Criminal Justice in Society (B.S.)

Departments/Programs:

Criminal Justice in Society Major (B.S., 60 hours)
Criminal Justice Courses	32 hours
Required Criminal Justice Courses:
CRMJS 1010 Introduction to Criminal Justice	4 hours
CRMJS 2110 Police and Community	4 hours
CRMJS 2120 Criminal Law	4 hours
CRMJS 2130 Correction and Penology	4 hours
CRMJS 3150 Crime and Delinquency	4 hours
CRMJS 4970 Capstone 1: Internship	4 hours
CRMJS 4990 Capstone 2: Thesis	4 hours
Pick one course from the following:
CRMJS 2140 Juvenile Justice	4 hours
Social Issues elective to be developed	4 hours

Society Courses	28 hours
Required Society Courses:
SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology	4 hours
SOC 3960 Quantitative Research Methods	4 hours
SOC 3970 Qualitative Research Methods	4 hours
Pick two lower-division courses from the following:
SOC 1120 Responding to Social Problems	4 hours
SOC 1330/SOC 2330 Race Relations and Minority Groups	4 hours
SOC 1350/SOC 2350 Sociology of the Family	4 hours
SOC 2360 Gender and Society/SOC 3360 Gender and Society	4 hours
Pick two upper-division courses from the following:
SOC 3330 Seminar on Race-Ethnicity	4 hours
SOC 3370 Social Inequality	4 hours
SOC 3540/SOC 4540 Urban Communities	4 hours
SOC-3950	SOC-3950

Note: Some courses have prerequisites.

CRMJS 1010 Introduction to Criminal Justice (4 hours)

A survey course providing an overall view of the criminal justice system, the law, law enforcement, the courts, and corrections.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

CRMJS 2110 Police and Community (4 hours)

This course provides an analysis of the structure-function of law enforcement and the dilemma confronting the police in relation with the community.
Prerequisite(s): CRMJS 1010 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
(Normally offered alternate years.)

CRMJS 2120 Criminal Law (4 hours)

Survey of criminal law with emphasis on basic legal procedure developed by the courts and legal problems of law enforcement.
Prerequisite(s): CRMJS 1010 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
(Normally offered alternate years.)

CRMJS 2130 Correction and Penology (4 hours)

Analysis of the history, theory, structure, and function of contemporary penal institutions.
Prerequisite(s): CRMJS 1010 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
(Normally offered alternate years.)

CRMJS 3150 Crime and Delinquency (4 hours)

This course offers an examination of contemporary problems in crime and delinquency with emphasis upon the theories of deviant behavior and correction.
Prerequisite(s): CRMJS 1010 Introduction to Criminal Justice and SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

CRMJS 4970 Capstone 1: Internship (1-8 hours)

This course is a field placement at an agency/organization that is related to the student's area of career interest. A minimum of 140 on-site contact hours are required. In addition, there is a one-hour weekly seminar for all registered students. The seminar focuses on processing the field experience, self-assessment, and professionalization. The course may be repeated for a maximum of 8 credit hours.
Prerequisite(s): Approval of instructor.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

CRMJS 4990 Capstone 2: Thesis (4 hours)

This course requires the completion of an independent sociological research project in a topic area of interest to the student. The completed project should be conference quality scientific article that is then presented to the academic community in such formats as the NWU Student Symposium or the Nebraska Undergraduate Sociological Symposium. Students are responsible for all phases of the research process, including topic selection, academic literature review, definition of the population; sample selection; methodology, data collection and analysis and preparation of the final report (thesis). The paper and the presentation should give evidence that the student is capable of critical integration, synthesis, and analysis of ideas as well as having gained written and oral communication skills, thereby showing some mastery of the departmental goals and objective and the discipline.
Prerequisite(s): Approval of the instructor.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)
Cross-listed with SOC 4990 Capstone 2 - Thesis

CRMJS 2140 Juvenile Justice (4 hours)

This course examines the unique framework and workings of the juvenile justice system. This system is in the process of on-going profound changes in both legal rights and corrections. We will examine the reasons why juveniles commit crimes and status offenses. The current issues in juvenile justice such as: gangs, growth in "female" criminal involvement, and the hardening of juvenile offenders are also considered.
Prerequisite(s): CRMJS 1010 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
(Normally offered alternate years.)

SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology (4 hours)

This course is an introduction to using the sociological perspective as a method of social inquiry. Students explore such basic concepts as culture, socialization, social structure, social interaction, and social change. They study and apply the theories and research methodologies used to investigate human social interaction. These concepts are applied to social topics such as race, class, gender, family, crime, population, environment, and others.
(Normally offered each semester.)

SOC 3960 Quantitative Research Methods (4 hours)

In this course, students are introduced to quantitative research methods commonly used in social science research: survey research, experimental design, secondary analysis, and evaluation research. Emphasis is on survey research, including project design, questionnaire construction, sampling, data collection, statistical analysis, and formal presentation of results. Key elements of the course are learning to ask researchable questions and formulate testable hypotheses.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology and any Statistics course (SOC 2910 Social Statistics is preferred.)
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

SOC 3970 Qualitative Research Methods (4 hours)

In this course, students are introduced to qualitative research methods commonly used in social science research. Emphasis is on individualized project design, project construction, data analysis, and formal presentation of results. Course content includes exploration of observation, participant observation, ethnography, in-depth interviewing, focus groups, content analysis, case study, and online qualitative innovations in research.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology and SOC 3920 Social Theory.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

SOC 1120 Responding to Social Problems (4 hours)

This course uses sociological perspectives to emphasize the interconnection between individuals, social structure, social forces, and social problems. Students will enlist a sociological focus to study and assess what constitutes a "social problem," what causes a social problem, and how selected social problems are addressed. The requirements of the 2120 course will be the same as the 1120 course EXCEPT that students in the higher course number will complete a 20 hour service-learning component.
(Normally offered each semester.)

