Criminal Justice
Overview
The Criminal Justice programs are housed in the Department of Justice, Law and Public Safety Studies. This Bachelor of Arts degree educates future professionals in the fields of local, county, state, and federal law enforcement, corrections, probation, parole, and private security. The BA in Criminal Justice also prepares sworn personnel for advancement in their field.
The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice integrates criminological theory and practice with the social sciences, behavioral sciences, and humanities. The curriculum examines the institutions and professional roles responsible for the ethical and safe administration of criminal justice in contemporary society.
Program Structure
The Criminal Justice degree consists of 120 credit hours of study, with 36 of those hours in the major. Advisors are available each semester to ensure students’ progress through the program.
A minor in Criminal Justice is offered as well. The minor consists of 21 hours of required coursework.
A Fast Track Program option (from Bachelor's to Master's) is available to reduce the time and cost of obtaining a Master of Science in Criminal Justice or Master of Science in Public Safety Leadership and Administration.
Course Formats
Traditional courses are 16 weeks long and are offered in face-to-face and hybrid formats.
Accelerated courses are 8 weeks long and are offered fully online, asynchronously for sworn officers and working professionals.
Credit for Prior Learning
In the Criminal Justice major, sworn officers currently working in the field may receive a maximum of 9 credit hours toward the major for prior learning assessment (PLA). For sworn officers who have successfully completed a professionally accredited Training Academy Program, 9 semester hours may be awarded for academy experience. When the training academy program is recorded as academic credit on an official transcript from an accredited college or university, the credit hours listed on the transcript will be accepted. Students may not receive academic credit for training from both a training academy and a college or university.
CSJS 11000 - Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
This course provides an overview of the function, structure, and historical development of the major institutions within the criminal justice system. Theories about crime and victimization are presented, and the interrelationship between law enforcement practices, court processes and correctional operations at the local, state and national levels are examined. Students consider the ways in which policing, courts and correctional practices impact citizens' perception of the justice system and how citizen participation, political, and economic factors influence the policies and practices within criminal justice agencies.
Attributes: Social Science Gen Ed
CSJS 11500 - Introduction to Private Security (3)
Private security is a dynamic field that is growing at a tremendous rate. Problematic issues have varied over the years, new technologies have been developed, laws have changed, and new organizational strategies have evolved. This course provides students with an overview of private security organizations. Students will be familiarized with the most significant literature, theories and research findings in the field. Types of positions available, duties involved and the employment forecast are also be addressed.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 20000 - Court Systems and Probation (3)
This course examines the historical and contemporary impact of the judicial process as the forefathers envisioned. The United States court system and its relationship to the criminal justice system are explored, along with the current system of probation in the United States. The organization and jurisdictions of the federal and state court systems are studied.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 21000 - Health and Human Service Agencies (3)
An examination of services designed to meet the various needs of the population, this course emphasizes the purposes, structure, funding sources and effectiveness of the different programs.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 22000 - Criminology (3)
This course provides historical and current analyses and a critique of foremost theories and "schools" of crime. The approach is multidimensional - psychological, sociological, genetic, geographic and political.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 24000 - Introduction to Corrections (3)
Students consider adult corrections and parole with a concentration on historical trends, administration, reception/diagnosis, incarceration, furlough work-release, parole, authority, recidivism.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 24500 - Fire Science Overview (3)
Although various perils may be of concern in a given situation, the threat of fire is universal. Because fire is one of the most damaging and demoralizing hazards, fire prevention and control must be the cornerstone of any comprehensive loss prevention program. No facility protection program is complete without clear, concise policies and programs to prevent or confront fire and other man-made or natural disasters. Topics covered in this course include fire behavior, fire codes, emergency planning, safeguards, hardware, protection systems and inspections.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 25000 - Criminal Investigation (3)
An examination of the historical evolution of the criminal investigative process, this course explains how a crime can be solved through a very thorough investigation, including preservation of evidence, report writing, crime scene equipment, processing of evidence and investigative procedure.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 26000 - Juvenile Justice System (3)
The juvenile justice system is viewed from both a historical and contemporary perspective with an emphasis on delinquency theories and prevention. Major topics include delinquency and community, arrest, pre-trial detention, court procedures and personnel, probation, training schools and camps, community-based networks, parole, release and recidivism.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
Attributes: Peace Studies
CSJS 26500 - Topics in Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies (3)
Thiscourseprovides an opportunity to studytopicsof current and historical interest in the fields ofjustice, law, and publicsafety.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 27000 - Environmental Protection Enforcement (3)
This course considers how society protects itself against progressive dangers to its environment. Topics include effective law enforcement, legislation, effective preventive and corrective technologies, adherence to standards, sanctions and controls, informed community action and cooperation among agencies.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 27500 - Law Enforcement (3)
A study of the history and philosophy of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. with emphasis on the interdependence of law enforcement and other components of the criminal justice system. The course also examines the roles of the police in the administration of justice and the critical issues that affect law enforcement in contemporary society.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 28000 - Multicultural Issues in Criminal Justice (3)
This course explores the relationship between social class and crime in the Americas, Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Oceania. Topics include: international law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, international relations, environmental racism, police community relations, and prejudice.
