Catalog of Courses

An introduction to crime and society's responses to it. Examines the nature and causes of crime, the criminal law, constitutional safeguards, and the organization and operation of the criminal justice system including the police, courts, jails, prisons, probation and parole departments, and community corrections agencies. Covers the history of the criminal justice system, terminology and career opportunities. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: SB

AJS1101

Covers philosophy of legal sanctions and historical development from the common law to modern American criminal law, classifications of crimes, elements of and parties to crimes, general definition of crimes, common defenses utilized. Includes specific offenses and the essential elements of each offense. Prerequisites: None.

Focus on changing the distribution of crime opportunities rather than offender motivation. Topics include application of situational crime prevention strategies, problem-oriented crime control approaches, hot spots policing, and crime prevention through environmental design. Prerequisites: None.

Introduces and explores ethical issues and the justice system. Focuses on ethics and the law, the police, courts and corrections. Reviews ethical theory, concepts and practices as they relate to administration of justice. Explores issues of how media/social media shape ethics. Encourages critical thinking and value decision making in criminal justice system situations. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: HU

Note: This course has differences between current terms. Please see advisement for specific information.

The study of serial killers, mass murderers and their victims. Examines the history and frequency of these crimes, profiles the killers and their victims, explores theories of causation, and discusses the problems and techniques of investigation, prosecution, punishment, and prevention. Prerequisites: None.

A practical insight into the rules of evidence to include how to recognize evidence: the general rules governing admissibility of evidence; the hearsay rule and its exceptions; the use of documentary evidence, written memoranda, photographs, recordings and electronic surveillance; corpus delicti; opinion evidence, circumstantial evidence, evidential privileges. Prerequisites: None.

Overview of effective communication for criminal justice agencies. Covers the communication process and flow. Written communication emphasized with report writing, including characteristics of reports and field notes, and the importance and uses of each. Form, style, and procedures for writing various reports, including elements of composition, required substance, proper and improper conclusions, and descriptions of persons and property. Prerequisites: None.

An examination of the U.S. Constitution as it relates to the law enforcement function. Includes statutory law and judicial decisions governing the areas of arrest, search and seizure, interrogations and confessions, self-incrimination and other constitutional guarantees. Required in AJS curriculum. Prerequisites: None.

Examines the nature and extent of juvenile delinquency to the present. Including but not limited to the history, jurisdictions, terminology, procedures, and institutions of the juvenile justice system. Prerequisites: None.

Study of deviance, society's role in defining behavior; theories of criminality and the economic, social, and psychological impact of crime; relationships between statistics and crime trends. Examines crime victimization and the various types of crime and categories of offenders. Required in the AJS curriculum. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: SB

Theories of procedures and methods of operations of public police with emphasis on discretionary powers available to the working police officer. Career opportunities and current trends in law enforcement presented. Prerequisites: None.

Examines the history and development of correctional theories and institutions. Prerequisites: None.

Victimology, the criminal justice system, techniques of crisis intervention and management, and the importance of a multicultural and global perspective. Includes violent crimes, sexual assault, family violence, post-traumatic stress disorder, the role of substance abuse, developing effective coping skills of victims and responders, appropriate community resources, and the cultural responsiveness of the justice system.

General Education Designations: C, SB

Concerned with the understanding of procedural criminal law. Examines the processes and procedures followed by law enforcement, attorneys, and the courts in the apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders. Examines the rationale underlying major court holdings impacting the criminal justice process, the procedural requirements that stem from these holdings and their effect on the daily operations of the criminal justice system. Prerequisites: None.

Examination, recognition and understanding of community problems; community action programs; methods of coping with human behavior, victimology, conflict and communication; ethnic and minority cultures and environments; the community and relationships with the criminal justice system. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: SB

Introduction to the theory of criminal investigation. Examines crime scene procedures, case preparation, interviewing, and basic investigative techniques. Prerequisites: None.

Courtroom demeanor and protocol. Role and primary functions of witness and legal counsels. Prerequisites: None.

Analysis of contemporary social welfare services and professional social work. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: H, SB

Purposes, structures, and delivery systems of human service agencies. Includes 40 hours of volunteer experience in local human service agencies.

Introduction to professional helper communication skills with respect to cross-cultural practice and diversity issues, in a social work setting. Prerequisites: None. SWU171 suggested but not required.

General Education Designations: C, SB

Fundamental techniques and terminology of acting through physical and vocal expression, improvisation, and monologue and scene work. Emphasis on characterization. Prerequisites: None.

Designed to give college credit to the cast and technical production crews of college theatre productions. Prerequisites: None.

Fundamental techniques of acting through script analysis, rehearsal, and performance.

Procedures of technical theatre production and demonstration. Topics include design and construction of scenery, lighting, and properties. Prerequisites: None.

Contemporary theory and practice in directing, the evolution of present-day directing procedures, and a sampling of scripts for directing practice. Principles of script analysis, blocking, casting, rehearsing, and performing.

The role of the theatre designer in creating scenic, lighting, costume, sound, and multimedia effects for stage productions. Elements of the design process and communication of dramatic themes and visions to the audience. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: HU