Course Syllabus Course Description Explores the study of crime and crime causation theories, including traditional and modern approaches and emerging technological innovations as well as social policy. Prerequisites BCJ 2000, Introduction to Criminal Justice, BCJ 2001, Theory and Practices of Law Enforcement, BCJ 2002, Theory and Practice of Corrections Course Textbook Schmalleger, F. (2012). Criminology today: An integrative introduction (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Course Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Define terms related to the study of crime and relate those terms to present day crime issues. 2. Analyze the concept of criminology and evaluate the applicability of criminology to crime solutions. 3. Examine research and data collection methods used in criminology and employ those tools as guides for interpreting recent research. 4. Describe the basic concepts of biological theories of criminal behavior and assess the related scientific research substantiating these theories. 5. Distinguish between various types of crimes and distinguish characteristics applicable to criminals involved in each type of crime. 6. Evaluate methods used to effectively deal with crimes and assess the variability of the methods in respect to the varying types of crimes. 7. Analyze the relationship between drugs and crime and evaluate recent studies attempting to thwart this relationship. 8. Assess laws and social policies established to address crime in the United States and determine how these laws are crime specific. 9. Examine the future of crime and estimate the changes in society that will require new laws based on multicultural communities. 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. BCJ 2501, Criminology 1
3. Reading Assignments: Each unit contains Reading Assignments from one or more chapters from the textbook. Supplemental Readings are provided in Units I-III and V-VIII to aid students in their course of study. Chapter presentations are provided in each unit study guide as supplemental reading to aid students their course of study. 4. Learning Activities (Non-Graded): These non-graded Learning Activities are provided 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. Unit Assessments: This course contains eight Unit Assessments, one to be completed at the end of each unit. Assessments are composed of matching, multiple-choice questions and/or written response questions. A grading rubric is included with the Unit II Assessment. Specific information about accessing this rubric is provided below. 7. Unit Assignments: Students are required to submit for grading assignments in Units III, V, and VI. Specific information and instructions regarding this assignment are provided below. Grading rubrics are included with the Unit III and V Assignments. Specific information about accessing these rubrics is provided below. 8. 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. The Final Exam is composed of written response questions. 9. Ask the Professor: This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content related questions. 10. Student Break Room: This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates. Unit Assignments Unit III Research Paper Research the 1927 U.S. Supreme Court case of Buck v. Bell, which involved state-enforced eugenic sterilization for people who were considered feebleminded or otherwise genetically inferior. Write a minimum 1200-word research paper on your findings. Summarize the case, define the eugenic movement, and discuss its role in this case. Also, address Oliver Wendell Holmes s statement, It is better for all the world if, instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime, or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind. Answer the following questions: What happened to eugenics, particularly enforced sterilization, in the years following the Supreme Court s findings in the Buck v. Bell case? What is the current legal status of enforced sterilization in the U.S.? Is the study of genetics, especially heredity, sufficiently predictable to justify using it to make decisions such as those imposed on Carrie Buck? Should genetics be used as the basis for any type of legal decision? Support your answers. Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below. Unit V Project You are the owner of a small retail business whose employees interact with the public daily. You employ around 85 people, both fulltime and part-time. You are aware of various types of workplace violence, and you wish to be proactive and prevent it as much as possible. How would you evaluate your company for risks? Design a plan for the prevention of workplace violence. Your project paper should be a minimum of 1,000 words. Use information from at least one other reputable source in addition to your textbook. Use APA format for the paper as well as all source citations. Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below. Unit VI Case Study This article review assignment requires that students go to the CSU Online Library, ProQuest Criminal Justice database, and read the article, Tracking the CybercrimeTrail, by Bryan Sartin, and answer the following questions: BCJ 2501, Criminology 2