Attributes: Globalization Gen Ed
CSJS 28600 - Domestic Violence (3)
This class takes a broad look at domestic problems, including juvenile status offenders, runaways, child abuse, incest and social isolation. It also considers suicide-homicide, depression, sexual dysfunction, drug-abuse/alcoholism, rape, and institutional solutions like shelters, counseling and protective services.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
Attributes: Peace Studies, Women's Studies
CSJS 30101 - Wksp: De-escalation Mitigations - Should I Stay or Should I Go (1)
This workshop in Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies covers topics in psychology and methods in conflict resolution/mediation skills that provide students confidence to develop strategies to successfully de-escalate an emotionally charged conflict situation. The workshop encourages an inviting interest and importance to both students and experienced professionals. The workshop focuses on both practical and theoretical issues with an intensive focus on an applied area of psychology and conflict resolution mitigation skills and methods. The emphasis is on experiential learning and class participation. Students receive a letter grade for their course. It is open to both majors and non-majors. Majors can use up to three workshops to satisfy elective requirements within the Criminal Justice, Forensic Criminal Investigation, Psychology, or HRM major.
and are open to all interested students at the University.
CSJS 30102 - Workshop: Restorative Justice Courtrooms (1)
This workshop is designed to inform students about the history and operation of Restorative Justice (RJ) courts. RJ is a form of criminal justice reform, often referred to as transformative or progressive justice. It reflects trends in society and shifts in legislative perspectives, particularly in how nonviolent crimes and criminals are treated. The goal of restorative justice is not to punish but to rehabilitate and hold individuals accountable for their actions. Students focus on the theoretical and practical implications of employing Restorative Justice principles in the criminal justice system.
Attributes: Workshop/Seminar
CSJS 30500 - Workshop: Juvenile Violence (1)
This series of workshops in Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies covers topics of interest and importance to both students and experienced professionals. Workshops focus on both practical and theoretical issues and are open to all interested students at the University.
Attributes: Peace Studies, Workshop/Seminar
CSJS 30901 - Wksp: Fingerprint Examination (1)
This workshop is designed to provide students with knowledge of fingerprint principles, classification of fingerprint types, and technology used to compare fingerprints. This workshop will provide both lecture and hands-on techniques for processing fingerprints on various surface types, using both powder and chemical techniques. Students will also learn to take legible rolled ink fingerprints that are suitable for booking, elimination standards, and other uses. The workshop will assess the student’s ability to search, collect, preserve, analyze, and compare fingerprint evidence.
CSJS 31000 - Security Organization and Management (3)
Security problems occur in every area of a company's daily routine. It is necessary to deal systematically and forcefully with these problems. Recently, commercial and industrial communities have taken steps to create a security effort as part of the corporate structure, rather than turning to outside services. This course focuses on how and where the security department operates within the organizational framework and the management and operations of private security in corporate America. Management styles, basic management principles applied to crime prevention and, budgetary preparation and concerns are discussed.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 32000 - Private Security (3)
This course is designed as an introductory course for those students who are interested in a career in security, for those presently active in the field who are pursuing additional academic knowledge, and for those concentrating on business administration who wish to examine the basic principles of an organizational function that is rapidly becoming a vital part of virtually every business.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 32700 - Mediation 1 (3)
Participation in mediation helps undergraduate students understand the value of resolving disputes through mediation (peacemaking) so that they can apply these principles and methods to their personal and professional lives. This course will teach students about mediation and advocacy, and how to use the various tools and skills through class simulations, practices, assignments, and exams. Professional, ethical, and collegial behavior is expected at all times.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 or Consent of Instructor
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 32900 - Mediation 2 (3)
As a continuation of CSJS 32700 Mediation 1, this class reinforces a variety of techniques, theories, and frameworks for analyzing and resolving conflict. Students will understand the procedure from conflict analysis to exploring techniques, process models, and third-party roles to constructively intervene in conflict. Because this class emphasizes building conflict resolution skills and abilities, a significant portion of the class will be experientially based. Much of the pedagogical experience will involve engaging in simulated conflict scenarios and subsequent reflection. Students will demonstrate proficiency in mediation through community engagement, specifically training and mentoring youth, and passing a certification examination. Professional, ethical, and collegial behavior is always expected.
