Criminology REQUIRED READINGS

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1 Criminology Criminal Justice 3313 Credits: 3-0 Required course for criminal justice majors Prerequisites: CRIJ 1302 with a grade of "C" or better and junior standing REQUIRED READINGS Barkan, Steven E. (2009) Criminology: A Sociological Understanding (4 th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. ISBN-10: ISBN-13: DESCRIPTION & INTRODUCTION This course is required for all criminal justice majors and is intended to provide students with a broad overview of the study of criminology or, more specifically, the study of law making, law breaking and law enforcement. As these topics are addressed, the course will focus on theory as well as empirical research testing these theories. Gender, race/ethnicity, and social class represent themes that will be applied to a wide variety of issues throughout the course. In addition, emphasis is placed on white collar crime, as well as street crime. GOALS & OBJECTIVES The subject matter of this course is intended to provide essential knowledge for criminal justice students or for any student interested in crime and the criminal justice system. More specifically, upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the various sources of criminal justice data and key facts these data provide. Students will have developed the skills necessary to apply these facts to a variety of theories and, more generally, evaluate the adequacy and utility of these theories. Students will also be able to appreciate how the criminal justice system both reflects and influences the larger society and have the capacity to discuss how gender, race/ethnicity and social class matter to this fundamental social institution. REQUIREMENTS 1. Weekly Papers: Each week students are required to submit a short paper, approximately 1 double-spaced page. Specific instructions will be provided for each paper. Each of the seven papers is worth 50 points for a total of 350 points.

2 2. Weekly Quizzes: Each week students are required to complete a brief question quiz over the week s material. Each of the seven quizzes is worth 50 points for a total of 350 points. 3. Exams: Students will complete three examinations consisting of about 50 multiple choice, short-answer, fill in the blank and essay questions. All materials and activities can be the basis of test questions. Each exam is worth 100 points for a total of 300 points. 4. Comprehensive Final Exam: Our final exam will be comprehensive, meaning that it will pertain to all the material covered throughout the semester. It will be similar in format and length to the regular exams. This exam is worth 100 points. GRADES Grades are based on the following: Seven Weekly Papers Seven Weekly Quizzes Three Exams Final Exam Total: 350 points possible 350 points possible 300 points possible 100 points possible 1100 points possible Letter grades are assigned according to the following scale: A = 89% and above B = 79% - 88% C = 69% - 78% D = 59% - 68% F = Below 59% Notice that my grading scale is curved 1% in your favor. For example, in most courses a 79% is a C whereas in my class it is a B. This is to avoid the situation where someone misses receiving a higher grade by a very small margin -- because in my class you miss receiving a higher grade by a full percentage point, plus the very small margin. I apply the grading scale uniformly to all students. Remember, your grade is an accomplishment, not a gift. No extra-credit assignments will be offered please do not ask. There will be no incompletes offered in this course. Papers, quizzes, exams, etc. will be assigned a grade of zero if they are not completed. COMMITMENTS FROM YOUR PROFESSOR 1. I will provide you clear instructions on class expectations. 2. I will check my at least three times per week and will answer back to you as soon as possible. Typically within one business day. 2

3 3. I will provide graded feedback on your performance in a timely manner. 4. I will keep you informed about your graded progress in the class at all times and will make time to discuss your concerns when needed. 5. I am open to suggestions about improvement of the class and class related activities. 6. I will do all I can to ensure your learning and success in this class 7. If any changes in the course are to be implemented, I will ensure that the class is notified in a timely manner. DISTANCE LEARNING ESSENTIALS 1. Course Schedule: Please look at the course schedule of assignments by clicking on the Schedule link on the left-side navigation bar. 2. Course Schedule Changes: As course instructor, I reserve the right to adjust the course syllabus or change assignments as needed. I will be sure to give you plenty of notice prior to any changes. Remember that our course syllabus and class schedule are living documents and can change! 3. Class Participation: I strongly recommend that you check the course at least three times a week at minimum to keep up. messages are sent to your UTEP address, so you will want to check your UTEP several times a week. 4. Being Successful in an Online Class: Online learning is not a spectator sport. It is everyone s responsibility to participate as fully as they can so everyone can get the most from the experience. Here are some simple rules to follow to ensure your participation and engagement in the learning process: Ask questions: If you do not know the answer, someone else will. Reach out to others: Offer a fact, article, link or other item that can help others learn. Be appropriate: The online classroom is not the place for insulting or insensitive comments, attacks, or venting. Inappropriate behavior will usually subject to disciplinary action, as well. Be diplomatic: When sending messages on emotionally charged topics, make sure you write the message and then walk away for at least an hour before re-reading the message and then sending it. Re-reading emotionally charged messages ensures that they are constructive instead of destructive. Think of the person at the other end. Stay focused: Stay on topic to increase the efficiency of your learning. Take advantage of all the resources given to you to succeed in the class. 5. Effective Electronic Communication: At this point in the course, it is also important to share a word of caution, so we can become wiser about interpersonal distance learning communications. As you may know, when communicating electronically, many of the feelings or impressions that are transmitted via body language in face-to-face communication are lost. Consequently, interpreting emotions and innuendoes is far more difficult. Only what is written, or drawn, carries the message. Often excitement can easily be misinterpreted as anger or an insult. It is important that everyone keep this in mind when communicating electronically. Words in print may appear harmless; 3

