Criminal Justice Program

The Criminal Justice Program is administered by the Department of Sociology. Its faculty is drawn from the Departments of Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and adjunct faculty in Criminal Justice. A Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice is offered.

This program provides an excellent preparation for students who are planning careers in the field of criminal justice as well as an opportunity to advance the education of individuals who are already members of the law enforcement profession. The curriculum is structured to blend the best of the liberal arts with those courses designed for professional training of present and future members of the law enforcement community. Special emphasis is placed upon the development of the habits of critical thinking and of effective communication skills as well as the acquisition of basic knowledge of the social sciences as they pertain to the area of criminal justice. Majors should take Introduction to Criminal Justice (CRIM 101) in their freshman year; and Criminal Theory and Measurement (CRIM 499) in their senior year.

B.A. Major in Criminal Justice: 34 credits

Minor in Criminal Justice: 18 Credits

*Acceptable elective choices are: CRIM 240, 361, 390, 465 ;SOCI 350, 351, 353, and 385; POLS 303, 311, 320, and 323; PSYC 380, 426, 486, and 488; PHIL 470.

Criminal Justice Course Offerings

Lower Division Courses

CRIM 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice - 3 credits
A critical analysis of the way the American criminal justice system operates, focusing on the nature of law, the police, and the courts. Prerequisite: none.

CRIM 240 Issues in Law Enforcement - 3 credits
Examines current issues in law enforcement such as corruption, brutality, use of deadly force, politics and policy administration, resource management, stress, community relations, and major court decisions. Prerequisite: none.

Upper Division Courses

CRIM 361 Crime & Gender - 3 credits
An exploration of the ways in which gender influences who is and is not considered criminal, why women are often socialized to be the victims of crime and men the perpetrators of such actions, and how such behaviors are used to maintain and support pre-existing inequalities. As such, special attention will also be paid to how issues of social class, ethnicity, and sexual orientation often temper these societal outcomes.

CRIM 390 American Court System - 3 credits
A hands-on class conducted by a Superior Court Judge. Students observe actual trials and are instructed about the proceedings by the judge. Prerequisite: none.

CRIM 395-399 Topics in Criminal Justice - 3 credits
Specific topics to be chosen by professor. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

CRIM 452 Corrections - 3 credits
An examination of the American correctional system, from its origins to the present day. Focuses on philosophical and policy issues and debates that confront our society in attempting to deal with criminal offenders. Field trips to local, state and federal correction facilities. Spring.

CRIM 465 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems -3 credits
A comparison of criminal justice systems from around the world using the Internet in a seminar format. Prerequisites: CRIM 101

CRIM 490 Directed Reading in Criminal Justice - 3 credits
Supervised readings in the criminal justice area. Prerequisite: permission of the Director.

CRIM 494 Senior Project: Thesis or Clinical Experience - 3 credits
An individualized study under direct faculty supervision on a topic related to criminal justice field. Prerequisite: senior standing.

CRIM 496 Practicum in Criminal Justice - 1-3 credits
Supervised experience for Criminal Justice majors in selected criminal justice agencies such as The Spokane County Prosecutor's Office, The Spokane County Public Defender's Office, or the Spokane County Juvenile Court. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing and permission.

CRIM 497 Law Enforcement Internship Program - 1-10 credits
This is a limited program for juniors and seniors in the Criminal Justice program who will spend a minimum of 40 hours per week for ten weeks in the summer with a participating law enforcement agency in varied work and observer experience with both line and staff assignments in a law enforcement agency. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice major, United States citizen, junior or senior standing, permission of the Criminal Justice Director, and approval of the cooperating agency.

CRIM 499 Criminal Theory and Measurement - 3 credits
An advanced class in criminological theory and methods. In a seminar format students will review and report on current empirical research testing major criminological theories. Required of all criminal majors and minors and fulfills comprehensive examination requirements. Prerequisites: SOCI 304 and one of the following: SOCI 350, SOCI 351, SOCI 353. Spring.

Math Course Offerings

MATH 121 Statistics for Social Science - - 3 credits
An introduction to the basic concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics and their application to the gathering and analysis of data in the social sciences. Required for all majors.

Sociology Course Offerings

Lower Division

SOCI 101 Principles of Sociology - 3 credits
A general survey of the field of sociology: some basic concepts and hypotheses concerning the manner in which human society works. Materials are selected that are especially relevant for an understanding of modern societies. Fall and Spring.

