Criminal Justice Administration Courses

All required CJ courses must have a grade of C or better.


CJ 100 (3 credits)

Exploring Criminal Justice
This course is designed to expose students to the field of Criminal Justice through readings and related experiences. Students will develop personal and professional goals. Readings will include varied areas of exploration, including: law enforcement, the Court, probation and parole, prisons, and victim services.


CJ 101 (3 credits)

Introduction to Criminal Justice
Introduction to organization, administration and operation of the criminal justice system in the United States, with a broad view of interrelationships of police, courts and the correctional process. Major problems discussed include constitutional guarantees, conflicting purposes, mutual support and a view of recommended reforms. CJ 101 is a prerequisite for all other courses in the major.


CJ 102 (3 credits)

Criminology
Examination of classical and contemporary theories of crime, nature and causes of crime and criminal behavior as well as relationship between law and crime. Emphasis placed on identifying various criminological theories and their advocates to give student an overview of the many theories posited as causes of criminal behavior and crime. Course satisfies the social science core requirement.


CJ 201 (3 credits)

Criminal Law
Study of criminal offenses by statutory and common law definition/classification; laws of arrest, search and seizure; and analysis of constitutional and statutory concepts governing introduction and use of information in formalized legal proceedings. PA Crimes Code is used as supplemental text reference.
Prerequisite: CJ 101


CJ 207 (3 credits)

Rules of Evidence
Rules of evidence, principles of exclusion, evaluation and examination of evidence and proof, competency, consideration of witnesses, laws of search and seizure, and court procedures from perspective of moving evidence into court proceedings.
Prerequisite: CJ 201.


CJ 217 (3 credits)

Gender, Race and Crime
Review of the diversity in general as it relates to gender, race and crime.  During this course the history and contribution of equity issues are examined as they relate contemporary diversity themes. Racism, stereotypes, gender discrimination, sexual harassment and role barriers are explored.  The course focuses on the role of gender and race in the Criminal Justice system as it relates to victims, offenders and professionals.  This course fulfills the human diversity graduation requirement.  Prerequisite: CJ 101


CJ 220 (3 credits)

Writing for the Criminal Justice Professional
This course is designed for students in the Criminal Justice field to develop proficiency in writing constructively, major specific. It focuses on acceptable scholarly writing as well as investigative report writing, information gathering, report composition, note taking, case history reports, research and grant proposals used by the Criminal Justice profession. Prerequisite: CJ 101.


CJ 221 (3 credits)

Research Methods I for Criminal Justice
Introduces students to fundamental issues associated with the application of scientific methods to criminal justice problems. Topics covered include research design, the relationship between theory and research, types of research methods, ethical considerations, and data analysis techniques. Prerequisites: CJ 101 and CJ 102.


CJ 235 (3 credits)

Introduction to Policing
This course will be an in-depth examination of policing in the United States and its historical development as a component of the criminal justice system.  Topics to be examined include various social, political, legal and technological forces shaping the profession and the current challenges of policing in the United States including community-police relations, police diversity, the use of force, the dangers of police work and police discretion.  Prerequisite: CJ 101.


CJ 273 (3 credits)

Corrections, Probation and Parole
This course Examines the correctional field covering incarceration, probation and parole, modern correctional counseling, philosophy, practices, theories, system components, specialized programs, innovative sentencing, training issues, supervision techniques, and standards. Prerequisite: CJ 101


CJ 285 (3 credits)

Victimology
Deals with the many concerns that surround the victims of crime and address the issues that tend to “twice victimize” the victim through the ways in which they are treated by the system that is supposed to help them. Current policies, trends, theories, and programs for dealing with the victims of crime and their family or survivors are discussed. Specialized responses to victims of violence as well as the etiology of victimization will be presented. Historical antecedents, victim compensation, victim impact statements, support agencies, and public policy will be presented. This course may be taken for four credits as an option without extra charge for those students who opt to include a community service component.
Prerequisite: CJ 101


CJ 301 (3 credits)

Organized Crime
Nature and problems of the criminal organization including historic roots; causal factors of organized crime in American society; activities, organizations, and economics of organized crime; the problems of corruption and graft, and the development of strategies to control the activities of organized crime. Presented through an overview of the several organized crime groups including traditional organized crime, gangs, and the new ethnic mobs. Proactive strategies of prosecution are presented.
Prerequisite: CJ 101.


CJ 302 (3 credits)

Judicial Process and Procedures
Explanation of the role of the judiciary, it historical background and development in the United States with stress on due process of law, and the judicial procedure by which an arrested offender enters the system. Problems of change and reform of the process are also discussed. Prerequisite: CJ 201.


