyber security threats including cyber terrorism, targeting phishing scams, identity theft, and other online vulnerabilities-demand that we remain vigilant about securing our homeland, computer systems and personal information. Cyber security is an emerging area within the criminal justice/homeland security discipline. This course is designed to expose students to legal and technical aspects of cyber security. Students are able to learn and apply their knowledge and skills to identify and address the risks and damages associated with, digital fraud and cyber crimes, including computer crime, cyber terrorism, identity theft, cyber hacking and cyber virus and malicious code.
JUS410 - International Security Issues
The globalization of societies and fluid/political conditions and the growth of radical extremist groups has placed international security problems right at our door step. Our national security concerns are intertwined with our homeland security concerns. The dangerous security threats as a result of war/civil wars, terrorism, democratization, economic conditions, transnational crimes, corruption, or toxic leadership within the international community, will have a direct or indirect impact on US interests, safety, and security, to include our responsibility to protect the helpless and innocent. This course is designed to introduce the dimensions of the concept of Human Security, contemporary security issues, and problems that affect the international and homeland security arena. It is heavily weighted toward analyzing, evaluating and developing security tactics and techniques that can protect against, or mitigate the residual effects of political violence, low intensity conflicts, transnational crimes, leadership and corruption, coups, assassinations, public demonstrations and uprising, and terrorism. Fundamentally, this course is designed to acquaint the student with the complexity of these problems; techniques for examining and evaluating these problems, and then pursuing "security measures" to protect, mitigate, defend, and preempt the effects of these problems.
JUS415 - Multiculturalism and the Criminal Justice System
This course will focus on cultural needs of law enforcement to operate in a heterogeneous society with a high level of professionalism. It covers issues related to improve police performance in dealing with individuals from different ethnic backgrounds, classes, religions, and races in the United States. Students will be given case studies related to different groups in the American Society and how law enforcement agencies handled and/or should have handled such cases.
JUS425 - Advanced Criminal Law and Investigation
This is an advanced course in criminal investigation and related law. The student will learn tactical and strategic criminal investigative techniques focusing on serious crimes such as murder, sexual assault, and hate crimes. Students will receive an update on substantive as well as procedural criminal law, and they will be able to critically analyze and strategically use circumstantial evidence in cases such as complex conspiracy trials and vice, narcotics, and federal and state racketeering investigations.
JUS429 - Terrorism
This course examines current terrorism, its origins and ideological bases, with particular attention to its relation to political institutions and the criminal justice process. Specific attention is given methods and means of the terrorist, motivations and modus operandi trends and predictability, and law enforcement's multifaceted reactions to its many devious forms. Legislative efforts to curb the scourge of terrorism are also highlighted.
JUS430 - Criminal Intelligence Analysis
This course will focus on the intelligence function and its use in crime analysis. It will introduce students to analytical techniques and solutions to everyday law enforcement crime analysis problems. Special attention will be given to understanding crime patterns and trends. Cases related to terrorism, organized crimes, white-collar crimes and street crimes will be analyzed and discussed. Intelligence methods of data collection and analysis will be explored and applied to crime analysis.
JUS435 - Countering Terrorism
The global threat of terror crime as a result of politics, radicalization, and recruitment for terrorism has grown significantly. New counter terrorism tactics and new forms of corroboration are critical to combat a very unpredictable and skilled criminal. Law enforcement and military professionals are depending on the community as the public citizen to play an integral role in the quest to combat terror crime. This course will explore a new philosophy, new techniques, and new strategies of fighting terror crime. The course will discuss the role of police and the community by integrating new practices and new forms of inclusion with respect and leadership to form a stronger strategy to combat terror crime.
JUS440 - Military Criminal Justice
This course examines criminal justice in the military. Students will be exposed to the historical underpinnings justifying the need for an independent and separate system of justice for members of the armed forces and will learn about military crimes and procedure. Courts-martial will be a central focus of the course, which will incorporate the composition of the military equivalent of a jury, trial courts, and civilian appellate review. Contemporary aspects of military justice—to include special extraterritorial jurisdiction over civilians and the prosecution of enemy combatants and terrorists before military commissions—will also be covered. Finally, students will study the special nuances of military police, U.S. federal agents that investigate crimes involving the military, and the rights of service members.
JUS459 - Behavioral Analysis of Violent Crime
An-upper-level, interdisciplinary course that examines violent crime in accordance with the specific aspects of behavioral analysis and law, specific aspects of behavioral analysis and law specific course content will examine typologies of crime, organized/disorganized offenders and behaviorally based crime scene characteristics (including crime scene staging). A particular emphasis will be on the psychopathology of crime, pedophilia, serial killers, human sacrifice rituals and victim logy, and how these factors affect or are affected by criminal motivation, modus operandi and signature aspects of violent crime.
JUS460 - Sex Crimes and Predators
This course will examine the specific etiologies, phases and methods associated with defined sexual crimes. In addition to the dissection of the sexual crime scenes, various sex offender profiles will be examined with respect to crimes of rape, pedophilia and other sexual paraphilias. Students will critically examine the modus operandi, ritual, fantasy and signature aspects of various sexual offenders as well as be able to differentiate between trophies and souvenirs left and/or taken with respect to the crime scene. Victim analysis and offender treatment programs will also be discussed.
JUS465 - Applied Mock Trial
An advanced course designed for students to apply legal theory and knowledge in a simulated trial courtroom environment. Students will be expected to work extensively on case preparation and oral argument and witness presentation, to participate in group activity and team building, and to compete in mock trial proceedings in real courtrooms. Students will function as attorneys, lay witnesses, and/or expert witnesses including forensic experts in conformity with learned rules of evidence and trial procedure. Each year alternates between civil and criminal trial mock trial proceedings.
