Criminal Justice/Sociology 3303
CRIMINOLOGY
Spring 2016
MWF 9:00 - 9:50 a.m.
Dr. Laurie E. Smith Office Hours:
Office: Marshall Hall, 1st Floor Mon. 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. & 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Psychology and Sociology Suite, Office H Wed. 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. & 11 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Phone No.: 903-923-2090 Tues. and Thurs.: 8:30-9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
e-mail: *or by appointment
text me at: 430-558-7671
COURSE PREREQUISITES
SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology, CJUS 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice, or the consent of the instructor.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is a comprehensive survey of crime in the United States, emphasizing the measurement, causes, and characteristics of crime and criminal behavior, as well as an overview of the American criminal justice system.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course is intended to introduce the student to the discipline of criminology. During its span, students will study theories of crime and criminals, analyze criminal law, look at the enforcement of that law, and survey the general system of treatment of criminals in our society. It is hoped that as a result, students will better understand the concept of crime and its consequences and will possess a basic knowledge of the American criminal justice system.
COURSE COMPETENCIES & RELATIONSHIP TO DEPARTMENTAL GOALS
· Understanding and evaluating human social relations from a sociological perspective
Goal: to contribute to the development of the student’s ability for critical thinking and capacity for personal
reflection
· Examining the measurement, characteristics, and theories of criminal behavior
Goal: to aid in the professional preparation of students seeking careers in psychology, counseling, or social
work, Christian ministry, nursing, law and criminology
Goal: to give basic preparation to students who expect to attend graduate school in of the social or
behavioral sciences
· Familiarizing students with the operation of the criminal justice system
Goal: to aid in the professional preparation of students seeking careers in psychology, counseling, or social
work, Christian ministry, nursing, law and criminology
Goal: to give basic preparation to students who expect to attend graduate school in of the social or
behavioral sciences
TEXTBOOK
Barkan, Steven E. (2015). Criminology: A Sociological Understanding (6th edition). Pearson: Boston, MA. ISBN 978-0-13-345899-2.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Five examinations. The first four exams will be about 85% multiple-choice questions and 15% short answer questions. Dates for the exams are listed below on the course calendar. Each will count as 12% of your grade. The final exam, consisting of 100 multiple questions, is comprehensive. The final will count for 22% of your grade. Students with a legitimate excuse (i.e., illness, death of a relative) will be allowed to take a make-up exam. Material on the examinations will come from the lectures and reading assignments. It is important for students to remember that they are responsible for all material in the assignments from the text, even if it is not covered in class. All exams will be closed-book: no notes or books of any kind will be permitted. You will need to purchase 5 Scantrons to use on the multiple choice portion of the exams.
2. Opposing Viewpoints paper. You will read and summarize at least 3 sets of opposing viewpoints articles, plus read and summarize at least 5 articles from scholarly journals on controversial criminal justice issues. More information will be given in a separate document. This assignment will be 30% of your grade.
GRADING SCALE
The following grading scale will be used: 90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D. Any average below 60 is considered failing. If a student has a borderline average, class attendance and participation may affect his/her final grade.
CLASS MEETINGS
As noted in the ETBU Catalog, students are expected to attend 75% of all class meetings. Failure to do so will result in no credit for the course. For more information on the ETBU attendance policy, see pp. 24-25 in the 2015-16 Catalog. It is the student’s responsibility to make the professor aware of university-approved absences.
SPECIAL POLICIES
Any student who misses an exam and fails to make up the exam will receive a "0" for the examination. Incompletes will not be given in this course unless a student demonstrates compelling reasons, such as a severe illness.
Sometimes the curriculum in this course concerns controversial issues. These will be discussed in a Christian atmosphere. It is intended that each student explore these issues using critical thinking skills, formulating his or her own beliefs about these issues.
A note about cell phones: unless I specifically request that you use your cell phone for a class activity, it should be turned off and put away during class time. Put away means that it is not on the desk or in your lap or anywhere that I am able to see it or that you might be tempted to use it.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
“Students enrolled at East Texas Baptist University are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the
highest standards of academic honesty and integrity avoiding all forms of cheating, illicit possession of examinations
or examination materials, unwarranted access to instructor’s solutions’ manuals, plagiarism, forgery, collusion, and submissions of the same assignment to multiple courses.” For more on ETBU’s policy on academic integrity, see p. 21 in the 2015-16 Catalog.
DISABILITY ACCOMODATION STATEMENT
A student with a disability may request appropriate accommodations for this course by contacting the Office of Academic Success and Graduate Services, Marshall Hall, Room 301, and providing the required documentation. If accommodations are approved by the Disability Accommodations Committee, the Office of Academic Success and Graduate Services will notify you and your professor of the approved accommodations. You must then discuss these accommodations with your professor.
TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
M, Jan. 11 Introduce Course.
W, Jan. 13 Law and Crime--Chapter 1, pp. 2-11 and Chapter 2, pp. 27-35
F, Jan. 15
M, Jan. 18 MLK Day—NO CLASS
W, Jan. 20
F, Jan. 22 Measurement of Crime--Chapters 3, pp. 47-62 and Chapter 4, pp. 82-86
M, Jan. 25
W, Jan. 27 EXAM I
F, Jan. 29 Explanations of Criminal Behavior--Chapters 5-9; for test: Chapter 6: pp. 106-125 and
Chapter 9, pp. 180-188
M, Feb. 1
W, Feb. 3
F, Feb. 5
M, Feb. 8 EXAM II
W, Feb. 10 Violent Crime--Chapter 10, pp. 198-203 and Chapter 11, pp. 233-237
F, Feb. 12
M, Feb. 15
W, Feb. 17
F, Feb. 19
M, Feb. 22
W, Feb. 24 Property Crime--Chapter 12, pp. 247-258
F, Feb. 26
M, Feb. 29
W, Mar. 2
F, Mar. 4
M, Mar. 7 White-Collar Crime--Chapter 13, pp. 264-266; 275-279
W, Mar. 9
F, Mar. 11
M, Mar. 14 Spring Break
W, Mar. 16 Spring Break
F, Mar. 18 Spring Break
M, Mar. 21 Consensual Crimes--Chapter 15, pp. 307-318
W, Mar. 23 EXAM III
F, Mar. 25 Good Friday: NO CLASS
M, Mar. 28 Criminal Justice System
W, Mar. 30
F, Apr. 1
M, Apr. 4
W, Apr. 6 Law Enforcement--Chapter 16, pp. 330-347
Opposing Viewpoints paper due.
F, Apr. 8 LAST DAY TO DROP A CLASS
M, Apr. 11
W, Apr. 13 Punishment--Chapter 17, pp. 353-364
F, Apr. 15
M, Apr. 18
W, Apr. 20 EXAM IV
F, Apr. 22
M, Apr. 25
W, Apr. 27
F, Apr. 29 Review for Final
W, May 4 *FINAL EXAM, 8:00-9:50 a.m.
*It is a university policy that the Final Exam must be taken at the date and time it is listed, with three exceptions:
1) personal illness
2) a death in the immediate family
3) 4 finals scheduled on the same day.
No other reason is acceptable for rescheduling a Final Exam.