Department of History, Political Science, and Criminal Justice

Faculty

Justin Clardie (Department Chair), Dean Matlock, Matthew Millsap, Stephen Morgan

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will demonstrate content expertise in their respective disciplines.
  2. Students will offer well-reasoned, evidence-based arguments addressing core questions and debates in their disciplines.
  3. Students will apply theories and historical knowledge to explain and evaluate contemporary political, social and cultural issues.
  4. Students in departmental general education courses will demonstrate understanding of social science theories and their application to real world events.
  5. Students will be able to analyze cultural issues from a variety of perspectives and demonstrate intercultural competencies as they interact and collaborate with individuals of a culture different from their own.
  6. Students in departmental general education courses will develop an evidence-based historical analysis that illuminates the human story by examining events, ideas and values of past societies and culture.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

CRIM1500: Introduction to Criminal Justice

Credits 3
This course is an overview of the criminal justice system in the United States and covers four major content areas: the nature of crime and laws; policing and law enforcement; courts and adjudication; and corrections.

CRIM2250: Law Enforcement and Community Policing

Credits 3

This course examines the history and roles of police in American society, including the philosophy, policy, structure and methods of law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels. In addition, characteristics of effective police work, as well as contemporary issues facing law enforcement officers and agencies today will be scrutinized. Students will closely examine the two extremely important aspects of addressing crime through the building of partnerships with communities and developing critical thinking/problem solving skills of how to best address the issues and fear in communities where they serve.

CRIM2960: Criminal Justice Practicum

Credits 1

This course will prepare students for field experiences and internships in criminal justice settings. All criminal justice students seeking field experiences or internships must satisfactorily complete this course prior to registering for CRIM4960.

CRIM3150: Corrections

Credits 3
This course provides an overview of the field of corrections, including its history and the goals, methods, and institutions that characterize it today. Topics include clients and officers, programs and facilities, life in and after incarceration, community corrections, and issues of punishment and reform, including innovation in policy, programs, and techniques.

CRIM3200: Juvenile Justice

Credits 3
A study of the forms, causes, and consequences of juvenile delinquency. Intervention for offenders, preventive measures, and the legal and treatment system for dealing with juveniles will also be studied. The course is designed to expose students to textual/theoretical material and knowledgeable professionals from agencies in the community.

CRIM3350: Criminal Law

Credits 3

This course provides an introduction to criminal law, including an historical overview and a survey of general legal principles. It covers basic elements of common and statutory law, and discusses specific categories of offenses and defenses used against prosecution for them.

CRIM3400: Written and Interpersonal Communication for Law Enforcement

Credits 3
This course prepares the student to communicate effectively in both written and verbal forms. In order to achieve this, the Written and Interpersonal Communication for Law Enforcement course examines best practices in investigative reporting, written reports and memos. In addition, interpersonal verbal and non-verbal communication will be looked at within criminal justice settings, including interactions with victims, suspects, incarcerated persons, government officials, staff, and civilians.

CRIM3550: Criminology

Credits 3
This course is designed to introduce students to criminology as a field of study. Students will be introduced to theories that attempt to explain criminal behavior from social, economic, biological, personality and individual perspectives. It includes study of the types of crime, the classes and nature of offenders, and methods for treating offenders and preventing crime.

CRIM4010: Capstone

Credits 1

This course provides students with a context for reflection and self-analysis regarding their educational experience at NNU. The approach in this course to self-analysis and critical reflection is two-fold: 1) students will reflect on their comprehensive educational experience through the lens of the four university outcomes, and 2) students will think about and discuss the integration of their learning with their future, post-university lives. In addition, successful completion of the ETS CJ Exam is a requirement for this course. (See HUMN4010, PSYC4010, SPAN4010)  

CRIM4250: Criminal Court Systems

Credits 3
This course provides a description and analysis of the structure, functions, and procedures of the criminal court system in the United States, including the roles of the prosecutor, defender, judge, jury, and court administrator. The history of the system and issues facing the criminal courts today are examined.

