BSU Catalog Home | Criminal Justice Program | All-University Courses and Descriptions

Criminal Justice Course Descriptions

(CRJS) College-Program: 17-51. Check with Department for quarter when these courses are offered.Read each course description for prerequisites.

201 CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH METHODS (4 credits). This course explores the process of social scientific inquiry into criminal justice issues. The focus is on the technical requirements for each method, their appropriate application, and attributes and limitations. Methodologies examined include experiments, surveys, observation, existing data analysis, and content analysis. Prerequisite: Completion or concurrent enrollment in CRJS 120.

202 CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATISTICS (4 credits). An introductory course focusing on the application of analytical techniques to address criminal justice issues. The course has a dual emphasis on the understanding of the technical requirements for a variety of statistical techniques and their interpretation Topics include both descriptive and inferential statistics. This course also includes applied work with the computer analysis of a criminal justice data set. Prerequisites: CRJS 120, 201, and MATH 112 or consent of instructor.

219 TOPICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (1-2 credits). Designed to present special topics, problems, or areas of current interest in the field of Criminal Justice.

304 POLICE PROCESS (4 credits). Functions of law enforcement and the roles of police in modern society. Study of the police from several perspectives: historical, sociological, psychological, organizational and political. Designed to acquaint the student with the most current knowledge about police organizations, police officers, police work, and the most critical police problems. Prerequisites: CRJS 120, 201, 202.

305 JUDICIAL PROCESS (4 credits). Examines the criminal justice judicial process. Covers judicial involvement from pre-arrest warrant issuance to appellate court review. Focuses on the role, function, and behavior of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges. Prerequisites: CRJS 120, 201, 202.

306 CORRECTIONAL PROCESSES (4 credits). Provides the student with an understanding of corrections as a major part of the criminal justice system. Focuses on principles, assumptions, and processes pertaining to achieving correctional goals and objectives beginning with sentencing by the court through discharge from jurisdiction. Prerequisites: CRJS 120, 201, 202.

315 CRIMINOLOGY (4 credits). The extent and character of crime in the United States. A critical examination of the meaning and attempted explanations of crime and juvenile delinquency, with an analysis of the social processes leading to criminal behavior. Prerequisites: CRJS 120, 201, 202.

320 JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND JUSTICE (4 credits). An examination of the historical societal responses to delinquents, the definition of delinquency, theories of correction and an examination of the juvenile justice system.

334 METHODS OF PLANNING AND PROGRAM EVALUATION (4 credits). A systemic overview of crime prevention presented within a framework of a planned, proactive response to crime by all components of the criminal justice system. Examines principles of planning, research, and evaluation as applied to crime prevention. Prerequisites: CRJS 120, 201, 202, 304, 305, 306.

335 SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (3 credits).The origins of contemporary private security systems including private investigation and the organization and management of industrial, retail, and protective units. Also includes personnel investigations, internal theft control, and alarm systems. Prerequisites: CRJS 305.

345 CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION (4 credits). Principles of organization and management of criminal justice agencies. Line and non-line functions, personnel administration, planning, budgeting, goals and control. Prerequisite: CRJS 304, 305, or 306.

357 APPLIED CIVIL LAW (4 credits). An examination of the statutes and a review of cases with regard for those aspects of family and business law that are most typical to law enforcement.

358 APPLIED MINNESOTA STATUTORY LAW (4 credits). Utilizes the case method. Studies Minnesota statutes as they apply to crimes against persons, crimes against property, crimes against the administration of criminal justice, and violations of traffic and game laws.

359 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (4 credits). Designed to acquaint the student with the problems and techniques involved in the investigation of a crime. Emphasizes concepts and principles related to criminal investigations. Also included are the relevant rules of evidence for the criminal investigator.

360 CRIMINAL PROCEDURES (4 credits). This course focuses on the rights of the criminally accused, primarily those involved in the pre-trial stages of the criminal process. The Bill of Rights including the 4th, 5th, 6th and 14th Amendments pertaining to Search and Seizure, Eye-Witness Identifications, confessions and interrogations as well as other due process issues will be examined.

363 CRIMINAL EVIDENCE (4 credits). Concerns the collection and presentation of criminal evidence. The rules of evidence defining the types and use of criminal evidence allowed in court is the focus of this course. Sources of the law of evidence as well as the various presumptions and legal burdens involved in a criminal trial are included.

385 COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS (4 credits). In-depth examination of community corrections programs including: program planning, implementation and evaluation, physical plant designs, client's rights, intake, contracting, release, use of community resources, and use of various treatment modalities. The functions of social work in correctional settings will be examined from a historical and contemporary view. Prerequisite: CRJS 306.

425 LEGAL ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONS (4 credits). This course examines the scope and nature of legal aspects of corrections in the United States. It emphasizes the court structure and sentencing practices, prison law, probation and parole law, and juvenile law. Liability for correctional personnel is also examined. The case method is employed in this course. Prerequisite: CRJS 306.

480 POLICING PEOPLE (4 credits). An upper division course primarily intended for those entering the police profession. Course addresses a number of Minnesota Board of Police Officer Standards and Training learning objectives including victimization, dealing with the mentally disturbed, police/minority relations, and police/community relations. Prerequisites: CRJS 120, 304.

483 OFFENDER INTERVENTION (4 credits). Examines counseling and treatment approaches and strategies applicable for use in correctional settings including selective correctional intervention approaches dealing with voluntary and involuntary offenders. Contrasts between general offender thinking patterns and noncriminal individuals are examined.

484 INTERNSHIP ORIENTATION (1 credit). Designed to prepare students for their internship. Covers internship procedures, selection of a criminal justice agency, and the application process to including developing a resume and practicing interviewing techniques. NOTE: This course should be taken one or two quarters preceding the internship quarter.

489 CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH PRACTICUM (4 credits). This course is designed to allow students to apply their knowledge of research methods and statistical analysis. The course includes a brief review of methods and introduces some advanced techniques. Students also will have the opportunity to design and implement a research project using computer data analysis to complete the study. Prerequisites: CRJS 334 and consent of instructor.

492 DIRECTED GROUP STUDY (4 credits). The following description may apply: Course entails advanced study in the theories, philosophies and practices in criminal justice. Requires extensive review of writings with emphasis on recent developments in the practice of criminal justice. Prerequisite: senior status or consent of instructor.

497 INTERNSHIP (16 credits). When taken as a requirement, the following description may apply: A full -time supervised field instruction in a public or private criminal justice agency. The student is expected to demonstrate his/her acquired knowledge and skills to the criminal justice practice. Students should arrange for this class at least one quarter in advance of the quarter of enrollment. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. Prerequisite: Completion of major required courses; major GPA of 2.25; overall GPA of 2.00 and consent of the instructor.