Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Degree with a Specialization in Forensic Science

In this course, students focus on developing writing skills through practice and revision of a variety of different types of essays. Students are also given instruction in library and online research and methods of documentation.

In this course, students focus on research and developing writing skills through writing the ''argument'' essay. Students are also given instruction in library and online research and methods of documentation.

An introductory course designed to develop critical thinking, problem solving, and quantitative reasoning skills through the use of standard mathematical operations and techniques as well as analysis of visual data. Students will be expected to identify, analyze, and solve problems in a variety of applied contexts for transfer toward academic, personal, and professional success.

This is a course for students who are new to university-level learning. Topics will include the theory and application of setting goals, managing time and money, developing self-awareness, and adhering to the rigorous standards of academic and professional writing. Additionally, students will be prepared to work autonomously and collaboratively in academic and professional settings.

This course furnishes a concise but comprehensive introduction to the substantive criminal law. It offers an understanding of the legal environment in which criminal justice professionals must function and helps students to gain a clear understanding of the principles of the law that will be vital to success in the field of criminal justice.

This course explores the historical development of policing, reform efforts, and political and economic factors shaping American policing. Additionally, this course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of report writing.

This course covers the structure and organization of the Federal and state court system with special attention to the criminal courts. The basic functions of the courts will be examined.

This course is an introduction to the correctional process and interventions designed to prevent and control adult criminal behavior. This course will address the philosophy and goals underlying the correctional interventions, types of criminal sentencing, and penal sanctions including community-based corrections, institutional corrections, and parole.

This course presents the scientific study of crime victims and public policy responses to victims and their situations. It also looks at the different types of victimizations, how victimization rates are measured, and what attempts the government has made to increase the involvement of victims' role in the criminal justice system.

This course explores and defines the important components of the juvenile justice system in the United States. This course examines the theories associated with juvenile delinquency, and explores the treatment interventions that are being employed, and the current societal responses to juvenile delinquency.

This course examines procedural law and its role in criminal prosecution. It compares criminal procedure and evidence law in the federal and state courts systems, and analyzes the social, political and historical significance of the evolution of Constitutional law. Additionally, this course addresses the way in which laws and legal institutions function.

This course examines the various types of evidence admissible by law, including real, demonstrative and documentary evidence. This course addresses the roles lay witnesses and expert evidence play in the legal setting as well as during a criminal trial.

This course is an introduction to social science research methods generally with an emphasis on applying them to the field of criminal justice. Students should leave the course with a sound understanding of the scientific method, the terminology of research, how to conduct research, and various methodological and statistical techniques used to answer research questions.

This course offers a comprehensive and systematic analysis of key contemporary criminal justice issues through a close review of the theories and policies guiding many crime-fighting strategies. By applying critical thinking and analytical skills, oral and written communication skills, and information systems skills, students will learn of the complex nature of crime and society's response to criminality. This course serves as the Criminal Justice capstone class and involves the student preparing a project agreed upon between the student and the instructor. Each project will require research, report writing, oral presentation, and interactive teamwork.

Criminalistics is part I of a two part series. This course is a survey course of forensic science. The course content will focus on defining ''forensic science''; recognizing practices of legitimate, junk, and fraudulent science; examining the properties of physical evidence; discussing the scope, potential, and limitations of a variety of forensic sciences; examining analytical techniques applied by forensic scientists; evaluating the criteria for admissibility of scientific evidence; and discussing the ethical responsibilities of forensic scientists.

Criminalistics II is part II of a two part series. This course introduces the non-scientific student to the field of forensic science through an exploration of its applications to criminal investigations, and clear explanations of the techniques, abilities, and limitations of the modern crime laboratory. The course combines classroom lecture/discussion with practical laboratory exercises related to the field of forensics. Topics include the recognition, identification, collection/preservation, individualization, and evaluation of physical evidence such as hairs, fibers, chemicals, blood, semen, glass, soil, fingerprints, documents, firearms, impression evidence, and serial number restoration. Students will document a crime scene by means of photography, notes, and scene sketching.

This course explores the elements of investigation including crime scenes, witnesses and evidence, and includes such topics as investigative techniques, evidence documentation, interrogation and arrest. The course addresses the particulars of investigating major crimes.

This course is designed to provide students with a firm understanding of abnormal human behavior. Students will gain knowledge and insight into disorders relating to eating, sleeping, attention deficit, mood, learning, impulse control, sexuality, criminality, and interpersonal conflict. The nature of various disorders will be discussed as well as their impact on criminal behavior. The diagnosis and treatment of these disorders will be covered in this class.

This course introduces the student to the field of medicolegal death investigation in the context of forensic science. In this course, students will learn jurisdiction established by the law to define the cause and manner of death, conduct a death scene investigation and techniques in establishing identity and post mortem interval. Students will obtain skills in notification of next of kin, interviewing witnesses, and interpreting crime scene photography.