Biology - Major in Biology Program

Required courses:
CRJ 110 Introduction to Criminal Justice

A sociological, historical, and philosophical examination of punishment and the criminal justice system. Included will be a summary of the role and impact of the courts, police, and corrections within our criminal justice system. Contemporary issues to include the death penalty, sentencing of juveniles, reentry and incarceration will be examined. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry. 3 credits.

CRJ 210 Ethics in Criminal Justice

Emphasis is placed on professional integrity and leadership skills that support laws, policies and procedures in criminal justice. Students will learn the significance of ethics and to reflect on matters pertinent to criminal justice. Additional topics may include use of deadly force, civilian review boards and police corruption. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry. Prerequisite: CRJ 110. 3 credits.

CRJ 245 Violent Crimes: Homicide and Sexual Offenses

The course will examine theories of violence; the subculture of violence; gender, class, race and violent crime. It will explore the history and current practices employed by the criminal justice system to address violent crimes with an emphasis on homicide and sex offenses. It will discuss the motives and the characteristics of those who commit violent crimes and the criminal justice systems approach to assessment, treatment and management. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry. Prerequisite: CRJ 110. 3 credits.

CRJ 260 Introduction to Corrections

This course will provide an in-depth analysis of the history of corrections in America. It will include current contemporary issues pertaining to punishment, rehabilitation, restorative justice, correctional administration, policies and procedures and the prison client. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry. Prerequisite: CRJ 110. 3 credits.

CRJ 278 Juvenile Justice

An examination of the causes and effects of juvenile delinquency, the juvenile justice system and treatment programs for the juvenile offender. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry. Prerequisite: CRJ 110. 3 credits.

CRJ 281 Police and Society

This course is an overview of the process of policing, police behavior, organization, operations and historical perspectives. The relationship between the police and the public is examined, as are contemporary issues in the field of law enforcement. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry. Prerequisites: CRJ 110. 3 credits.

CRJ 300 Research Methods in Social Science

Experiential-based course covering fundamental concepts and problems in social science research. Topics include ethics or research on human behavior, design, measurement, sampling, and interviewing and questionnaire construction. There is an emphasis on four research methods: available data, survey research, experiments, and field research. Prerequisite: SOC or CRJ 110, plus 9 credits of SOC/CRJ coursework at the 200-level or higher. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with SOC 300)

CRJ 301 Research Statistics for Social Sciences

This laboratory course builds skills in basic data management, statistical analysis, and interpretation of statistical information. The course reviews how to interpret both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The skills acquired in this lab are employed in research methods to aide students in the design, analysis, and presentation of their research project. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite: CRJ 300. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with SOC 301)

CRJ 331 Criminology

This course will focus on the criminological framework of the study of crime. It will offer an analytical structure in order to understand the facts and criminological patterns and trends. It will explore the field of criminological explanation to include definitions of crime, criminal activity, and how theories are integrated within the criminal justice system. It will also examine the extent and nature of victimization. Prerequisite: CRJ 110. 3 credits.

CRJ 336 Legal Procedures: Rights of the Accused

This course covers the rights of the accused included in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th and 14th Amendments. It deals with legal procedures and their applicability to common criminal justice situations and issues. In additional to examining the legal procedures relevant to police--citizen contacts, Supreme Court decisions affecting law enforcement will be discussed. Topics covered include search and seizure, search warrants, stop and frisk, interviews, interrogations and other legal decisions affording legal protection to the accused. Prerequisite: CRJ 110. 3 credits.

CRJ 400 Internship

Field experience for sociology or criminal justice majors. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisites: CRJ 110 or SOC 110. 1-12 credits.

(minimum 3 credits)
CRJ 499 Senior Seminar

A critical analysis of the selected topic: Inequality. This course will specifically focus on poverty and the impact of adverse child experiences on human outcomes. The course will be conducted as a seminar with a significant portion using a service learning format. This is a capstone course, required of all graduating Sociology and Criminal Justice majors. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience. Prerequisite: CRJ 110. 3 credits.

SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology

An introduction to the sociological perspective with a focus on how individual behavior is shaped by the social context. The nature and characteristics of human societies and social life are examined from a perspective known as the "sociological imagination". Topics range from the influence of culture on human behavior, the development of the self, group dynamics, deviance, population, and social inequality. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence,Social Scientific Inquiry. 3 credits.

3 credits from the following:
CRJ 225 Women in the Criminal Justice System

This course will explore the roles of women in the criminal justice system and examine gender issues in relation to the practitioner, the offender, the victim and within criminal justice agencies. This course will further students' understanding of the issues related to gender and the criminal justice system. Prerequisite: CRJ 110. 3 credits.