CRIM4360: Criminal Procedure

Credits 3
This course emphasizes the procedural protections established in the Bill of Rights and enforced by the courts through the procedural exclusion of evidence or the procedural dismissal of cases. In the course, students study the Fourth Amendment (Search and seizure), the Fifth Amendment (Rights against self-incrimination and double jeopardy), the Sixth Amendment (Rights to grand jury indictment, notice of charges, speedy and public trial, trial by impartial jury, confrontation of witnesses, compulsory process of favorable witnesses, and assistance of counsel), the Eighth Amendment (Rights against excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment), and the Fourteenth Amendment (Application of Bill of Rights to the states).
Prerequisite Courses

CRIM4960: Internship in Criminal Justice

Credits 3 15
This course requires 45 hours per credit in an approved setting of intensive experience-based learning. Course is designed to give students in-depth, work-setting knowledge of an aspect of the field of criminal justice. Students assume career-related duties as deemed appropriate by their site-supervisor and approved by their major advisor. May be repeated for a maximum of 15 credits.
Prerequisites
CRIM2960, Program admission, Junior standing, and Instructor's approval required.

CRIM4970: Senior Research in Criminal Justice

Credits 1 4
The student will either develop and complete an empirical research project and a written report suitable for submission to a professional journal or assist a faculty member in independent professional research. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.
Prerequisites
Instructor's approval

HIST1030: The World and The West I

Credits 3
Begins with the classical eras, both east and west (ca. 600 BC) and ends in about 1600. The course goal is twofold: to understand both the primary cultural heritages of the world and their growing interconnectedness, and to put the energy and distinctiveness of the Western tradition into perspective with other political worlds and religious world-views.

HIST1040: The World and The West II

Credits 3
Begins in 1600 and proceeds to the present, trying to understand and assess the parallel and increasing interactive developments in the West and other parts of the world. Colonial enterprises of many types interact with indigenous cultures and systems in what we now call "third world" areas. Nation-building with competitive empires affects Europe, Africa and Asia. Very different independence struggles punctuate 19th and 20th century history.

HIST1070: United States History Survey

Credits 3

A study of American history from European exploration to the present, with attention to the founding of the United States, the major developments and events, and the role of the citizen in U.S. history. This course is designed for the general student and will not meet major requirements for degrees in history.

HIST2030: United States History to 1877

Credits 3

An introduction to American history from the period of exploration and colonization to the conclusion of reconstruction. Major themes and events include the European settlement of North America, Native American responses to European development of colonial America, the war for American independence, nation-building in the Early Republic, the development of slavery, Western expansion, and the Civil War and reconstruction.

HIST2040: United States History since 1877

Credits 3

An introduction to American history from the conclusion of reconstruction to recent times. Major themes include Western expansion, industrialization and urbanization, imperialism, two world wars, American life between the wars, radicalism and revolt, and the post-Cold War world.

HIST3010: Recent America

Credits 3

An in-depth exploration of modern America from 1945 to the present emphasizing the political, economic, diplomatic, and social aspects of the period. The course will investigate the origins of the Cold War, McCarthyism, increasing presidential power, the U.S. and the Third World, the civil rights struggle, women's movement, student revolts, Vietnam, Watergate, and the New Right and post-Cold War America.

Prerequisites

HIST3020: Modern Europe (1800-Present)

Credits 3

An in-depth exploration of Europe from the political and industrial revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries through contemporary European society and culture, including 19th century "isms" (romanticism, liberalism, socialism, nationalism, imperialism) and world wars.

HIST3040: Medieval Europe

Credits 3
An examination into the rich world of medieval Europe between the collapse of the western Roman Empire and ending with the first stirrings of the Renaissance in the 14th century. The course will explore the preservation of learning and vibrant intellectual culture of monasteries, the political struggles of the Holy Roman Empire, the Anglo-Celtic enthusiasm for spirituality and education, the Islamic cities and cultural centers of Spain, the rich liturgy and culture of medieval Catholicism, and the lives of rulers like Charlemagne, Alfred the Great, and Otto the Great. The course culminates in the horrific catastrophe of the Bubonic Plague and the beginnings of recovery in the Renaissance.

