SHAW UNIVERSITY

 

                                           Department of Social Sciences

 

                                               CRJ203.48 Criminology

 

                                 Robert Smith, B.S., B.S., M.C.J., Magistrate,

                                       7th Judicial District, Wilson County

 

                                 Telephone:  (252) 205-1990, rsmith@shawu.edu

 

                                Office Hours:  Tuesday/Thursday 5:00-5:40 PM

 

                                                               Spring 2006

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Class meets Tuesday/Thursday 5:45-7:00 PM

                                                                    

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  Discussed and taught through selected topics: The Nature, Origin, and

Causes of Crime and Criminal Behavior; the Definitions of Crime, Crime Statistics; Theories of Crime 

Causation; Defending Criminal Typologies and Offense Typologies; and Examining Current and

Future Trends Leading to the Next Millennium (2000)

 

REQUIRED TEXT(S) Siegel, Larry, Criminology Theories, Patterns, and Typologies, 8th Edition, Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, Belmont, CA, 2004

 

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

This course's emphasis is on distinguishing the discipline, i.e., Criminology from Criminal Justice.

It is also designed to provide understanding of nature, and extent, control and

prevention of crime. Relevant history, theories, contributors, and associated issues are

covered. Specific objectives are:

 

1. To examine theoretical contributions to the study of criminology.

2. To provide legal definitions of crime.

3. To identify major sources of crime data.

4. To discuss the evolution of law,

5. To explore the ecological patterns of crime.

6. To discern etiology myth from reality.

 

COURSE EVALUATION:

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend class regularly. Final grades will be reduced for more than

two (2) unexcused absences or the same number of incidents of being late for class. If you

are not here when attendance is taken, it is your responsibility to notify this instructor after

class that you were present.  You will be counted present, but tardy. Students are not to

leave class and return, nor leave class and not return, prior to the conclusion of regular

class hour.

 

Book Policy:

Text specified for this course is required and must be brought to class. Points are deducted

from final grade for failure to comply. All electronic and telephonic devices with sound

alarms are prohibited from activation in the classroom.

 

Make-up Test Policy:

Students who miss any scheduled exam will not be given a make-up exam.  The grade for the

course will be based on the average of the six exams and the final exam. Since the final exam is

is comprehensive; when final exam is graded; the portion of the exam that the student missed

will be counted twice to compensate for any missed scheduled exam.

 

Student Conferences Policy:

Office hours are for conferences pertaining to all student and class issues.  Seniors are

encouraged to make an appointment for a conference (progress report) before making

final plans for graduation.

 

Examinations: Six course tests are administered as designated on Course Syllabus and in the

Registrars’ forthcoming Test Schedule. Each exam's value is 100 points. Questionnaire styles

are multiple choices, true/false, and essay. The number of questions is determined by the

relevant subject covered requiring student evaluation. Examinations are cumulative.

 

Contingency Assignment: I reserve the right to administer unannounced quizzes exclusively

as a barometer of assessment of class status and standing relative to course

requirement and information stipulated herein. Students consistently performing poorly on

these quizzes will be presumed to have failed to comply with course requirements and

are thereby required to schedule an assessment conference with this Instructor. Good study

habits are a student’s responsibility. Failure to study will affect final grade.

 

Assignment Schedule and Grading:

The scheduled exams, 100 point each.

                                               Grading Scale

                                                A = 90-100

                                                B = 80-89

                                                C = 70-79

                                                D = 60-69

                                                F = Below 59 is Failure

Class Preparation Policy:

Students must take notes during class in order to retain the material for discussions and examinations. Class lectures are appropriated to college level discussions and examinations.  Reading assignments are to be completed before class at time(s) designated. These are subject to change due to the need for extended discussions, and other activities relevant to the course.

You will be notified of any adjustments, accordingly.

 

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS:

January

12                    week 1         Introduction to Course and Review Syllabus

                                               Crime and Criminology

 

16                                       HOLIDAY

                                                             

17 & 19           week 2           Crime and Criminology

 

23                  Last Day to Drop a Class

 

24 & 26           week 3          The Criminal Law and Its Processes (Exam I)                                                   

   

30                    week 4          The Nature and Extent of Crime

February 2                                                       

 

7 & 9              week 5           Victims and Victimization (Exam II)

                                                   

14 & 16           week 6           Choice Theory

 

21 & 23           week 7           Trait Theories (Exam III)                                           

 

28                    week 8           Social Structure Theories

March 2

 

7 & 9               week 9           Social Process Theories (Exam IV)

 

14 & 16           week 10         Conflict Theory

                                                       

21 & 23           week 11         Developmental Theories: Life Course and Latent Trait

 

24-                   Spring Break

April 2

 

4 & 6               week 12         Violent Crime: From Street Crime to Terrorism (Exam V)

 

11 & 13           week 13         Property Crimes

                                                           

14-17               Easter Break

 

18 & 20           week 14         Enterprise Crime: White-Collar Crime, Cybercrime,

                                                and Organized Crime

 

25 & 27          week 15          Public Order Crimes (Exam VI)

 

May

2 & 4              week 16          Review for Final Exam

 

5                     Last Day of Classes

 

8-11                 Final Exam Period