POLITICAL SCIENCE
AND
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT
Criminal Justice Courses
CRIM200
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL
JUSTICE
3 sem. hrs.
This course provides a broad overview of the justice
system following the processing of an offender
through detection and identification, arrest, detention,
prosecution, defense, adjudication, sentencing, proba-
tion or incarceration and parole. It considers the phi-
losophy and structure of criminal law in the United
States, as well as the rights and responsibilities of
defendants, agents of the criminal justice system, and
victims. This course is approved for General
Education Elective.
CRIM230
INTRODUCTION TO POLICING
3 sem. hrs.
This course presents an overview of significant issues
in policing and law enforcement. Topics generally
include: development of policing and law enforce-
ment, police work, personnel systems, organization
and management, police operations, police discretion,
police subculture, ethics and deviance, civil liability,
and other current topics of interest to policing and law
enforcement. Prerequisite: CRIM200 or permission
of the instructor.
CRIM240
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
3 sem. hrs.
This course provides an understanding of basic pro-
cedures in the investigation of criminal matters. It
includes interview procedures, crime scene examina-
tions, development of information procedures for
solving crimes, and finding missing persons. It also
presents problems for resolution.
CRIM270
INTRODUCTION TO
CORRECTIONS
3 sem. hrs.
This course presents an overview of the history of
penology and a review of contemporary correctional
ideologies. Topics include the systems of probation,
parole, and prisons, and their interface with the
Criminal Justice System. It reviews issues and per-
spective of social and political developments and
introduces methods of evaluative research, prevailing
practices, policies, and procedures. Prerequisite:
CRIM200 or permission of instructor.
CRIM280
JUVENILE JUSTICE
3 sem. hrs.
This course provides an understanding of the juvenile
justice system. Areas of study include the history and
philosophy of juvenile justice, police work with juve-
niles, procedures in juvenile court, community pro-
grams, institutionalization and aftercare, and contem-
porary issues concerning control of juvenile offenders
and reduction of recidivism. Prerequisite: CRIM200.
CRIM355
CRIMINALISTICS
3 sem. hrs.
This course consists of the scientific aspects of crim-
inal investigation. Major emphasis will focus on the
science of finger printing and the examination of evi-
dence. Some examination of advanced police science
laboratory techniques such as examining firearms,
poisons, hairs, fibers will be included. Prerequisite:
CRIM200 or permission of the instructor.
CRIM370
PROBATION, PAROLE AND
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
3 sem. hrs.
This course examines an array of community-based
correctional programs, including the development of
intermediate sanctions and theoretical as well as prac-
tical aspects of probation and parole work. It consid-
ers programs designed to meet the problems of spe-
cial needs offenders and provides experience in com-
pleting a presentence investigation. Prerequisite:
CRIM200 or permission of the instructor.
CRIM425
CRIMINAL JUSTICE ETHICS
3 sem. hrs.
This course examines the modern day-to-day chal-
lenges facing criminal justice practitioners and the
need for future practitioners to develop analytical
skills to understand the pragmatic and theoretical
aspects of the criminal justice system. It will also
focus on the importance of the criminal justice pro-
fessional to promptly identify the ethical issues/con-
sequences and moral principles associated with vari-
ous actions in an inherently coercive environment.
Prerequisite: CRIM200.
CRIM442
SECURITY SYSTEMS 3 sem. hrs.
A study of private security measures, hardware and
personnel used to prevent and control crime and dis-
aster. An emphasis on security techniques and loss
prevention. Physical security, internal theft, fire pre-
vention and retail security are studied in depth along
with robbery, kidnapping, counterfeiting, fraud and
bombing matters. The relationship between security
and public law enforcement is also considered.
CRIM443
ARSON INVESTIGATION
3 sem. hrs.
A comprehensive and detailed study of arson and fire-
setters. In addition to the legal, psychological, and
social aspects of arson, the course will deal with the
techniques for determining the origin, cause, and
responsibility for natural, accidental, and intentional
fires. Prerequisite: CRIM200 or permission of the
instructor.
CRIM450
COMPUTERS, CRIME AND
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
3 sem. hrs.
This course investigates how computers intersect
with crime and the criminal justice system. Students
will learn to use the World Wide Web for research and
focus upon specific criminal justice information
available over the Internet. The class will look at a
variety of computer crimes, crimes assisted by com-
puters, their investigation, security measures which
can be used, and introduce computer forensic tech-
niques. The use of computers by the police, prosecu-
tors, the courts, probation and parole, jails and pris-
ons, and citizen action groups will be studied.
Graduate students will demonstrate a deeper under-
standing of the complexities of computers, crime and
criminal justice. Prerequisite: CSCI104 or higher and
CRIM200. Majors only or permission of the instruc-
tor.
CRIM462
PENNSYLVANIA CRIMINAL
CODE
3 sem. hrs.
A close examination of the revised substantive and
procedural criminal statues of Pennsylvania with an
emphasis upon recent interpretation by the state
courts. Prerequisite: CRIM200 or permission of the
instructor.
CRIM469
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND
EVIDENCE
3 sem. hrs.
This course introduces a detailed and inclusive study
and analysis of rules and principles of criminal pro-
cedure and evidence. It teaches students to recognize
protected constitutional rights of the accused, to
understand proper collection of evidence, the basic
rules of admissibility of evidence, and the historical
development of rules of criminal procedure.
Prerequisite: CRIM200 or permission of the instruc-
tor.
CRIM490
INDEPENDENT STUDY
1-6 sem. hrs.
The Independent Study program aims to serve those
students whose scholarly bent seems most clearly
adapted to independent work. Students are permitted
to resolve problems and to earn credit for work per-
formed outside the classroom requirement of any spe-
cific course in the curriculum.
CRIM500
SEMINAR: CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEMS
3 sem. hrs.
This seminar will attempt to integrate the various
components of Criminal Justice as a system. It will
focus upon problem areas within the criminal justice
system with an attempt to search for solutions and the
improvement of criminal justice. Particular attention
is given to the assumption of deviant identities, the
formation of deviant subcultures, and the creation of
secondary deviance. Rather than focusing upon par-
ticular forms of deviant behavior, a framework is pro-
vided with which any form of deviance may be stud-
ied. Prerequisite: CRIM200 or permission of the
instructor.
Political Science Courses
The following political science courses are designat-
ed according to the fields of study they represent.
American Government and Politics (AGP): Public
Administration (PA): International Relations and
Comparative Government (IR-CG) and Political
Theory (PT).
POLI200
INTRODUCTION TO
GOVERNMENT
3 sem. hrs.
This course studies the scope and method of political
science. It covers political processes and institutions
in democratic as well as non-democratic nations, and
examines the relationship of theory to practice. This
course is approved for General Education Core 2.
POLI201
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
3 sem. hrs.
This course introduces the student to the development
of the American governmental system. It emphasizes
the intellectual and practical heritage of government
from colonial times to the present. The course studies
the Confederation/Constitutional periods of goven-
ment, the development of Federalism, the Congress,
the Presidency and the Federal Judicial system. This
course is approved for General Education Core 3.
208/Course Descriptions