Prerequisite: CSJS 32700
CSJS 33000 - Community-Based Correctional Networks (3)
Court sentenced offenders are sometimes given alternatives to incarceration, generally to reduce social costs. The history and development of this movement are analyzed. Topics include court probation, extended furlough, work-release and conditional parole, halfway houses, group homes, metro-centers and regional zone systems.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 33100 - Foreign Criminal Justice Systems (3)
Comparisons and contrasts are made among selected aspects of foreign criminal justice systems and those of the United States. Topics include structures of systems at various levels of government, questions of international jurisdiction, significant differences in basic criminal law and cardinal issues regarding the concept of justice.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
Attributes: Experiential Learning Gen Ed, Globalization Gen Ed
CSJS 34000 - Drugs: Incidence and Abuse (3)
Drug problems are considered in terms of chemical content, effect upon individuals and society, incidence and distribution. Trafficking and organized crime, cause and prevention theories, treatment, statute, sanctions and appraisal of current efforts to deal with the problems are also covered. This course meets the advanced writing proficiency requirement.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 34100 - Criminalistics: Introduction to Forensic Investigation (3)
This course covers aspects of criminalistics. It focuses on standards, certification, genetic technology, drugs, chemicals, crime scene technology, prints, artifacts, and photography.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 34500 - Females in Prison (3)
In the last few years, the topic of female crime and criminals has begun to attract much attention. Patterns of criminal behavior, the etiology of female crime and criminal justice system responses, with special emphasis on the correctional aspects of female offenders, are the main focus of this course in an effort to help students become sensitive to and aware of the relationships among women, crime and justice.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 35100 - ST: Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies (3)
This course provides students with the opportunity to do advanced study ina variety ofissuesrelating tocontemporary or historical approaches to justice, law, public safety, fire science,forensic investigation,and the likeTopics will vary.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 35104 - Research Methods 2 (3)
This course is designed to teach students fundamental skills necessary for understanding statistics as a tool in the field of criminal justice, with an emphasis on quantitative methods and analysis. Students will learn the basics of organizing and describing data (descriptive statistics) and making predictions about populations from smaller samples of data (inferential statistics). Students will learn to critically evaluate data sets while learning about the role of data analysis in all areas of the criminal justice field. This course builds off of students’ initial Research Methods course to learn to analyze data.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 35500 - Prostitution, Rape, and Related Crime (3)
This course provides a study of sexual crimes as they relate to public health, venereal disease, organized crime, political alliances, military imperatives and legislation. Rape victim counseling and treatment, special police training and coordinated crisis intervention are considered, along with offender apprehension, sentencing and follow-up study.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 35600 - Professionalism and Ethics (3)
This course explores professional ethics applied to Criminal Justice. Students examine the philosophical origins of ethics and the relationship of ethics to law and the concept of justice. General ethical propositions are established and applied to specific issues in criminal justice to educate students about ethical decision making and to assist students in becoming personally responsible in their professional careers.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 35700 - Victims and Victimization (3)
This course provides a comprehensive review of crime victimization. Students examine the level of victimization, characteristics relating to the victims of crime, the dynamics of the victim/offender relationship in various types of crime, and the consequences of crime victimization. The response by criminal/social justice agencies to victimization and the services provided are also examined.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
Attributes: Peace Studies
CSJS 35800 - Supervision of Police Personnel (3)
Students examine the leadership role of supervisors and their ability to influence subordinates and coordinate and direct personnel toward specified goals and objectives. Supervisors should be knowledgeable and sensitive to the needs of the community, personnel and management so that overall benefits may be maximized.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 36100 - Role of Social Justice with Minorities (3)
This course aims to contribute to the general enrichment of knowledge of students by developing insights and an understanding of social science and humanistic concepts applicable for criminal justice reconstruction and to analyze the historical development of criminal justice problems in America, and society's parallel efforts to alleviate these problems by creating institutions and vehicles to reinforce the ability of individuals, families and communities to cope with social pressures and change.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 37000 - Intelligence Gathering (3)
This course explores the historical foundations of intelligence gathering and the legal boundaries that define the operational field. Contemporary issues are examined and methods of intelligence gathering are studied. An overview of various intelligence gathering agencies will also be covered. Electronic monitoring, right to privacy, use of informants, and disclosure of information to other agencies are examined.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 37700 - Financial Investigations (3)
This course seeks to introduce and apply financial investigative techniques to the detection and resolution of criminal activity. Focus is on the financial investigative approach, an approach that identifies and documents the movement of money during the course of a crime, particularly financial crimes.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 40000 - Fraud and Confidence Crime (3)
This class provides students with a broad knowledge of confidence crimes; identify and profile the con-artist and examine why certain victims are targeted.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 43000 - Elements of Criminal Law (3)
This course is a basic study of laws, codes and jurisdictions relating to crime. Special attention is given to landmark court decisions, Illinois' criminal codes, relationships of social climate to enforcement of laws, historical trends and future directions.
Prerequisite: CSJS 20000
CSJS 44000 - Social Policy and Social Justice (3)
This course will introduce, examine, and provide students the skills with which to analyze social justice policies. This course will emphasize a conceptual approach rather than a statistical focus to studying the creation, implementation, and evaluation of social justice policies. Although this will focus more on the steps involved in the evaluation of social justice policies, it will also address the existence of social justice policies and their relevance to the success of the social institution known as the social justice system (acknowledging the operations of each social justice component - law enforcement, courts, and corrections).
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 44500 - Criminal Procedure / Rules of Evidence (3)
This course presents an overview of the constitutional rules governing the criminal investigation, detention, prosecution and adjudication of persons in the United States with focus the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and the Supreme court decisions that have interpreted the meaning of these amendments. In addition, the rules of evidence that are designed to allow or disallow evidence in court are explored.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 46000 - Architectural Design (3)
This course deals with environmental architectural and aesthetic issues relating to the safety and security of the general public. Historical perspectives in design related to loss prevention, public safety and security will be examined. Landscape and perimeter design are also highlighted. Various protective strategies are discussed regarding architectural structures.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 46700 - Applied Forensic Techniques (3)
A verdict of guilty or innocent is frequently the result of evidence developed and reported by the crime lab. This capstone course, together with the 81-468 Laboratory course, brings together concepts from the other courses in the program in an applied learning environment. Students will be expected to demonstrate the relationship between and the application of concepts from Criminal/Social Justice-focused courses and the science-focused courses in discussions and situational environments.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 46800 - Applied Forensic Techniques Lab (1)
This course provides a laboratory experience of the concepts and topics of the Forensic Criminal Investigations program.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
Corequisite: CSJS 46700
CSJS 47100 - Criminal/Psychological Profiling (3)
A comprehensive study of the phenomena of serial murders and other serial crimes, this course provides students with a broad knowledge of obsessive-compulsive behavior exhibited by serial criminals in their episodic endeavors.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 47200 - Vice Detection and Control (3)
This course studies the role of organized crime in vice related activities. Issues relative to legalized gambling, prostitution and drugs are also discussed. Enforcement strategies on the federal and local level are also highlighted as well.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 47500 - Police Administration (3)
At all levels of democratic government, police departments are sworn to effectively enforce the law. This course covers public administration skills, interaction with politics, private interest groups and community relations, personnel recruitment and training, treatment of victims and offenders, and established linkage with related public service - medical, fire and transportation.
Prerequisite: CSJS 38500 (may be taken concurrently)
CSJS 48500 - Rehabilitative Counseling (3)
Meaningful staff-client relationships require special training in counseling and advising. This course studies counseling skills required in such settings as incarceration, police custody, parole, court probation, work release, hospitalization, halfway houses and drug abuse centers. Consideration is also given to counseling victims of crime, fire, accidents and disasters.
Prerequisite: CSJS 21000 (may be taken concurrently) and CSJS 24000
CSJS 48600 - Gang Crime-Impact (3)
Multidiscipline theories are presented. Possible causes and resolutions are explored along with economic, ethnic, racial, educational, migratory, housing, religious and psycho-social vectors, practical dilemmas of high-rise housing, automobile mobility, rapid-transit expansion, school "drop-outs," and alcohol as well as drug abuse. Analysis of efforts to combat the problems are considered, including law enforcement, legislation, and community cooperation.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 48700 - Public Sector Labor Relations (3)
Students examine the rapid emergence of the public sector in the labor-management forum. Public safety students come to understand that they are more than participants in this forum; they are contributors to the beginnings of public safety.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 48900 - Female Crime and Incarceration (3)
Patterns of criminal behavior on the part of women, the etiology of female crime and criminal justice system responses, with special emphasis on the correctional aspects of female offenders are explored.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 49000 - Research Methods (3)
This course is designated to provide students with an overview of the methods and techniques of research in the behavioral sciences. Special emphasis is placed on methods and techniques for conducting research in justice, law, and public safety studies, including the relationship between theory and research, the nature of causation, research designs and techniques, conceptualization and measurement, operational, sampling, and ethical issues. Furthermore, students will be exposed to current research in the field. Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 and two upper-division Criminal/Social Justice courses.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
Attributes: Experiential Learning Gen Ed
CSJS 49200 - Military Criminal Justice (3)
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the military and the unique laws governing it. Historical discussion of the armies of the USSR, United Kingdom and Japan is covered. Other aspects include combined operations in emergency martial law situations, refugee control and anticipated national mobilization against the war on drugs. Foreign affairs, geopolitics and history are highlighted as well.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 49300 - Organized Crime (3)
This course is presented historically, transitionally, and in current status. Emphasis is placed on multi-ethnic and global aspects. Sub-topics include prohibition era white slavery and prostitution, gambling, worldwide law enforcement and legislative activity, money-laundering, corporate insider trading, sham of business, union-rackets, terrorism and subversive groups.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 49400 - Terrorism (3)
This course provides an analytical study of the phenomenon of domestic and international terrorism in contemporary society. An examination of political, religious and economic motives is also covered, as well as group tactics. The course will also examine various types of terror groups including single issue, right-wing, left-wing, separatist, and Jihadist groups.
CSJS 49500 - Criminal Justice Information Systems (3)
Information needs and interfaces for different departments are summarized. This course also provides pertinent, contemporary material regarding the collection, storage and dissemination of criminal justice information.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 49600 - Rights and Civil Liability (3)
The purposes of this course is to understand the liabilities that may attach to the police and their respective departments when officers engage in improper conduct, and to understand various lawsuits that may be filed against a police officer for misconduct. These suits include actions of officers that are intentional, as well as those that are negligent. Students learn why proper training, supervision and department rules and regulations are so important.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
CSJS 49800 - Internship (3-6)
This internship gives students practical, related experience through placement in selected settings. Students attend scheduled seminars, confer with the Internship Coordinator, submit written reports and maintain a task log. Three credit hours (which require a minimum of 210 / maximum of 360 clock hours) or six semester credit hours (which require a minimum of 420 / maximum of 720 clock hours) may be earned. Prerequisite: CSJS 11000 GPA of 3.00 or above, Junior/Senior status and approval of internship coordinator and chairperson.
Prerequisite: CSJS 11000
Class Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Classes: Junior or Senior.
Attributes: Experiential Learning Gen Ed
CSJS 49900 - Independent Study (1-3)
Students get an opportunity to explore, in a structured manner, a special interest area of their choice. Students are expected to meet with their advisor throughout the semester while preparing their report. A prescribed stylized written report in duplicate must be submitted to the faculty advisor. Prerequisite: CSJS 49000, Criminal Justice major, Junior/Senior status and consent of advisor and chairperson. To qualify for an Independent Study, a student must have successfully completed 60 credit hours, at least 12 of which were earned at Lewis University, and have earned at Lewis University a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
Prerequisite: CSJS 49000
Program Restrictions: Must be enrolled in the following Program: Criminal Justice.
Class Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Classes: Junior or Senior.