Upper Division Courses

Note: unless otherwise stated, all 300-level SOCI courses have sophomore standing as prerequisite.

SOCI 304 Research Methods - 4 credits
Provides actual experience designing, conducting and analyzing social research through projects using surveys, interviews, and observation. The course is useful for students contemplating careers in which knowledge concerning people (customers, clients, employees, students, etc.) is needed for testing theories, making decisions, targeting appeals, etc. Required for all majors.

SOCI 350 Deviant Behavior - 3 credits
Knavery, skulduggery, cheating, crime, malingering, cutting corners, immorality, dishonesty, betrayal, wickedness, and all other forms of unconventional activities are forms of deviance. All known societies have members who become deviants. This course introduces students to several theories explaining deviance and examines the life styles of a variety of deviants.

SOCI 351 Criminology - 3 credits
A study of crime and criminal offenders in America. Special attention will be given to criminal statistics, theoretical explanations, and public policy.

SOCI 353 Juvenile Delinquency - 3 credits
An investigation of the nature and extent of juvenile delinquents in America. Special attention will be given to theoretical explanations; the effect of family, peers and school; and the history of the juvenile justice system in handling juvenile offenders.

SOCI 385 Law and Society - 3 credits
An examination of the legal process from the emergence of legal norms to the impact of legal sanctions from a sociological point of view. The course focuses of the social processes that influence the development of specific laws, the administration of the law, and the impact of legal sanctions. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. On sufficient demand.

Political Science Course Offerings

Upper Division Courses

Note: All upper-division courses have sophomore standing or permission as a prerequisite unless otherwise noted.

POLS 303 Civil Liberties - 3 credits
The current meaning of the Bill of Rights: freedom, privacy in and outside the home, equal protection and affirmative action, defendants "versus" society, property and economic rights. How the Supreme Court and the country can read the Constitution. Spring.

POLS 311 State and Local Government - 3 credits
State and local government in America. Federalism and intergovernmental relations. Specific emphasis on the history of urban government and the problems of cities today. On sufficient demand.

POLS 320 Public Administration - 3 credits
Growth, operation, and limits on American public bureaucracy, especially from the viewpoint of the citizen. Fall.

POLS 323 American Constitutional Law - 3 credits
The roles of law, politics, and ethics in our constitutional system; the workings of the Supreme Court; constitutional development during the three major eras of our history, and how those experiences are relevant today; how to "brief" court opinions; six different but valid ways to interpret the Constitution. (Most students find this difficult course easier after taking POLS 303.) Fall.

Psychology Course Offerings

Lower Division

PSYC 101 General Psychology - 3 credits
An overview of contemporary psychology which introduces the student to the following areas: human development, sensation, perception, motivation, learning, emotion, psychological measurement, personality, biological basis of behavior, experimental psychology, intelligence, abnormal behavior, and personality. Format consists of lectures and discussions. Prerequisite: none. Fall and Spring.

PSYC 207 Experimental Psychology - 4 credits
An introduction to experimental psychology. Attitudes, assumptions, observation, verification, and explanation in scientific psychology. This course includes laboratory study. Prerequisite: PSYC 101, MATH 121, or permission. Fall and Spring.

Upper Division Courses

PSYC 380 Personality - 3 credits
A survey and critique of major theories of personality. Prerequisite: PSYC 101, 207, MATH 121. Fall and/or Spring.

PSYC 426 Psychopathology - 3 credits
Survey of major emotional and behavior disorders; discussion of causation, symptomology, and treatment. Prerequisite: PSYC 101, 207, MATH 121. Fall and/or Spring.

PSYC 486 Seminar: Aggression - 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSYC101, 207, MATH 121, and permission. On sufficient demand.

PSYC 488 Seminar: Addictive Disorders - 3 credits
Prerequisite: PSYC101, 207, MATH 121, and permission. On sufficient demand.

Philosophy Course Offerings

Lower Division

PHIL 101 Critical Thinking - 2 credits
The philosophy component of the Thought and Expression sequence. Focus on formal (syllogistic, propositional) and informal (fallacies, induction, etc.) logic. Prerequisite: none. Fall and Spring.

PHIL 201 Philosophy of Human Nature - 3 credits
A systematic study of human nature and what it might involve. Focus on appetitive and cognitive processes, the problems of freedom and immortality, and personal integration. Prerequisite: PHIL 101. Fall and Spring.

Upper Division