What problem was identified? What steps were taken to solve the problem? Various stages of the investigation were focused on different goals. Briefly list and describe what these were as the investigation progressed and what strategies were employed. Identifying and catching the criminal was not the only purpose for this investigation what else needed to be done, and how was it to be accomplished? What type(s) of cybercrime was/were involved in this article? Does the identified offender fit the characteristics for this type of cybercrime? NOTE: In order to access the article, type CybercrimeTrail as one word, if searching by article name. Your assignment should be a minimum of three pages long, and you should use APA formatting. And references used should be properly cited. 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 Guide 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 includes examples and sample papers and provides links to The CSU Success Center and the CSU Online Library staff. Blackboard Grading Rubrics Unit Assessment Rubrics One or more written response questions in this course utilize a Blackboard Grading Rubric. A rubric is a tool that lists evaluation criteria and can help you organize your efforts to meet the requirements of the written response question. Your professor will use the Blackboard Grading Rubric to assign points and provide feedback. You are encouraged to view the rubric before submitting your response. This will allow you to review the evaluation criteria as you prepare your response. You may access the rubric by clicking on the View Rubric icon next to the written response question within the assessment. Upon receiving your assessment grade, you may view your grade breakdown and feedback in the rubric within the assessment. Assignment Rubrics One or more assignments in this course utilizes a Blackboard Grading Rubric. A rubric is a tool that lists evaluation criteria and can help you organize your efforts to meet the requirements of an assignment. Your professor will use the Blackboard Grading Rubric to assign points and provide feedback for the assignment. You are encouraged to view the assignment rubric before submitting your work. This will allow you to review the evaluation criteria as you prepare your assignments. You may access the rubric in My Grades through the Tools button in your course menu. Click the View Rubric link to see the evaluation criteria for the assignment. Upon receiving your assignment grade, you may view your grade breakdown and feedback in the rubric. CSU Grading Rubric for Papers/Projects The course papers will be graded based on the CSU Grading Rubric for all types of papers, unless otherwise specified within assignment instructions. 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 access it through the CSU Grading Rubric link found in the Learning Resources area of the mycsu Student Portal. BCJ 2501, Criminology 3
Final Examination Guidelines Final Examinations are to be administered to students by an approved proctor on a date that is mutually convenient. The student is responsible for selecting a qualified proctor that must be approved by the university. A list of acceptable proctors is provided in the Examination Proctor Policy. 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. http://mycsu.columbiasouthern.edu 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. 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. Once you have completed Unit VIII, you MUST unsubscribe from the forum; otherwise, you will continue to receive e-mail updates from the forum. You will not be able to unsubscribe after your course end date. 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 email your professor. Responses to your post will be addressed or emailed 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 Unit Assessments (8 @ 8%) = 64% Unit III Research Paper = 9% Unit V Project = 9% Unit VI Case Study = 9% Final Exam = 9% 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. BCJ 2501, Criminology 4
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 Theories and Research Chapter 1: What is Criminology? Chapter 2: Where Do Theories Come From? Unit II Criminology Roots Chapter 3: Classical and Neoclassical Thought Proctor Approval Form Unit III Scientific Criminology Chapter 4: Biological Roots of Criminal Behavior Chapter 5: Psychological and Psychiatric Foundations of Criminal Behavior Research Paper BCJ 2501, Criminology 5
Course Schedule Unit IV Social Theories Chapter 6: Social Structure Theories Chapter 7: Theories of Social Process and Social Development Chapter 8: Social Conflict Theories Unit V Physical Crimes Chapter 9: Crimes against Persons Chapter 10: Crimes against Property Project Unit VI The Business of Crime Chapter 11: White-Collar and Organized Crime Chapter 13: Technology and Crime Case Study BCJ 2501, Criminology 6
Course Schedule Unit VII Drugs and Prostitution Chapter 12: Public Order and Drug Crimes Request to take Final Exam Unit VIII Transnationalism, Terrorism, and the Future Chapter 14: Globalization and Terrorism Epilogue Final Exam BCJ 2501, Criminology 7