Averett University Undergraduate Catalog

 


Courses of Instruction in Criminal Justice

Number Title Credits Description
105 Crime Scene Investigation 3 Crime scene investigation methods are examined.  Evidence about time of death, cause of death, and infliction of wounds is applied to cases.  Autopsy evidence, poisons, body identification, firearms and blood spatter analysis is investigated.  Offered spring semesters.
301 Criminal Justice 3 An overview of the criminal justice system in the United States. Emphasis is placed on the profession of police officer and the problems encountered in crime scene analysis, police discretion, and relationships with the larger society.  The workings of the courts are examined with reference to the roles of the attorneys, judges, and defendants.  The basic problems of the prison system and possible alternatives are explored.  Prerequisite: Sophomore status or above.  Offered spring semesters.
303 Community Corrections 3 An examination of the different community-based correction alternatives outside of jails and prisons. Emphasis is placed on probation and parole. Also examined are current treatment programs such as electric monitoring, house arrest, day-treatment, boot camp, and fines.
304 Police in America 3 A course that examines the role of the police in American society. Topics include the history of the police, development of different police agencies, police discretion, police administration, police organizations, deadly force, and community policing.  Offered fall semesters.
329 Drugs and Substance Abuse (Same as SOC 329) 3 An examination of drugs and substance abuse in American society. The student will examine the social, physical, and mental effects that drugs have on the user, as well as the impact they have on the family and society.  Major issues include addiction, recovery, treatment, rehabilitation, and relapse prevention.  Offered spring semesters.
340 Juvenile Delinquency and Justice (Same as SOC 340) 3 An examination of the causes of juvenile delinquency, sociological theory, and the responses of the legal system.  The extent of juvenile delinquency, the organization of police, judicial, and correctional response to juvenile offenders, the legal developments in statutory and case law, and the future of this system are examined.  Offered fall semesters.
352 Criminal Investigation 3 An overview of criminal investigation techniques with an emphasis on crime scene investigation and crime laboratory developments.  Recent developments in the field include DNA research, trace physical evidence, fingerprint developments, and specific crime analysis techniques.  Prerequisite: Sophomore status or above.  Offered fall semesters.
375 Corrections (Same as SOC 375)  3 A survey of prisons, jails, and correction alternatives in the United States.  Topics include federal, state, and local correctional facilities, sentencing, the prison experience, community correctional programs, probation and parole.  Prerequisite:  SOC 101.  Offered alternate years.
387 Criminal Law 3 An examination of the elements of criminal laws and the defenses associated with them.  Specific crimes of murder, burglary, robbery, rape, traffic offenses, larceny, embezzlement, arson, and other crimes are discussed.  Basic criminal procedure questions of search and seizure are examined.  The new changes and trends in criminal law are discussed.  Offered fall semesters.
407 Courts and Trials 3 A detailed examination of the courtroom procedures and the roles and responsibilities of the judge, the prosecutor, defendant, and police officer.  Topics discussed include the structure of the courts, the steps in prosecution, the trial, and sentencing.  Prerequisite: Sophomore status or above.  Offered alternate years.
440 Senior Seminar  3 A capstone course for the major.  The student will complete a project combining theory, research, and evaluation methods on a selected topic in the major.  A portion of the course will be devoted to career development.  Prerequisite or corequisite: SOC 470.    Offered spring semesters.
445 Criminal Justice Internship 3 A supervised work experience in a setting that requires the student to observe and participate in one field of criminal justice.  The student uses the knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom and applies them within a criminal justice agency.  Prerequisite:  2.0 cumulative grade point average and permission of instructor.  Offered each semester, including summer.
488 Criminal Procedure 3 A course that examines the main criminal procedure law and search and seizure issues in modern criminal justice. The major procedures and laws that relate to upholding the criminal justice system, including the U. S. Constitution and federal and state legislation are examined. Court cases and legal analysis are applied to the reading of appellate court decisions.  Offered spring semesters.