4 however, they can emotionally injure the person reading them. More information can be found at 6. Time Management: The rule of thumb for time planning for a course is approximately three (3) hours for every credit hour taken. This is a standard figure recommended across the board by American universities. For a 3 credit course, course you should expect to spend: 3 hours of class time + 9 hours of study and prep time = 12 hours per week. TECHNICAL ISSUES 1. Technical Assistance: The University of Texas TeleCampus Help Desk is open 24/7 at no additional cost to you. You may call their toll free number Hardware Requirements: Please see the UT TeleCampus Hardware guidelines on this. 3. Software Requirements: Adobe Reader is free software that allows everyone from business professionals to home users too easily and reliably view, print, and search PDF files using a variety of platforms and devices. Adobe Flash Player is free and can allow for viewing of rich media, such as video or audio, within the course. Microsoft Office - This product is available at the UTEP Bookstore for about $ tool with file attachment capability. Please use your UTEP account. o If you do not have a UTEP account, please get one immediately. Here is how: Go to Create your account (remember that your date of birth is in the form mm/dd/yyyy: two digits for the month, then day, then year). After you create your account, you must wait 48 hours, then go back to the site and click on "Check on existing account." Enter your UTEP Student ID Number (e.g. 80XXXXXX) and date of birth, and you will get your login name and password. Please let one of us know if you have any difficulty. You may also call the UTEP HELP desk at The HELP desk hours are given below: Mon-Fri 7:00am - 8:00pm (Mountain Time) SAT 9:00am - 1:00pm (Mountain Time) SUN CLOSED 4

5 CLASS AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES 1. Academic Dishonesty Statement: Academic dishonesty is prohibited and is considered a violation of the UTEP Handbook of Operating Procedures. It includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and collusion. Cheating may involve copying from or providing information to another student, possessing unauthorized materials during a test, or falsifying research data on laboratory reports. Plagiarism occurs when someone intentionally or knowingly represents the words or ideas of another person's as ones' own. And, collusion involves collaborating with another person to commit any academically dishonest act. Any act of academic dishonesty attempted by a UTEP student is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Violations will be taken seriously and will be referred to the Dean of Students Office for possible disciplinary action. Students may be suspended or expelled from UTEP for such actions. Academic dishonesty is an assault upon the basic integrity and meaning of a University. Cheating, plagiarism, and collusion in dishonest activities are serious acts which erode the University's educational and research roles and cheapen the learning experience not only for the perpetrators, but also for the entire community. It is expected that UTEP students will understand and subscribe to the ideal of academic integrity and that they will be willing to bear individual responsibility for their work. Materials (written or otherwise) submitted to fulfill academic requirements must represent a student's own efforts. Any act of academic dishonesty attempted by a UTEP student is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Violations will be referred to the Dean of Students Office for possible disciplinary action. Students may be suspended or expelled from UTEP for such actions. 2. Notice of Safe Assign: This course may utilize third party software that has the ability to automatically detect plagiarism on documents submitted for grading. 3. Copyright Notice: Many of the materials that are posted within this course are protected by copyright law. These materials are only for the use of students enrolled in this course and only for the purpose of this course. They may not be further retained or disseminated. 4. Disabled Student Statement: In Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, if a student needs an accommodation then the Office of Disabled Student Services located at UTEP need to be contacted. If you have a condition, which may affect your ability to perform successfully in this course, you are encouraged to discuss this in confidence with the instructor and/or the director of the Disabled Student Services. You may call for general information about the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the rights that you have as a UTEP student with a disability. 5

6 Individuals with disabilities have the right to equal access and opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor and The Disabled Student Services Office at The University of Texas at El Paso. TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE The professor reserves the right to make changes to the course syllabus. Any changes will be announced ahead of time. DATE WEEK 1 READINGS and ASSIGNMENTS Introductions & course overview. What is Criminology? Reading: This syllabus Assignment: Go to class web page and read How to succeed in class & How to Read a Book Criminology and Sociology Reading: Barkan ch. 1 Measuring crime and deviance what does the research say? Correlates of crime and deviance Reading: Barkan ch. 3 WEEK 2 Poverty and community ability to regulate deviance theory Anomie / Strain theories of neighborhood crime rates Subcultural theories of neighborhood crime rates Reading: Barkan ch. 6 WEEK 3 Learning theories of individual deviance Social control theories of individual deviance Reading: Barkan ch. 7 Conflict and feminist theories: Using the law to protect the status quo Reading: Barkan ch. 8 WEEK 4 Violent Crime Reading: Barkan ch. 9 Violence against women: Rape, sexual assault and batterers Reading: Barkan ch. 10 6

7 WEEK 5 Defining and understanding White-Collar crime and Elite Deviance Reading: Barkan ch. 12 Political Crime: By and Against Government Reading: Barkan ch. 13 WEEK 6 Consensual & Public order crime Reading: Barkan ch. 14 Policing Reading: Barkan ch. 15 WEEK 7 Prosecution & Punishment Reading: Barkan ch. 16 Barkan s prescription for reducing crime Reading: Barkan ch. 17 7

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