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Criminal Justice Online Programs

Graduate Course Description

Criminal Justice Online Programs

Graduate Course Description

EXECUTIVE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (EMCJ)

 

EMCJ 501 Capstone Project I (0 credit hour)
This is the first of two (2) consecutive courses designed to assist criminal justice graduate students with the (developing the ideas for inclusion in the capstone projects) writing of their capstones. In this course, students will initiate an original, scholarly document, synthesizing criminal justice theories, practices and methodology on an approved contemporary issue.  This assignment will demonstrate substantive knowledge of the student's criminal justice concentration. The graduate students will work independently with guidance from the instructor and/or other approved faculty members. By the end of the session, each student must submit a working-draft of their respective capstones in a thesis format in order to successfully complete this course.  

Course Emphasis:
This course places emphasis on the culminating work of our graduate students.  More specifically, this course helps graduate students develop their research ideas towards the completion of their capstones.

Prerequisites: Core courses must be completed before enrolling

EMCJ 502 Capstone Project II (0 credit hour)
This is the second of two (2) consecutive courses designed to assist criminal justice graduate students with the completion of their capstone projects. In this course, students will create an original, scholarly document synthesizing criminal justice theories, practices and methodology on an approvedcontemporary issue.  This assignment will demonstrate substantive knowledge of the student's criminal justice concentration. The graduate students will work independently with guidance from the instructor and/or other approved faculty members.  By the end of the session, each student must submit the completed capstone, organized in a thesis format in order to successfully complete this course. 

Course Emphasis:

This course places emphasis on the culminating work of our graduate students.  More specifically, this course helps graduate students advance their research ideas in a completed capstone project. 

Prerequisites: Core courses must be completed before enrolling   

EMCJ 510 CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS
This course is designed to provide a foundation and overview of the criminal justice system and processes. It will focus on critical decisions with emphasis on contemporary issues, trends and controversies that pertain to policing, sentencing, and corrections.

Course Emphasis:
This course will examine the meaning of crime and criminal behavior, and the administration of justice. Emphasis is on police and police operations, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, and judges. The pre-trial processes, the Court, trial and post-trial processes, sentencing, corrections and juvenile justice issues will also be examined.

EMCJ 511 C.J. ADMINISTRAION: THEORY, POLICY & PRACTICE (3 credit hours)
An advanced course in justice administration designed to provide an overview of the problems faced by managers of justice-related agencies, including the principles of police, courts, and corrections management.

Course Emphasis:
This is an advance course in justice administration designed to examine all the administrative problems and factors that span the entire criminal justice system, primarily police, court, and correctional agencies.

This is a course that emphasizes, among other things, organizing (for technological innovation), staffing (personnel administration, the constitutional rights and responsibilities of employees), and budgeting (actually the broader area of financial administration).

EMCJ 512 CRIMINOLOGY (3 credit hours)
This course involves an advance study of the nature and scope of delinquency and crime problems, surveys the available theoretical formulations concerning the causes of criminal behavior, and the policy implications for the Criminal

Justice System. Students will also be exposed to the myths relating to crime and Criminal Justice. A special emphasis will be placed on the role of race, class, culture, and gender differences, as they relate to the Criminal Justice System's response to crime in the community.

EMCJ 513 LEGAL & ETHICAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3 credit hours)
This course is designed to examine the basic legal, moral, and ethical issues in policing, prosecution, sentencing, and corrections. Students also will have the opportunity to examine the legal and ethical issues involved in criminal justice research.

Course Emphasis:
This course aims to provide genuine understanding of course content, the development of key concepts and the ability of the students to think critically about the legal and ethical issues, problems, and concerns that face the criminal justice agencies-police, courts, corrections, and criminal justice researchers.

EMCJ 514 STATISTICS (3 credit hours)
This course is required for partial fulfillment of the Executive Master's in Criminal Justice Degree.  It is designed to provide a firm foundation necessary to interpret and critically evaluate descriptive and inferential statistics in the social and behavioral sciences. Attention focuses on estimation, interpretation, assumptions, and diagnostic of simple correlation models.

EMCJ 515 RESEARCH METHODS (3 credit hours)
This course examines various qualitative and quantitative research methodologies as they pertain to the discipline of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Specifically, this course examines research design, conceptualization, hypothesis formulation, measurement, sampling techniques, data measurement and scholarly writing as it relates to the field of criminal justice with emphasis on the role of the student researcher.

EMCJ 520 ADVANCE CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (3 credit hours)
The course will focus on the in-depth study of crime scene procedures including recognition, protection, documentation, and collection of physical evidence, scene documentation, scene search procedures, and reconstruction from evidence and scene patterns.

Course Emphasis:
This is a didactic (classroom lecture) and experiential (outdoors) course on the fundamental and advanced features of investigation, duties and responsibilities of the detective, interviewing, interrogation, and information-gathering skills, crime scene analysis, collection, preservation, and testing of evidence. Surveillance and undercover work, raid and sting operations, modus operandi, use of technology, types of evidence, and the science of criminalistics. Emphasis is placed on the interdisciplinary and forensic use of knowledge from the natural and social sciences, as applied to prevalent crimes such as homicide, burglary, arson, and sex offenses, but there is also some emphasis upon emerging forms of criminality such as computer crime and terrorism. There are a small number of lectures, and some instruction involves video, practical demonstrations, role-playing, laboratory experiments, and simulated crime scene analysis.

EMCJ 521 ADVANCED INTERVIEWS AND INTERROGATION (3 credit hours)
This course is designed to equip students with knowledge to expand their ability not only on how to extract accurate information from witnesses and victims, but also or discern the innocent from the guilty. This course will place emphasis on utilizing specific interrogation methods to establish rapport, improve feedback and encourage greater discernment through efficient listening.

EMCJ 522 CRIME SCENE ANALYSIS AND RECONSTRUCTION (3 credit hours)
This course is designed to develop a foundation in crime scene analysis and reconstruction. Reconstruction from evidence and crime scene patterns. This course will place emphasis on utilizing scientific methods, physical evidence and deductive reasoning to show how to accurately reconstruct a crime scene and determine the series of events surrounding the crime.

Course Emphasis:
Emphasis will be on the classical and contemporary theories of definitions, correlates, and causes of crime, and the relationship of criminological theory to the Criminal Justice System policy. This course aims to further genuine understanding of the course content, the development of key concepts, and the ability to think critically about issues, problems, and concerns addressed by the theoretical explanation of crime and criminal behavior.

EMCJ 523 CASE PREPARATION AND TESTIFYING (3 credit hours)
This course is designed to develop a foundation in case preparation and courtroom testimony. Case preparation, court deposition, trial, rules, etc. will be reviewed.

Course Emphasis:
This course will place emphasis on the functions of law enforcement officers as expert witness in court. Students will be presented with various sources of information and techniques in case preparation, demonstration of evidence, deposition, trial, guide to the law and the court, and the challenges to the expert. Students will participate in hands on exercises designed to strengthen their knowledge and skills in case preparation and courtroom testimony.

EMCJ 530 ADVANCE POLICE ADMINISTRATION (3 credit hours)
This course examines basic management theories and procedures, and applies them to the administration of law enforcement agencies. It examines the functions of the police in the Criminal Justice

System, the concepts and principles of police organizational structure, the base of law enforcement authority, and the concepts and principles of administration and management, with emphasis on the environment, change, conflict, strategy, and evolution.

Course Emphasis:
The course is an in depth examination of modern police administration, management, and operations. While the focus is on current issues, the historical context of police culture is examined. Particular emphasis is placed on organization administration issues, police operations, police leadership, patrol operations and community policing, ethical issues in policing, auxiliary functions, human resources management, police training, proactive policing, and the future of various police management issues. A special focus will be placed on ethical issues and on police drug enforcement.

EMCJ 531 COMMUNITY POLICING (3 credit hours)
The course is designed to examine the basic fundamental principles of community policing philosophy, applications, management, issues and challenges. It examines the functions of the police in the community, and the community policing models.

EMCJ 533 CONSTITUTIONAL AND CRIMINAL LAW (3 credit hours)
This course is designed to examine the constitutional and criminal laws. It examines the functions of the courts in the interpretation and application of constitutional and criminal laws.