HIST3050: Renaissance and Reformation

Credits 3
Beginning with seminal figures and movements in the pivotal 13th century, an exploration of the dynamic economic and cultural flourishing which underlies the long and exciting phenomenon we know best as the Renaissance. Reforms in several versions arise from that energy, culminating in profound changes in the Roman church as well as new long-lived configurations of faith and practice. Impacts upon and developments in political conceptions and practice complete the picture.

HIST3094: Special Topics in History

Credits 2 3
Offers a thematic approach to historical interpretation. The course may be conducted in a seminar format and may be repeated for credit by permission. Topics will vary.

HIST3260: America in the Age of Revolutions

Credits 3
This course explores American history in the context of the revolutionary Atlantic (1760-1848). Rather than seeing the various revolutions as discrete events, we will examine how they were entangled and part of the longer story of a revolutionary age. We will trace their ideological origins to an earlier English radicalism and consider how the American Revolution inspired cultural, political, and religious changes in the West. We will also consider how conceptions of liberty, republicanism, and self-governance expressed by revolutionaries in the Caribbean and Latin American revolutions shaped the intellectual and geopolitical landscape of the United States.

HIST3330: U.S. Foreign Policy

Credits 3
An in-depth examination of the factors influencing the U.S. as a participant in the international system, especially from the end of World War II to the present. Topics include U.S. foreign policy and ideology, domestic politics and interest groups, public opinion and the media, and historical events considered chronologically. (See POLS3330.)

HIST3440: History of Christianity in America

Credits 3
A study of American Christianity from the colonial period to the present. The course will focus on the varieties of religious experiences in historical context. Included will be such themes as Puritanism, the Great Awakenings, Christian utopias, the Social Gospel, Fundamentalism, and liberation theology. Emphasis will be placed on the mutual influence of religion and American culture.

HIST3490: Modern Africa

Credits 3
An exploratory survey of African history below the Sahara from the 18th century to the present. In addition to dealing with the extraordinary historiographic challenges, serious attention will be given to the impact of slaving operations, the persistence of tribal life and loyalties, the effects of colonial government, the movements to independence and the challenge of current situations.

HIST3580: Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary School

Credits 2
Strategies appropriate to this subject field, instructional materials and tools, curricular structure common to this subject in the secondary school. Field experience: 20-40 hours. (See EDUC3580.)
Prerequisites
Junior classification, Program admission required.

HIST3750: British and American Evangelicals

Credits 3
An exploration of evangelical Christianity as an essentially transatlantic spiritual phenomenon. This course will explore the core characteristics of evangelical Christianity as they developed from the mid-1700s up to the present day, and will trace evangelical Christianity's historical evolution through religious revival, social influence, political activity, and cultural conflict from its origins to the present secularizing age.

HIST3840: The Holocaust

Credits 3

The Holocaust was one of the seminal events of the twentieth century, and has had profound effects on the language and concepts that we use to describe atrocities, the way that we interpret history, and even the ways in which we remember and memorialize the past. To put it simply, the Holocaust was more than a singular tragedy in the middle of the twentieth century. It was much worse than so many other tragedies. It was a watershed that created a new lens for looking at the past, present, and future. In this course, we will study the events that make up the Holocaust, the deeper roots of antisemitism that made it possible, and how the Holocaust has been remembered, portrayed and memorialized. We will think not only about what happened, but about how to make sense of what happened—how to grapple with a history that seems to defy understanding. Fulfills a General Education Cultural Competency (CC) requirement.

HIST4100: Ideas that Made America

Credits 3

This course is an overview of American intellectual culture from the seventeenth century to the present. From Puritanism to Pragmatism to Postmodernism, we will study the major thinkers and trends that made America. (See POLS4100.)