CRJ 275 Comparative Criminal Justice

CRJ 275 Comparative Criminal Justice is a 4-week summer study abroad program at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Students will learn new perspectives in law enforcement, courts, and corrections and how international criminal justice systems compare with the US criminal justice system. Fulfills requirement: Human Diversity. 3 credits.

CRJ 286 Homeland Security

This course is an introduction to the topic of Homeland Security. The course will be conducted as a seminar. Through group work, practical exercises, and real-world case studies you will be introduced to the philosophy, terms, principles, and concepts of Homeland Security. The focus is on an overview and examination of the Homeland Security Enterprise, The Department of homeland Security, (DHS), terrorist threats, hazards, the intelligence community, and career fields within Homeland Security. Fulfills requirement: Oral Communication. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. 3 credits.

CRJ 290 Special Topics in Criminal Justice

Topic announced at the time of registration. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. 3 credits.

CRJ 321 Crime Scene Investigations and Forensic Evidence

For evidence to be used in court, it must be identified, collected, preserved, and properly evaluated. This course will offer a detailed overview of the techniques, equipment and strategies for effective crime scene processing and physical evidence collection. We will also explore the difference between how Hollywood has portrayed crime scene "experts" and how CSI/forensic specialists work in the real world. A one-hour lab will be integrated in classes each week and will allow students to demonstrate the techniques learned in lecture and through their out of class assignments Prerequisite: CRJ 110. 4 credits.

CRJ 360 Corrections: Management and Policy

This course provides students with an in-depth discussion of corrections management and prisoner's rights. Constitutional protections and the impact on prison operations are examined. First, Fourth, Fifth and Eighth Amendment rights of the incarcerated are examined. Due Process and other rights of incarcerated populations are discussed. Prerequisite: CRJ 110 and CRJ 260. 3 credits.

CRJ 370 Wrongful Conviction: Causes and Remedies

This course examines the phenomenon of wrongful convictions in the criminal justice system. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students will explore the various factors contributing to wrongful convictions, their consequences for individuals and society, and the efforts to prevent and rectify them. The course will also delve into the legal, ethical, and social implications of wrongful convictions and potential remedies in the criminal justice system. Students will review post-conviction cases of currently incarcerated offenders who have applied to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office for relief Fulfills requirement: Civic Engagement. Prerequisite: CRJ 110, and 336. Restricted to CRJ majors only; non-majors permitted by instructor. 3 credits.

CRJ 390 Special Topics in Criminal Justice

Topic announced at the time of registration. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: SOC 110 or CRJ 110. 4 credits.

LAW 316 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

This course uses key cases to study important doctrines established by the Supreme Court with regard to civil rights and civil liberties. Students will examine the Court's rulings concerning the establishment and free exercise of religion, protection of freedom of speech and of the press, privacy rights (abortion and sexual freedom), the rights of the accused in the criminal justice system, and the law governing racial or sexual discrimination. The course places particular emphasis on various forms of textual interpretation used by individual justices to apply the Constitution in deciding cases and writing opinions. Fulfills requirement: . Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. LAW 215 recommended. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with POL 316)

(or POL 316 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

)
PSY 170 Forensic Psychology

This course will focus on three critical areas that fall under the umbrella of forensic psychology. First, students will be introduced to the area of legal psychology, including applied empirical research on issues important to the legal system such as eyewitness accuracy, police selection, jury decision making, and legal assumptions about human behavior relevant to the rights of defendants, victims, children, and consumers of mental health services. Second, the area of psychological jurisprudence will be explored by studying efforts to develop a philosophy of law and justice based on psychological values. Third, students will be introduced to the concepts generally thought of as forensic psychology, such as criminal profiling, insanity defense, competence to stand trial, and child custody decisions. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with SOC 170)

PSY 265 Abnormal Behavior and Experience

This course is intended to: (1) Familiarize students with models of conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of psychopathology; (2) Review the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral experiences considered indicative of specific psychological disorders; and (3) Allow students to develop an empathic understanding of the personal experiences of individuals living with symptoms of mental illness. Fulfills requirement: Human Diversity. Prerequisite: PSY 110 or 125, or junior-level Psychology or Neuroscience major or minor. 3 credits.

SOC 272 Substance Abuse

An examination of the problems associated with substance abuse including a study of the prevalent myths concerning substance abuse, and exploration of the causes of substance abuse and an exploration of how it affects the individual, the family and society as a whole. In addition, the course will examine current methods of intervention and treatment. Prerequisite: SOC 110. 3 credits.