CJ 308 (3 credits)

Corporate Security
Retail, commercial and corporate security functions of organizations and establishments with emphasis on internal theft, shoplifting, armed robbery, dignitary protection, economic espionage, and tested security programs. Role of management, public relations, and special laws and procedures are discussed.


CJ 311 (3 credits)

Criminal Profiling
Examines the history and contemporary use of profiling in the criminal justice field. Crime scene characteristics, as well as personality and behavioral characteristics used to identify offenders are presenters. Training and research opportunities in profiling are provided. Prerequisites; CJ 101.


CJ 346 (3 credits)

Terrorism
Students will gain an understanding of the concept of terrorism through an integrated approach to the subject, which will include domestic and international issues. Effects on the political agenda will be viewed from the religious and historical perspective. Case studies of terrorist groups and their activities will be presented.


CJ 350 (3 credits)

Professional Seminar in Criminal Justice
This course emphasizes development of skills needed for professional settings. Outcomes of the course include a resume; analyses of jobs available in the filed of criminal justice; team building; individual oral and written presentations; completion of required background clearances and an evaluation by an interview panel. Prerequisite: CJ 101; Junior status.


CJ 377 (3 credits)

Juvenile Delinquency & Juvenile Justice
Study of juvenile court procedures including techniques for prevention, investigation and apprehension of the juvenile offender, juvenile institutions, juvenile probation and parole, philosophy and terminology, current juvenile programs, adjudication and aftercare. Prerequisites: CJ 101 and CJ 102.


CJ 379 (3 credits)

Ethics in Criminal Justice
Examines challenge and conflict between professional standards of behavior and the acceptable system within the organization. Roles of Inspector General and Internal Affairs will be presented. Issues concerning dual relationships, corruption, perjury, false reports, gratuities, wrongful acts, and code of silence will be discussed. Civil Rights and brutality, and use of deadly force will be viewed as ethical concerns. Honesty, integrity and ethical behavior in criminal justice professions are key themes in course.
Prerequisites: CJ 101.


CJ 403 (3 credits)

Current Issues in Criminal Justice
Examine basic principles, structures and processes of supervision and management. Emphasis on legal issues associated with CJ administration which provide student with informative, balanced and realistic perspective taught in a seminar.
Prerequisite: CJ 101; Junior Status


CJ 408 (6 credits)

Agency Practicum
Actual involvement in a work-study internship designed to broaden educational experience through appropriate observation and assignment with criminal justice, private corporate security, and service agencies on the local, state, or federal level. Students are required to spend at least 200 hours with an agency. It is the responsibility of the student to locate and secure the internship placement.
Prerequisite: 2.0 GPA overall, 2.0 GPA in Major, Senior Status (90 credits or more), background clearances, CJ 102, CJ 201, CJ 221, and CJ 350.


CJ 411 (3 credits)

Domestic Violence
Study of various forms of violence that take place within the family and partnership relations. Focuses on spousal abuse, partner abuse, adolescent abuse, abuse of elderly and societal/legal responses.
Prerequisites: CJ 012, CJ 201. May be taken as elective for Women’s Studies minor without prerequisites.


CJ 422 (3 credits)

Crisis Management
Study of crisis as it affects law enforcement and private business from hostage taking to product tampering, including case studies on the issues with an emphasis on decision making. Psychological and behavioral profiles of perpetrators will be discussed. Protocols for dealing with the several identified issues will be presented.
Prerequisites: CJ 101, 201, CJ 217, Senior Status (90 or more credits), or permission of instructor.


CJ 426 (3 credits)

Interview and Interrogation
Study of interview and interrogation techniques to include: a step-by-step pragmatic approach using psychological methods and principles; studies of actual criminal cases, legal issues involved; and extensive classroom practical exercises.
Prerequisite: Senior status in CJ major or permission of instructor.


CJ 444 (3 credits)

Violent Crime
The nature, theory, history and psychology of violence in America is discussed through a study of the crimes of violence including homicide, rape, assault, and serial crimes. Interpersonal, group, and official violence will be explored.
Prerequisites: CJ 102, CJ 201.


CJ 470 (15 credits)

Police Academy
The basic training course prescribed by ACT 120 is designed to provide students with the initial skills to begin their police careers. Prerequisites: senior status, permission of instructor, successful completion of application process and acceptance by the Reading Police Academy.
Prerequisites: CJ 102, CJ 201, CJ 220, CJ 221, CJ 350.

NOTE: Prerequisites may be waived for non-criminal justice majors. The decision is made by the Criminal Justice Department Chair.
 

Contact Information

Rosemary C. McFee, M.Ed.
Chair, Criminal Justice Department
rosemary.mcfee@alvernia.edu

Criminal Justice Administration