JUS466 - Leadership and Ethics in Criminal Justice
This course introduces the individual principles and theories of effective leadership and ethics specific to criminal justice and professional security organizations. This is a special type of leadership and ethics designed specifically for the professional working in a dynamic and hostile environment. It is common for public service professionals in the first responder, law enforcement, corrections, security or any professional field in the justice arena to unexpectedly be placed in a temporary or permanent leadership position, or be promoted to a supervisory position, with little or no leadership and ethics education or additional preparation. A critical part of the leadership and ethics course is the analysis and evaluation of ethics and value-based leadership and the definition of leadership and its key components. Theories of leadership and leadership styles will be examined. The leadership framework will be discussed: what a leader must be, which includes values, ethics and attributes such as loyalty, duty, respect, selflessness, honor, integrity, personal courage, and mental, physical and emotional attributes; what a leader must know, which includes skills such as interpersonal, conceptual, technical and tactical; and what a leader must do, which includes a leader's influencing, operating and improving actions in a dynamic environment. The challenge of initially taking charge of an organization will also be emphasized. The class will include situational critical-thinking exercises and conclude with an in-class capstone exercise.
JUS470 - Crimes Against Children
This is a course that examines criminal activity targeted against children. The course will focus on the physical and sexual abuse, neglect, kidnapping, and sexual exploitation of children. Students will explore methods of identifying victims, investigating offenders and court presentation of criminal cases. Special attention is focused on the dynamics of the relationship between victims and offenders and how that is a factor in the investigation and prosecution of criminal acts.
JUS485 - Forensic Law
An interdisciplinary course covering law, criminal justice, and science and technological issues in the evidentiary arena. Coverage in the course provides a broad assessment of expert witnesses, microanalysis, pathological evidence, admissibility and investigatory practice, ballistics, fingerprints, vascar/radar, and photographic techniques. Contrasted with criminalistics, subject matter of this course is primarily evidentiary. More particularly, the course will delve into the rules of evidence, which guide the admissibility of forensic evidence in a court of law. Examination includes threshold tests for reliability and admissibility, qualification of witnesses competent to testify, scientific rigor required for admission, and case law determinations on the use and abuse of scientific evidence.
JUS487 - Computer Forensics
This course is designed to expose students to legal and technical aspects of computer forensics. The methods of the collection, preservation, analysis and presentation of digital evidence will be presented to properly conduct a computer forensics investigation. The focus of this course will be on how law enforcement obtains electronic evidence, maintaining the evidentiary chain, as well as the legal aspects of the search and seizures of computers and related materials.
JUS488 - Cyber Crime Investigation
As computers become more common in businesses and households, it is inevitable that the information or evidence an investigator seeks will be stored in those computers or will involve use of the Internet. Data networks now in place allow us to transmit information to and from virtually any location on Earth in a timely and efficient manner. But what has this tremendous enhancement in communications technology brought us? Another opportunity for criminal activity to take place. Who are the criminals in cyberspace? Understanding cybercrime requires an understanding of the technology that is being used to commit the criminal acts. The investigation of cybercrimes requires highly specialized skills. This course is designed to expose students to legal and technical aspects of cybercrime investigation. The guidelines of the collection, preservation, analysis and presentation of digital evidence will be presented to properly conduct a cybercrime investigation. The focus of this course will be on how law enforcement investigate a cybercrime and obtain electronic evidence, maintaining the evidentiary chain, as well as the legal aspects of the search and seizures of computers, smart phones and related digital devices.
JUS490 - Forensic Accounting
An advanced review of strategies and tactics essential to the fraud examination process. Course presentation assumes basic accounting knowledge and guides the student into specialized applied settings indicative of forensic accounting. Coverage includes financial statement analysis, interpretation and scrutiny of financial records and documentation, trace techniques, reporting irregularities, fraud examination approaches, and legal rules and statutory construction pertinent to accounting practices. Students will prepare a series of field exercises in common fraud cases, such as bankruptcy, insurance, employee/employer reporting, covert examinations, trading practices and money-laundering schemes.
JUS495 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice Studies
This course serves as an introduction to the basic research methods in the field of criminology and criminal justice. Qualitative and quantitative methods are explained in this course. In addition, ethical issues are focused on in this course.
JUS496 - Criminological Theories
This course will focus on the study of crimes, criminals, causes of criminal behavior, and victimization issues. Students will explore how the classical, psychological, sociological, economic, biological, and political theories of crime explain criminal behavior, and the impact of these theories on the work of the criminal justice system.
JUS498 - Internship in Criminal Justice Studies
An on-site, experiential learning experience students work at a variety of justice agencies for academic credit is the central aim of the internship program. Intern locations have included government agencies, police departments, prisons, federal and state law enforcement, private security firms, judicial clerkships, legal offices, and legal research concerns. Interns must complete a self-evaluation, perform a series of exercises and assignments, author a log diary and a paper outlining the internship experience, work 45 hours per internship credit, and present an acceptable recommendation from the internship supervisor upon completion of the experience.
JUS499 - Seminar in Criminal Justice Studies
This is the capstone course for Justice Studies students. It will focus on the integration of information learned from different courses with special focus on criminal law and legal issues, theories of crime, juvenile delinquency, law enforcement, corrections, ethics, forensic science, and research methods. This course will be offered to justice studies students in their final semester in which they receive their degrees. All students in this course must take the Criminal Justice ETS exam, the exit survey.