MCJ 5135, Theory of Crime and Criminology Course Syllabus. Course Description. Prerequisites. Course Textbook. Course Learning Objectives.

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1 MCJ 5135, Theory of Crime and Criminology Course Syllabus Course Description Examines historical explanations of crime and criminal behavior, and addresses the social impact of crime, crime prevention, and research into current issues. Prerequisites None Course Textbook Reid, S. T. (2006). Crime and criminology (11th ed.). New York City, NY: McGraw-Hill. Course Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Define and explain the concepts of crime, criminal law and criminology. 2. Provide descriptions for sources of crime data and explain the measures and impact of crime data. 3. Compare and contrast the differences between early criminal behavior and today's modern forms. 4. List and explain the biological and psychological theories of criminal behavior. 5. Explain the sociological theories of criminal behavior using the social structural approach. 6. Explain the sociological theories of criminal behavior using the social-process approach. 7. Distinguish between the various types of crime; those that are more serious than others and state the impact each have on society. 8. Define property crime and describe the affect property crimes have on society. 9. Define government and business related crimes and describe the effects on society. 10. Define drug abuse and illegal drug activities and its relationship to organized crime and legitimate business. 11. Identify and describe the major components and characteristics of the US Criminal Justice System. 12. Discuss and explain the evolution of today's formal policing in the United States. 13. Describe and discuss the components of today's court system. 14. List the major events and discuss the evolution of today's prison system in the United States. 15. Explain the use of corrections within the community as alternatives for incarceration. Credits Upon completion of this course, the students will earn three (3) hours of college credit. Course Structure 1. Unit Learning Objectives: Each unit contains Unit Learning Objectives that specify the measurable skills and knowledge students should gain upon completion of the unit. 2. Written Lectures: Each unit contains a Written Lecture, which discusses lesson material. 3. Reading Assignments: Each unit contains Reading Assignments from one or more chapters from the textbook. MCJ 5135, Theory of Crime and Criminology 1

2 4. Learning Activities (Non-Graded): These non-graded Learning Activities are provided in Units II-VII to aid students in their course of study. 5. Key Terms: Key Terms are intended to guide students in their course of study. Students should pay particular attention to Key Terms as they represent important concepts within the unit material and reading. 6. Discussion Boards: Discussion Boards are a part of all CSU term courses. Information and specifications regarding these assignments are provided in the Academic Policies listed in the Course Menu bar. 7. Unit Assessments: This course contains six Unit Assessments, one to be completed at the end of Units II-VII. 8. Unit Assignments: Students are required to submit for grading Unit Assignments in Units I, III, and VIII. Specific information and instructions regarding these assignments are provided below. 9. Final Exam (Proctored): Students are to complete a Final Exam in Unit VIII. All Final Exams are proctored see below for additional information. You are permitted four (4) hours to complete this exam, in the presence of your approved proctor. This is an open book exam. Only course textbooks and a calculator, if necessary, are allowed when taking proctored exams. 10. Ask the Professor: This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content related questions. 11. Student Break Room: This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates. Unit Assignments Unit I Article Critique For your Article Critique assignment, you may elect to discuss: 1. The importance of staying abreast of new laws by legislation (state and/or federal). 2. The evolution of technology and how it may assist in crime detection or protection, and the potential cost of removing officers from direct contact with the citizens. 3. The difficulty in remaining current with the developing sophistication of the criminal element. 4. Any other topic (or combination of topics) you feel are relevant to a law enforcement professional's duties, responsibilities or working environment. If you choose to select a topic other than one of the first three choices, you should receive approval from your professor before proceeding with the assignment. The article you select should come from the journals and articles available in our CSU Library Databases. The EBSCO Database (Business Source Complete) is the best source of journals for any paper written for CSU. Students can access the CSU Online Library resources by selecting the My Library button located in the Course Menu. The Article Critique should include the following components: A brief introduction of the article Analysis of the key points in the article (body of the article) Summary of the article's conclusions The completed paper must be a minimum of two pages to a maximum of four pages, and should be double-spaced. The title page and reference page are not included in the required paper length. References should support any opinion stated in the paper. CSU requires that students use the APA format in writing course papers, therefore the APA rules for formatting; quoting, paraphrasing, citing, and listing of sources must be followed. Unit III Paper Televised Executions and Crime Deterrence Read Media Focus 3.1 on page 76 in the textbook. Do you think that televising executions would be an effective deterrent for other potential offenders? Would harmful effects outweigh positive ones? Do you think people would view televised executions as retribution for those wronged by the offender? Could it fulfill desires for revenge? Write a minimum two-page paper answering the questions at the end of the article. Support your arguments and opinions. You can use your textbook as a reference, as well as other reliable sources. MCJ 5135, Theory of Crime and Criminology 2

