308 Department Criminal Justice Chair: Dr. Morris R. Sterrett Location: Social Science Building, Room 218 Telephone Contact: Julie Jenkins 801-626-6146 Professors: L. Kay Gillespie, Michael D. Norman; Associate Professors: Michelle E. Heward, Paul H. Johnson, Morris R. Sterrett, Robert D. Wadman; Assistant Professors: David R. Lynch, Scott Senjo I he Criminal Justice program provides students with a liberal education, while offering academic preparation through an expanded emphasis on criminal justice education. The program also offers a basis for graduate study and seeks to contribute significantly to the improvement of the quality of justice administration. Criminal justice agencies in the recent past have established advanced academic standards. Education is becoming a more meaningful factor in selection of law enforcement, corrections, and security personnel for initial employment, promotion, and administrative roles. Criminal Justice Who Should Apply The program is designed for criminal justice and social service professionals who wish to continue their education, and who plan to use the degree to bring about positive change in the justice system. Program Description The Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice is designed to provide post-baccalaureate education to criminal justice professionals and traditional students who have not yet begun a career in criminal justice. The primary goal of the program is to develop in graduates the ability to analyze, comprehend, and resolve the complex problems confronting the criminal justice system. The program emphasizes theory and research, administration, and the problems involved in effecting change in the criminal justice system. Students will be able to conceptualize the problems of crime and justice from social, cultural, economic, and political perspectives. In addition, the successful graduate will understand research methods and design as well as statistical strategies used to analyze social science research. Course work will also provide a foundation for those students desiring to pursue doctoral studies. About the Faculty The graduate faculty brings diverse backgrounds both in terms of education and professional experience. Faculty graduate degrees include Public Administration, Sociology, Education, Criminal Justice, Political Science, and the Law. The past professional experiences among the faculty have included law enforcement administration, prosecuting attorney, criminal defense attorney, probation officer, and parole board members. Faculty research interests cross the full spectrum of the justice system and include issues related to the police, courts, criminal procedures, adult and youth corrections. About the Program Classes will be held in the late afternoon and evening to allow for attendance by the non-traditional student who may have a full time work obligation. Initially, all classes will be held on the Weber State University campus in Ogden, Utah. Usually, two classes will be offered each semester including summer. Students will be able to complete all of the course work in two years. Admission Requirements Admission to the master's program will be competitive and entrance restricted to a limited number of well qualified applicants. Applicants should possess an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice or a related social or behavioral science area. Each candidate will be evaluated on (1) past academic performance, (2) score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and (3) overall experience and progression in the criminal justice field. Specific admissions criteria include: • Completion of the WSU admissions application form • Completion of the Department Master's Degree application form • Submission of Graduate Record Exam score (verbal and quantita tive portions) • Submission official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended • Submission of a current resume • Submission of a written personal statement explaining interest in the program The GRE must not have been taken more than three years prior to the date of application. Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis, and those whose undergraduate work does not reflect a basic foundation in criminal justice study, or who do not meet the specific admission requirements, may be admitted on a provisional basis. Students applying without undergraduate competency in Criminal Justice may be required to take two basic undergraduate criminal justice classes, CJ 1010 Criminal Justice and CJ 1330 Criminal Law, before being admitted to full candidacy. Graduation Requirements The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice requires the completion of 30 or 36 semester hours, depending upon the option selected. Four core courses totaling 12 semester hours are required. These courses include: MCJ6100 Contemporary Criminal Justice MCJ6110 Research Methods in Criminal Justice I MCJ6112 Research Methods in Criminal Justice II MCJ6120 Theories of Crime and Delinquency The remaining hours will be chosen from elective courses of interest to the student. Grades of "C" or less will not count toward completion of the degree. Students must choose between completing a Master's Project, a Master's Thesis, or taking additional course work in lieu of the project/thesis. The requirements for each option are identified below. Regardless of the option chosen, the student must complete all degree requirements within four years of entry into the program. Master's Thesis Option Project Option 1. Complete 12 core credit hours. 2. Complete 12 elective credit hours. 3. Complete six thesis credit hours. 1. Complete 12 core credit hours. 2. Complete 21 elective credit hours. 3. Complete three project credit hours. Non Project/Thesis Option (36 credit hours) 1. Complete 12 core credit hours. 