SOC 1330 Race Relations and Minority Groups (4 hours)

This course uses sociological perspectives to examine the causes and consequences of a society stratisfied by racial-ethinic diversity. It looks at the way historical decisions made by the dominant group have impacted the current situation for majority-minority relations in the U.S. A structural assessment of current social relations is emphasized although individual prejudice and discrimination is examined. Concepts such as white-privilege, immigration, and institutional discrimination are investigated. The requirements of the 2330 course will be the same as the 1330 course EXCEPT that students in the higher course number will complete a 20 hour service-learning component.
(Normally offered each semester.)

SOC 2330 Race Relations and Minority Groups (4 hours)

This course uses sociological perspectives to examine the causes and consequences of a society stratisfied by racial-ethinic diversity. It looks at the way historical decisions made by the dominant group have impacted the current situation for majority-minority relations in the U.S.A structural assessment of current social relations is emphasized although individual prejudice and discrimination is examined. Concepts such as white-privilege, immigration, and institutional discrimination are investigated. The requirements of the 2330 course will be the same as the 1330 course EXCEPT that students in the higher course number will complete a 20 hour service-learning component.
(Normally offered each semester.)

SOC 1350 Sociology of the Family (4 hours)

This course offers an analysis of various interrelationships of men and women with emphasis in love, courtship, marriage, and family. Institutional, social, and legal perspectives are presented in a cross-cultural and historical frame of reference to elucidate the dynamic relationship between the family, its members. and broader U.S. society. The requirements of the 2350 course will be the same as the 1350 course EXCEPT that students in the higher course number will write a comprehensive literature review as training for future social science research projects.
(Normally offered each semester.)

SOC 2350 Sociology of the Family (4 hours)

SOC 2360 Gender and Society (4 hours)

This course uses the sociological perspective to explore sex and gender relations as major features of social life. It considers the social construction of gender (including the creation of masculinities and femininities) and examines the impact of gender ideologies on the social positions of women and men. In particular, it emphasizes the way these social positions (such as gender, race, social class, sexualities, etc.) create and perpetuate the inequalities embedded in its social institutions (like the family, economy/work, religion, media, etc.). The requirements of the 3360 course will be the same as the 2360 course EXCEPT that students in the higher course number will write a comprehensive literature review as training for future social science research projects.
(Normally offered alternate years.)
Cross-listed with GEND 2360 Sociology of Gender

SOC 3360 Gender and Society (4 hours)

This course uses the sociological perspective to explore sex and gender relations as major features of social life. It considers the social construction of gender (including the creation of masculinities and femininities) and examines the impact of gender ideologies on the social positions of women and men. In particular, it emphasizes the way these social positions (such as gender, race, social class, sexualities, etc.) create and perpetuate the inequalities embedded in its social institutions (like the family, economy/work, religion, media, etc.) The requirements of the 3360 course will be the same as the 2360 course EXCEPT that students in the higher course number will write a comprehensive literature review as training for future social science research projects.
(Normally offered alternate years.)
Cross-listed with GEND 3360 Gender and Society

SOC 3330 Seminar on Race-Ethnicity (4 hours)

This course focuses on social privilege and its impact on the meaning and significance of race and ethnicity. It features experiential learning and strong student involvement as such esponsibility for classroom activity will be shared by students and instructor. The course also requires field experience in the community. Potential topics covered include white privilege, color-blind racism, and intersectional analysis of social identities. Particular attention may be given to specific racial-ethnic minority groups. Used as a capstone course for students minoring in American Minority Studies, this seminar assumes significant prior knowledge and interest on the part of the student.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology and SOC 1330 Race Relations and Minority Groups or approval of the instructor.
(Normally offered alternate years.)

SOC 3370 Social Inequality (4 hours)

This course explores social stratisfication, the socially created pattern of unequal distribution of social resources. It gives particular attention to social class, but also considers how class intersects with other social categories (such as race/ethnicity and gender) to create even further inequality. It also examines the interconnectedness of social inequality and the primary social institutions of U.S. society. It also explores global social inequality. The requirements of the 4370 course will be the same as the 3370 course EXCEPT that students in the higher course number will select additional in-depth readings, writings, and activities that expand on the course materials.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology
(Normally offered alternate years.)

SOC 3540 Urban Communities (4 hours)

This course examines urban communities and their historical roots. Topics covered include demographic and ecological trends, cross-cultural varientions, and current theories about urban processes and community in order to foster an understanding of this dominant form of human social organization. Students engage in field study in areas such as community development, urban administration, spatial organization, and contemporary social problems. The requirements of the 4540 course will be the same as the 3540 course EXCEPT that students in the higher course number will complete a semester length field project relevant to the course material.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology
(Normally offered alternate years.)

SOC 4540 Urban Communities (4 hours)

Course Catalogs

Major:

Criminal Justice in Society (B.S.)

Departments/Programs: