Criminal Justice

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
CRIM3350

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