2. Complete 24 elective credit hours. Master of Science Degree Criminal Justice Courses Required Courses MCJ 6100 MCJ6110* MCJ 6112** MCJ 6120 Elective Courses MCJ 6130 MCJ 6140 MCJ 6150 MCJ 6160 MCJ 6170 MCJ 6180 MCJ 6210 MCJ 6220 MCJ 6230 MCJ 6240 MCJ 6250 MCJ 6260 MCJ 6270 MCJ 6810 MCJ 6920 prerequisite to course MCJ 6112 **MCJ6110 andMCJ6112 are prerequisite to course MCJ 6270 Contemporary Criminal Justice (3) Research Methods in Criminal Justice I (3) Research Methods in Criminal Justice II (3) Theories of Crime and Delinquency (3) Law and Social Control (3) Technology and Innovation in Criminal Justice (3) Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice (3) Seminar: Criminal Justice Policy Analysis (3) Seminar: Juvenile Justice (3) Seminar: Contemporary Legal Issues (3) Seminar: the American Criminal Court (3) Seminar: Contemporary Law Enforcement (3) Seminar: Contemporary Corrections (3) Criminal Justice Planning, Budgeting, and Evaluation (3) Special Topics in Criminal Justice (3) Graduate Readings (3) Thesis/Project (3) Experimental Course (3) Workshops CRIMINAL JUSTICE MASTER'S PROGRAM COURSES - MCJ MCJ 6100. Contemporary Criminal Justice (3) Course provides an analysis of the policies and practices of agencies of the criminal justice system including the police, prosecution, courts and corrections. Additionally, behavior in justice organizations will be explored and evaluated in the context of law and public policy. MCJ 6110. Research Methods in Criminal Justice I (3) Course teaches quantitative and qualitative research design, data collection and analysis techniques, and research presentation and dissemination methods. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be covered as well as basic computer applications in criminal justice. MCJ 6112. Research Methods in Criminal Justice II (3) With a foundation from MCJ 6110, a transition will be made into an explanation and introduction to multi variate data analysis, the heart of the course. The course is essential to understanding the development, implementation, and analysis of graduate level research in criminal justice. It is designed to assure that the students have a comprehensive knowledge of graduate level statistics, research design development, and the ability to review and understand journal articles in criminal justice. As a core course, Research Methods II will assist students in establishing the knowledge and skill necessary to effectively utilize research techniques in criminal justice agencies and in graduate level courses. MCJ 6120. Theories of Crime and Delinquency (3) Course focuses on a review of classical and current theories of criminology and delinquency and the underlying assumptions of each. Advancements in profiling and classification as well as other applications of theoretical models will be studied. 309 MCJ 6130. Law and Social Control (3) Course focuses on the nature of law and legal institutions and the relationships between law and social control. Concepts of law and justice from the perspectives of its effects on the American criminal justice system will be investigated as well as the public policy concerns of laws and their relationship to our society. MCJ 6140. Technology and Innovation in Criminal Justice (3) Course explores the latest developments in technology and innovations in criminal justice. Included will be current developments in forensic science, i.e. DNA and the use of computer applications in criminal justice. Specific topics will be adjusted as new technologies arrive. Emphasis will be on impact and management rather than the strict science of the protocols. MCJ 6150. Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice (3) Course will sensitize and educate criminal justice professionals to issues of diversity. It explores the cross-cultural contact that criminal justice professionals have with citizens, victims, suspects, and co-workers, and the influence of culture, race and gender in the criminal justice field. MCJ 6160. Seminar: Criminal Justice Policy Analysis (3) Course focuses on crime as a political issue and examines how conflicting political philosophies influence criminal justice policy. Emphasis will be placed on how decisions in politics affect criminal justice organizations and how these decisions can be influenced by executive managers. MCJ 6170. Seminar: Juvenile Justice (3) Course examines the origins and development of the juvenile justice system with particular emphasis on the current policies and practices of the agencies which process young offenders through the juvenile system. Course examines a variety of political initiatives designed to reduce the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, enhance the due process rights of juveniles, and create a more punitive approach in the juvenile justice system. MCJ 6180. Seminar: Contemporary Legal Issues (3) This course exposes students to current law impacting criminal justice professionals. Topics will change depending upon current legal developments, but will include the general areas of corrections, law enforcement, employment, civil liability and criminal procedure. MCJ 6210. Seminar: Judicial Administration (3) Course exposes students to the dynamics of the American criminal courthouse. Students will examine how defense attorneys, defendants, prosecutors, judges, juries and others interact and contribute to America's version of criminal case disposition. Course also examines the mechanics of criminal case processing, as well as how the court system is supposed to work, how it really does work, and the implications for American democracy. MCJ 6220. Seminar: Contemporary Law Enforcement (3) From the response and investigation of crimes committed, to the theory and practice involved in crime prevention, this course studies the development, theory, history and contemporary organizational structure of America's law enforcement organizations. MCJ 6230. Seminar: Contemporary Corrections (3) Course provides an analysis of critical problems confronting contemporary adult corrections agencies. Course examines the problems of institutions, the affect of judicial intervention in corrections, alternatives to incarceration, and the political milieu in which this occurs. ■■: ■■■■■ PROFILE ENROLLMENT STUDENT AFFAIRS ACADEMIC INFO DEGREE REQ GENED FYE HNRS BIS LIBSCI INTRD MINORS d Science & Technology CEET CS MFET/MET CMT CDGT PRENGR AUTOSV/AUTOTC IDT SST TBE Arts & Humanities COMM ENGL FORLNG DANCE MUSIC THEATR ART MBA MPACC/ACCTNG BUSADM FIN LOM MGMT MKTG ECON/QUANT IS&T Education MEDUC CHFAM ATHL/AT HEALTH/NUTRI PE/REC EDUC CLS DENSCI PARAMD HTHSCI HAS/HIM NURSNG RADTEC DMS NUCMED RADTHR RESTHY BOTANY CHEM GEOSCI MATH/MATHED MICRO PHSX ZOOL & Behavioral Sciences MCJ/CJ ECON GEOGR HIST POLSC PHILO PSYCH SOCLWK GERONT SOCLGY ANTHRO AEROSP MILSCI NAVSCI Weber State University 2001-2002 CATALOG Weber State University 2001-2002 Catalog