3 Use APA style when writing your paper, and be sure to correctly format any in-text citations, as well as all of your references. Title and reference pages are not included in the page count. Unit VIII Article Review For this assignment, review the topics you have studied in this course, and find a peer-reviewed article on a topic that interests you. You can use the databases in the CSU Online Library or another source that contains peer-reviewed articles. Write a minimum three-page review of the article that includes the following information: Briefly introduce and summarize the article. Identify the author s main points. Who is the author s intended audience? Were any specific issues addressed in the article? What were they? How does the information in the article apply to this course? Does it support the information in your textbook? How could the author expand on the main points? The article must be at least three to five pages long and no more than three years old. Use APA style when writing your review, as well as for in-text citations and references. Title and reference pages are not included in the page count. APA Guidelines CSU requires that students use the APA style for papers and projects. Therefore, the APA rules for formatting, quoting, paraphrasing, citing, and listing of sources are to be followed. A document titled APA Guidelines Summary is available for you to download from the APA Guide Link, found in the Learning Resources area of the mycsu Student Portal. It may also be accessed from the Student Resources link on the Course Menu. This document provides links to several internet sites that provide comprehensive information on APA formatting, including examples and sample papers. CSU Grading Rubric for Papers/Projects The course papers will be graded based on the CSU Grading Rubric for all types of papers. In addition, all papers will be submitted for electronic evaluation to rule out plagiarism. Course projects will contain project specific grading criteria defined in the project directions. To view the rubric, click the Academic Policies link on the Course Menu, or by accessing the CSU Grading Rubric link, found in the Learning Resources area of the mycsu Student Portal. Final Examination Guidelines Final Exams are to be administered to students by an approved Proctor. CSU approves two, flexible proctoring options: a standard Proctor, who is chosen by the student and approved by the university, or Remote Proctor Now (RP Now), an ondemand, third-party testing service that proctors examinations for a small fee. A standard Proctor is an unbiased, qualified individual who is selected by the student and agrees to supervise an examination. You are responsible for selecting a qualified Proctor, and the Proctor must be pre-approved by CSU. Students choosing RP Now must have an operational webcam/video with audio, a high-speed internet connection, and the appropriate system rights required to download and install software. To review the complete Examination Proctor Policy, including a list of acceptable Proctors, Proctor responsibilities, Proctor approval procedures, and the Proctor Agreement Form, go to the mycsu Student Portal from the link below. You are permitted four (4) hours to complete this exam, in the presence of your approved Proctor. This is an open book exam. Only course textbooks and a calculator, if necessary, are allowed when taking proctored exams. MCJ 5135, Theory of Crime and Criminology 3

4 Communication Forums These are non-graded discussion forums that allow you to communicate with your professor and other students. Participation in these discussion forums is encouraged, but not required. You can access these forums with the buttons in the Course Menu. Instructions for subscribing/unsubscribing to these forums are provided below. Click here for instructions on how to subscribe/unsubscribe and post to the Communication Forums. Ask the Professor This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content questions. Questions may focus on Blackboard locations of online course components, textbook or course content elaboration, additional guidance on assessment requirements, or general advice from other students. Questions that are specific in nature, such as inquiries regarding assessment/assignment grades or personal accommodation requests, are NOT to be posted on this forum. If you have questions, comments, or concerns of a nonpublic nature, please feel free to your professor. Responses to your post will be addressed or ed by the professor within 48 hours. Before posting, please ensure that you have read all relevant course documentation, including the syllabus, assessment/assignment instructions, faculty feedback, and other important information. Student Break Room This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates. Communication on this forum should always maintain a standard of appropriateness and respect for your fellow classmates. This forum should NOT be used to share assessment answers. Grading Discussion Board 2%) = 16% Unit Assessments 8%) = 48% Unit I Article Critique = 9% Unit III Paper = 8% Unit VIII Article Review = 9% Final Exam = 10% Total = 100% Course Schedule/Checklist (PLEASE PRINT) The following pages contain a printable Course Schedule to assist you through this course. By following this schedule, you will be assured that you will complete the course within the time allotted. MCJ 5135, Theory of Crime and Criminology 4

5 MCJ 5135, Theory Of Crime and Criminology Course Schedule By following this schedule, you will be assured that you will complete the course within the time allotted. Please keep this schedule for reference as you progress through your course. Unit I Article Critique Unit Study Guide None Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Article Critique by Unit II Introduction to the Study of Crime and Criminology Unit Study Guide Learning Activities (Non-Graded): See Study Guide Chapter 1: Crime, Criminal Law, and Criminology Chapter 2: The Measurement of Crime and Its Impact Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Assessment by Proctor Approval Form Unit III Explanations of Criminal Behavior Unit Study Guide Learning Activities (Non-Graded): See Study Guide Chapter 3: Early Explanations of Criminal Behavior and Their Modern Counterparts Chapter 4: Biological and Psychological Theories of Criminal Behavior Chapter 5: Sociological Theories of Criminal Behavior I: The Social-Structural Approach Chapter 6: Sociological Theories of Criminal Behavior II: The Social-Process Approach Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Assessment by Paper by MCJ 5135, Theory of Crime and Criminology 5

6 MCJ 5135, Theory Of Crime and Criminology Course Schedule Unit IV Types of Crime: Against Individuals Unit Study Guide Learning Activities (Non-Graded): See Study Guide Chapter 7: Violent Crimes Chapter 8: Property Crimes Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Assessment by Unit V Types of Crime: Organizations and Society Unit Study Guide Learning Activities (Non-Graded): See Study Guide Chapter 9: Business and Government-Related Crimes Chapter 10: Drug Abuse, Drug Trafficking, and Organized Crime Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Assessment by Unit VI Criminal Justice Systems Unit Study Guide Learning Activities (Non-Graded): See Study Guide Chapter 11: U.S. Criminal Justice Systems Chapter 12: Police Chapter 13: Court Systems Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Assessment by MCJ 5135, Theory of Crime and Criminology 6

7 MCJ 5135, Theory Of Crime and Criminology Course Schedule Unit VII Social Reactions to Crime: Corrections Unit Study Guide Learning Activities (Non-Graded): See Study Guide Chapter 14: The Confinement of Offenders Chapter 15: Corrections in the Community Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Assessment by Request to take Final Exam Unit VIII Final Exam None None Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Article Review by Final Exam by MCJ 5135, Theory of Crime and Criminology 7