Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Composition

This is a process-based writing class that focuses on academic writing, reading, and critical thinking as expressed in expository and analytical writing assignments through 5 to 7 substantial essays over the course of the semester. Develops fluency, coherence, style, effectiveness, and literary analysis. Students must pass this course with a C- or better or demonstrate a comparable level of writing competence to fulfill general competency requirements and to proceed to ENG 123 - Intermediate Composition. Students may only earn credit for ENG 113 or ENG 113E - Composition Enriched with Lab. (3 units)

Intermediate Composition

Continued practice in writing and research strategies, with emphasis on critical thinking, information literacy, argument, analysis, and interpretation of multicultural and interdisciplinary readings. Includes the writing of a major research paper in addition to several shorter essays. Students may earn credit for either ENG 123 or ENG 123E - Intermediate Composition Enriched with Lab. Prerequisite: ENG 113 with a grade of C- or better or evidence of comparable level of writing competency. Note: Students must successfully complete this course with a grade of C- or better to fulfill general education requirements and to begin any literature course. (3 units)

Intermediate Algebra

This course satisfies the math competency for the general education requirements. It will include instruction in the following areas; roots and radicals, quadratic equations and inequalities, graphing relations and functions, systems of equations and inequalities, and matrices and determinants. Prerequisite: MAT 095 or sufficient SAT, ACT or math placement exam scores. (3 units)

Introduction to Criminal Justice

A survey of the U.S. system of criminal justice. The history and philosophy of criminal justice administration in America, description of its social and political institutions, and overviews of major issues in the discipline are covered. (3 units)

American Government

The course provides an introductory overview of the American political system. It begins with a discussion of the principles of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights and an examination of their impact on the country. It also covers the avenues and means of democratic citizenship and political influence in American politics. The course further examines the major political institutions in the United States: Congress, Presidency, Bureaucracy, and Courts. In order to assess the impact of government on society, the course concludes with an exploration of public policy. (Meets state requirement in United States Constitution and California Government.) (3 units)

State and Local Government

This course studies the place and responsibilities of state and local governments in the United States and how they relate with other units of government. This includes an assessment of the citizenship and participation in state and local politics, both at the individual and collective level; and then an examination of state political institutions, such as governors, state legislatures, state courts, and administration. The course also covers city and county governments, and other local units of government. Although it is comparative, special attention is given to California politics. (3 units)

Leadership and Ethics for Criminal Justice

A traditional exploration of the field of law enforcement ethics, which broadly encompasses the history of justice and theories of morality and ethics from antiquity to the modern age. It will also cover the ethical problems unique to law enforcement such as "shoot - no shoot" scenarios, the use of force in general, racial profiling and hate crimes, opportunities for corruption in the context of the War on Drugs, and various other law enforcement issues. (3 units)

Minorities in the Criminal Justice System

Students will critically examine the charges of direct and indirect institutional racism within the totality of the criminal justice system. Students will also analyze society's response to crime, cultural, economic and political differences. (3 units)

Emergency Management

This course will cover the principles of emergency management as practiced in the state of California, as well as the County, State and Federal Government. Chief components of the course are the establishment of protocols and procedures, planning and preparedness, intergovernmental responsibilities, developing a response, and mitigating disasters and recovery. (3 units)

Information Management

This course examines the use of technology in the management of criminal justice data and systems. The course studies trends in the use of modern technology in the administration of management and personnel data. Lastly, the course examines potential unintended consequences of the use of technology in criminal justice management. (3 units)

Historical Perspectives of Criminal Justice

The course offers an introduction to the historical study of crime and the administration of justice throughout human history, especially in the United States. The course highlights both changes in criminal behavior and the different ways that societies have sought to deter, punish and rehabilitate. (3 units)

Crime and Delinquency

A study of the traditional and theoretical schools of criminology. Theories relating to individual abnormality and theories relating to cultural influences are examined. Theories of the causes of delinquency and data on delinquent behavior including gangs, minor and major criminal actions, and methods of correction are also covered. (3 units)

Terrorism and Homeland Security

This course will cover the detailed study of terrorism, counter terrorism, terrorist personalities, and terrorist groups, including types, tactics, and trends on a worldwide scale as well as domestically. The course also examines the unique challenges posed by the government's war on terrorism and commitment to homeland security. The issues of prevention, civil liberties, and nation building will be examined. (3 units)

Methods of Research for Criminal Justice

The course examines scientific approaches to the study of criminal justice. Students will learn how to research and study crime using the scientific method. Students will be exposed to various research methods and designs, which will be illustrated with criminological examples and exercises. Finally, the students will calculate and interpret measures of central tendency, dispersion, and association. (3 units)

Comparative Criminal Justice

The functions, institutions, and operations of U.S. and foreign criminal justice systems are compared. Comparisons are made between countries similar to the U.S., such as Canada and Great Britain, as well as those which are quite different, such as Asian or Arabic countries. The underlying concepts of law enforcement, judicial and correctional processes will be studied in current and historic perspectives. (3 units)

Constitutional Law II

This course studies the most important decisions of the Supreme Court on individual rights and the conflicts from which they have arisen, which means examining the trinity of individual values and rights in American civil liberties?freedom, due process, and equality. (3 units)

Principles of Public Administration

This course examines the scope of public administration. Emphasis on practice as well as theory in personnel administration, financial administration, problems of management, administrative organization, merit systems, and intergovernmental relations by the use of case studies. (3 units)

Courses will be available in a future semester.

Overview of the Bible

A general survey of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian writings (New Testament) with special emphasis to the religious and national life of the Hebrew people, the life of Jesus, and the development of the early church. An Online and Professional Studies requirement for Online and Professional Studies degree programs only. (3 units)

Foundations of Christian Thought

An introduction and primer to Christian theology with special emphasis on identifying the importance and development of a Christian worldview, understanding the doctrine of scripture and biblical authority, learning to do theology, comprehending the relationship between truth, faith and reason, and applying a biblical worldview to the Christian life. (3 units)