HIST4970: Senior Thesis and Capstone

Credits 4
A two-part requirement for all history majors. The departmental component (Thesis) is an independent research paper of 25-30 pages, which includes demonstration of historical methods and the use of primary sources. It will be written under the supervision of the history faculty. The university component (Capstone) includes a careful evaluation of the fulfillment of the university outcomes in the growth and experience of the student while at NNU, in discussion and an extended paper of eight to ten pages.
Prerequisites
Senior standing

POLS1000: Introduction to American Government

Credits 2
Offered in conjunction with Boys' State or Girls' State, a one-week program designed as a leadership experience which allows self-participation in the election and legislative process of American government.

POLS1010: American National Politics

Credits 3
An introduction to American politics from the 18th century to the present. Major themes and events include the writing of the U.S. Constitution, the development of American political principles and institutions, and contemporary political practices and issues in the United States.

POLS1030: The Foundations of Politics: The Quest for Peace and Justice

Credits 3
An examination of peace and justice in political communities as well as the relationship of religious faith to political thought and practice. This course emphasizes the development of reading, writing, and critical thinking skills and examines historical and contemporary political issues rooted in perennial questions about justice.

POLS1050: Introduction to International Relations

Credits 3
An introduction to the international political system and its major institutions, issues, and events. Major themes and events include the nature of the state system, national security and national interest, war and peace, alliances, diplomacy, the Cold War, conflict resolution, and international law.

POLS3100: Globalization

Credits 3
An in-depth examination of globalization from political and geographic perspectives. The course includes study of historical eras of globalization but focuses primarily on current issues and challenges. Topics include the economics of globalization, influence of technology on culture and spread of globalization, issues of sovereignty and reactions against globalization.

POLS3310: Presidential Power: The Politics of Leadership

Credits 3
An in-depth analysis of the presidency in the American political system. The course will examine the origins of the presidency, the nature of executive-legislative relations, the growth of presidential power, and the exercise of presidential power, especially in the modern era.

POLS3330: U.S. Foreign Policy

Credits 3
An in-depth examination of the factors influencing the U.S. as a participant in the international system, especially from the end of World War II to the present. Topics include U.S. foreign policy and ideology, domestic politics and interest groups, public opinion and the media, and historical events considered chronologically. (See HIST3330.)

POLS3610: Comparative Politics

Credits 3
An in-depth study of how nations are governed, how different political systems operate, and the historical explanations for disparate levels of development. This course examines how modern political systems try to resolve complex domestic and international problems. Topics include the theoretical foundations of comparative political analysis, the relationship between the state, markets and civil society, and the growing importance of culture in explaining development and the quality of governance.

POLS4100: Ideas that Made America

Credits 3

This course is an overview of American intellectual culture from the seventeenth century to the present. From Puritanism to Pragmatism to Postmodernism, we will study the major thinkers and trends that made America. (See HIST4100).

POLS4410: Constitutional Law

Credits 3
An in-depth study of the U.S. Supreme Court and its role in the American political and legal systems. Landmark judicial decisions are examined concerning governmental powers, separation of powers, and federalism. Special attention is paid to legal reasoning and the role of the Court and its work in American government and society. Recommended for students interested in law school.

POLS4420: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Credits 3

A critical examination of U.S. Supreme Court decisions involving constitutional rights and liberties with special attention given to the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment. Topics will include religious freedom, freedom of expression, rights in criminal procedure, due process and equal protection, including racial and gender discrimination and sexual harassment.

POLS4560: International Law and Human Rights

Credits 3
An in-depth study of conflict and conflict resolution in the international political system. This course examines various theories and models such as negotiation theory, peace studies, biblical models, international law, global human rights, and international order models.

POLS4960: Internship in Political Science

Credits 3
A supervised, practical work experience in either the public or private sectors. The internship is required of all political science majors and provides an opportunity to gain practical experience in government and politics.
Prerequisites
Instructor's approval

POLS4970: Senior Thesis and Capstone

Credits 4
A two-part requirement for all political science and international studies majors. The departmental component (Thesis) is an independent research paper of 25-30 pages, which includes demonstration of critical analysis and evaluation involving scholarly research and data-gathering. The university component (Capstone) includes a careful evaluation of the fulfillment of the university outcomes in the growth and experience of the student while at NNU, through discussion, and an extended paper of eight to ten pages.