Course Emphasis:
The course is an in-depth examination of the constitution and the guarantees secured to citizens. A special focus will be on citizens' civil rights and civil liberties. There will be a review of the constitutional amendments that impact the criminal justice system.

EMCJ 534 HOMELAND SECURITY (3 credit hours)
This course is designed to develop foundation and knowledge in homeland security. It will provide insight on the homeland security and emergency management.

Course Emphasis:
This course will place emphasis on the major tactical strategies, planning and emergency management in homeland security. Students will be provided the opportunity to understand the history of terrorism, terrorist organizations, and planned response to terrorism.

EMCJ 540 ADVANCE SEMINAR IN CORRECTIONS (3 credit hours)
This course will examine the purpose, theories and practice of corrections. Topical issues will include: traditional and contemporary correctional practices, security operations, treatment issues, classification and assessment. In addition, social, political, economic, organizational and environmental issues that affect correctional administration and performance, will be examined.

Course Emphasis:
This course will emphasize correctional goals and objectives. The custody and treatment issues will be addressed, as well as the special issues like - aids in prison, special population, shock incarceration, after care program, and juvenile corrections.

EMCJ 541 COMMUNITY BASED CORRECTION (3 credit hours)
This course will examine the philosophy, concept, goals and objectives of community-based corrections. Emphasis will be placed on probation, parole, halfway houses, house arrest and other community- based programs. An overview of treatment and rehabilitative practices of community correction programs and the impact of technology on community corrections will also be examined.

Course Emphasis:
This course will examine the types, goals, and functions of community based corrections. Both diversion and pre-trial release programs will be discussed. Other areas to be covered include probation and parole history, functions, supervision, programs and revocation. Economic sanctions such as fines, fees, restitution and community service also will be examined, in addition to theories of offender treatment and juvenile programs.

EMCJ 542 CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION (3 credit hours)
This course is designed to develop a foundation in correctional administration and management. It will provide insight on management issues faced by correctional institutions.

Course Emphasis:
This course will place emphasis on the major organizational and management issues in corrections. Students will be provided the opportunity to understand the corrections organizational structure, the role of management, legal and administrative issues.

EMCJ 543 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN CORRECTIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (3 credit hours)
This course is designed to examine the basic human resource management theories and apply them to the administration of corrections institutions. It examines the functions of the correctional personnel in relation to employee hiring, training, motivation, performance appraisal, discipline, and labor relations.

Course Emphasis:
This course is an examination of corrections and police human resource managements. Particular emphasis is placed on human resource management theories, supervision of employees, employee motivation, professional development, and management of difficult employees.

A special focus will also be placed on employees stress, wellness, and assistance programs

EMCJ 597 COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION (0 credit hours)
To receive your criminal justice master's degree, student must pass the Comprehensive Examination. This Comprehensive Examination, is taken when you have completed all of the regular coursework, will be a one day, written pass/fail exam, with a combination of essay questions, short answers, and case studies, derived from core and required courses. If necessary, the student may retake the examination after a prescribed period (see comprehensive exam policy). The comprehensive examination is administered in the Fall and Spring semesters. Details of exam schedule will be posted in the Criminal Justice department's office and online.

EMCJ 599 Independent Study (3 credit hours)
The Independent Study course provides a unique opportunity for the student to conduct specific, in-depth research in an area of their choice/interest (as relating to the field of criminal justice). It involves directed study through readings and/or field research, projects, papers, and/or seminars regarding a topic or project of particular interest that is not discussed in detail in other classes. The topic selected may arise from a student's own experience and interests or may derive from discussions in another class or from current public policy and issues. The research topic is planned, developed, and completed under the direction/guidance of the instructor. The student is engaged in a semester long, detailed examination of the criminal justice topic selected.

EMCJ 600 Thesis (6 credit hours)
A Master's Thesis is a research project that results in a substantive paper that involves original collection or treatment of data and/or results. The final product of a Master's Thesis is a paper of publishable quality. The Master's Thesis, like the doctoral dissertation, involves original research and exemplifies an original contribution to scholarship. Students should choose three faculty members to serve in his/her thesis committee. A full-time faculty may chair the committee and the student's work. Student is advised to consult both the chair and the committee members on regular basis and should be able to defend their work.
Prerequisite: Completion of all criminal justice core courses or permission of the instructor