CRJ 215: Criminology

Course Description

This course examines the principles and concepts of criminal behavior including criminological theories and typologies; the nature, distribution and extent of crime and the legal and societal reactions to crime. The objectives of the course are to develop the ability to engage in focused, systematic thinking and written expression about criminal behavior and to draw correlations between actual criminal activity and theoretical models. (3 credits)

Prerequisite

  • ENG 101: English Composition 1

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Upon completion of the course students will have achieved the following goals:

  1. Describe the techniques for measuring the characteristics of criminals, crime, and victims, using scientific method, UCR, NCVS, etc.
  2. Explain the various theories of criminal behavior.
  3. Identify the characteristics of violent crimes and property crimes.
  4. Describe the characteristics of enterprise crime and public order crime.
  5. Explain society's response to today's crime.
  6. Discuss and evaluate a topic in criminology, research and analyze that topic further and produce a cogent research paper on the subject.

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsWeight

Discussions (Weeks 1-8)

25%

Quizzes (Weeks 2 & 6)

10%

Midterm Exam (Week 4)

25%

Research Paper (Week 7)

15%

Final Exam (Week 8)

25%

Total

100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore

  • Schmalleger, Frank. Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction. 10th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2021. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-577881-4

Course Schedule

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1,2,5

Topics: What is Criminology? Where Do Theories Come From?

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 1: What is Criminology?
    • Chapter 2: Where Do Theories Come From?
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions

2

1,2,5

Topics: Classical, Neoclassical Thought and Early Biological Perpectives on Criminal Behavior

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 3: Classical and Neoclassical Thought
    • Chapter 4: Early Biological Perspectives on Criminal Behavior
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Complete Quiz Chapters 1-4

3

2

Topics: Biosocial, Psychological and Psychiatric Foundations of Criminal Behavior

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 5: Biosocial and Other Contemporary Perspectives
    • Chapter 6: Psychological and Psychiatric Foundations of Criminal Behavior
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Research Paper Topic

4

2

Topics: Social Structure Theories and Theories of Social Process and Social Development

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 7: Social Structure Theories
    • Chapter 8: Theories of Social Process and Social Development
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Complete Midterm Exam

Midterm Exam
Chapters 1-8
SLOs 1,2 & 5

5

1,2,3,5

Topics: Social Conflict Theories and Criminal Victimization

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 9: Social Conflict Theories
    • Chapter 10: Criminal Victimization
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions

6

1,3,4,5

Topics: Crimes Against Persons and Property

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 11: Crimes against Persons
    • Chapter 12: Crimes against Property
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Complete Quiz Chapters 9-12

7

1,4,5,6

Topics: White-Collar and Organized Crime and Drug and Sex Crimes

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 13: White-Collar and Organized Crime
    • Chapter 14: Drug and Sex Crimes
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Research Paper

8

1,4,5

Topics: Technology and Crime and Globalization and Terrorism

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 15: Technology and Crime
    • Chapter 16: Globalization and Terrorism
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Complete Final Exam
  • Complete Course Evaluation

Final Exam
Chapters 9-16
SLOs 1-6

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.