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

Criminal Justice (CRJS)

College-Program Codes: 7-51. Check with department for semester when these courses are offered. Read each course description for prerequisites.

1120 CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SOCIETY (4 credits) A general introduction to the philosophies, principles, and social aspects which underlie the formulation of law and administration of justice in the United States. Provides an overview of the institutions and relationships of those agencies composing the criminal justice system and an introduction to systems theory. Includes computer-based exercises that familiarize students with available data sources, interrelationships between criminal justice and the larger society, and possible outcomes of alternative policy choices.

2200 SYSTEMS DYNAMICS (3 credits) The central concept to systems dynamics is the need to understand how all the parts of a system interact with one another. In this context, organizations can be seen as complex and chaotic systems. The various parts and people in an organizational system interact through “feedback” loops, where a change in one over time affects others, which in turn affects the original, etc. System approaches and theory try to understand the basic structure of the system and therefore the behavior it can produce. This course provides instruction in systems dynamics, its applications, and the computer modeling of systems through the use of Stella software. Prerequisite: CRJS 1120; Prerequisite or Corequisite: CRJS 3202.

2221 COMPARATIVE JUSTICE (3 credits) Introduction to a variety of international systems of justice. Students critically examine international legal traditions, study the criminal justice institutions that make up the systems of justice, and explore the cultural, social, and political contexts that contribute to the maintenance of the justice systems. Explores attempts to develop an international criminal justice system. Liberal Education Category 8

3201 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.

3202 CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH METHODS AND PRACTICUM (4 credits) This course explores the process of social scientific inquiry into criminal justice issues. It allows the students to apply their knowledge of statistical analysis while designing and implementing a research project.

3304 POLICE PROCESS (3 credits) Studies the functions of law enforcement and the roles of police in modern society. Designed to acquaint the student with the most current knowledge about police organizations, police officers, police work, and the most critical police problems. Prerequisite: CRJS 1120 and CRJS 3202, or consent of instructor.

3305 JUDICIAL PROCESS (3 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 1120.

3306 CORRECTIONAL PROCESS (3 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. Prerequisites: CRJS 1120, CRJS 3201, and CRJS 3202, or consent of instructor.

3315 CRIMINOLOGY (3 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 1120, CRJS 3201, and CRJS 3202, or consent of instructor.

3319 TOPICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (1-2 credits) Designed to present special topics, problems or areas of current interest to the field of Criminal Justice.

3320 JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND JUSTICE (3 credits) An examination of the historical responses to delinquents, the definition of delinquency, theories of correction and an examination of the juvenile justice system.

3334 CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING (3 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. Prerequisite: CRJS 1120, CRJS 3201, CRJS 3202, CRJS 3304, CRJS 3305, and CRJS 3306, or consent of instructor.

3335 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 personal investigations, internal theft control and alarm systems. Prerequisite: CRJS 3305.

3345 CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION (3 credits) Principles of organization and management of criminal justice agencies. Line and non-line functions, personnel administration, planning, budgeting, goals and control are examined. Prerequisites: CRJS 3304, CRJS 3305, or CRJS 3306.

3350 ORGANIZED CRIME (3 credits) Issues, theories, and concepts related to organized crime. Events, groups, and persons who have been involved historically. The problem of organized crime against the background of contemporary international paradigms. The role of organized crime in the 21st century and the problems of responding to and controlling organized crime.

3355 DRUGS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits) Focuses on the historical and contemporary patterns of psychoactive drug use in the United States and on the development and evaluation of criminal justice policies intended to reduce or eliminate drug use and/or drug problems. Topics include major types of psychoactive drugs, the War on Drugs, the international context of drug production and distribution, and personal and social problems resulting from drug use.

3357 APPLIED CIVIL LAW (3 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.

3358 CRIMINAL LAW (3 credits) This course encompasses the basic concepts of the criminal law and the elements of criminal offenses in Minnesota in particular. Crimes against persons, crimes against property, crimes against the administration of justice, and others are reviewed. The case method is used to define the contours of judicial interpretation of the criminal law.

3359 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (3 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. Prerequisite: CRJS 3358 or consent of instructor.

3360 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (3 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 as it pertains to the criminally accused will be examined.

3366 CRIMINAL EVIDENCE (3 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.

3380 COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS (3 credits) An in-depth examination of community corrections programs including: program planning, implementation and evaluation, client's rights, intake, contracting, release, use of community resources, and use of various treatment modalities. Prerequisite: CRJS 3306.

3500 CLASSICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits) Explores the most important foundational writings in the field of criminal justice. Focuses on the original works that have substantially influenced the thinking and development of criminology and criminal justice, including writings that are variously descriptive, theoretical, or advocative concerning crime and criminal justice.

4100 APPLIED ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credits) Designed to increase awareness, understanding, and exploration of ethical issues in criminal justice as well as ethical dilemmas facing practitioners in the field. Emphasis on exploration of students’ own ethical questions pertaining to their area of interest in criminal justice and the development of solutions to the dilemmas they may reasonably expect to encounter. Prerequisite: CRJS 1120.

4103 CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVERSITY (3 credits) A course in applied human relations that examines the dynamics of class, race, and gender as they intersect with the social realities of crime and justice in the U.S. today. How class, race, and gender operate both separately and in combination to influence the criminal justice system. Includes a summary of reforms and policies to reduce bias in crime control and criminal reduction currently under consideration. Prepares students for conducting and managing criminal justice in a pluralistic society. The facts and theoretical foundation are presented so that students can make their own informed decisions about discrimination in the criminal justice system.

4420 LEGAL ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONS (3 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, juvenile law. Liability for correction personnel is also examined. Prerequisite: CRJS 3306.

4480 POLICING PEOPLE (3 credits) An upper division course primarily intended for those entering the police profession. This 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 1120 and CRJS 3304.

4487 OFFENDER INTERVENTION (3 credits) Examines counseling and treatment approaches and strategies applicable for use in correctional settings including institutions and community corrections. Various treatment modalities are explored in relationship to offender rehabilitation. Prerequisite: CRJS 3306.

4920 DIRECTED GROUP STUDY (3 credits) When taken as a requirement the following description may apply: Course entails advanced study in 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.

4970 INTERNSHIP (12 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 semester in advance of the semester of enrollment. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. Prerequisites: Completion of major required courses; major GPA of 2.25; overall GPA of 2.00 and consent of the instructor.