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Graduate Catalog 09-10
Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education
McKelvie Hall, 102 W. Rosedale Avenue
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2943
fax: 610-436-2763
gradstudy@wcupa.edu
Revised March 2009
Criminal Justice
| Faculty | Program Description | Degree Requirements | Course Descriptions |
200 Ruby Jones Hall
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2647
Prof. Nestlerode, Chairperson
Dr. Brewster, Graduate Coordinator
Mary P. Brewster, Ph.D., Rutgers University
Jana L. Nestlerode, J.D., Widener University
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS
Brian O'Neill, Ph.D., City University of New York
Dian Williams, Ph.D., Walden University
ASSISTANT PROFESSORS
Dean B. Golding, M.A., Temple University
Randolph T. McVey, Ph.D., Sam Houston State University
The master of science in criminal justice program provides a high-quality, advanced education to both full-time and part-time students. The program is well-suited to working professionals and offers evening courses and selected online electives. Professors are all seasoned professionals in their field of expertise and offer practical as well as academic excellence in the classroom. The program also serves as the basis for those planning to pursue doctoral degrees.
While the department does not require a thesis, students may choose to write a thesis by enrolling in CRJ 610 and receiving three semester hours towards the M.S.
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to a graduate degree program at West Chester University, applicants must submit scores from the MAT. The department places special emphasis on the academic and professional goals statement found within the application.
Degree Requirements
Prior to receiving the master of science degree in criminal justice, all candidates must
1. file an application for admission to candidacy with the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education after completion of 12-15 graduate credits, and
2. complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of course work with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 system).
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Curriculum (30 semester hours)
A. Required (15 semester hours)
CRJ 505, 507, 508, 509, and 600
B. Optional thesis (3 semester hours)
C. Electives (12-15 semester hours)
Chosen from among the following:
CRJ 500, 503, 504, 506, 515, 522, 524, 526, 528, 530, 535, 545, 546, 555, 560, 565, 566, 570, 575, 580, 582, 590, 599
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Symbol: CRJ
500 Evolutionary and Comparative Justice (3) This course is intended to aid the graduate student in understanding the evolutionary influences on the American criminal justice system. Comparisons with simpler, more peaceful societies will be used to analyze the advancement of law and justice.
503 Criminal Behavior and the Law (3) This course is designed to help the student understand behavior by comparing criminal with normal behavior. A survey course, it reviews types of abnormal behavior and mental disorders, methods of diagnosis, and treatment and resolution of interpersonal conflicts. Also included is an understanding of criminal behavior as it applies to abnormality.
504 Resolution of Interpersonal Conflicts (3) This course assists students in developing personal effectiveness in group situations. Emphasis will be on the development of competence in group leadership, ability to translate the group experience into positive decisions about self and environment, and the ability to recognize changes that have affected one's life. The knowledge gained from this course will help students in relating to other persons in their personal, social, and vocational life.
505 Criminological Theory (3) This course is a survey of the historical and contemporary attempts to explain the phenomena of crime and criminal behavior from the perspectives of sociology, psychology, economics, biology, and law. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary theories and the analysis of evidence supportive of various theoretical positions.
506 Criminal Justice Management (3) This course is intended to aid in the instruction of graduate students who are potential candidates for administrative positions. It brings together the most appropriate concepts from the various approaches and problems to management, e.g., staffing, decision making, motivation, leadership, communications, and control.
507 Justice and Professional Ethics (3) This course is designed to identify and examine ethical issues among practitioners and students in the criminal justice field. Such issues include the discretionary power of arrest, the use of deadly force, the decision to prosecute, participation in plea bargaining, representation of the guilty, and the imposition of punishment.
508 Research Design and Analysis (3) This course is intended to introduce the graduate student to the process of social research. It discusses research concepts such as problem identification, data collection, data analysis, hypothesis testing, and the development of conclusions and recommendations.
509 Criminal Jurisprudence (3) This course examines the complex concepts and principles of criminal law and procedure. The foundations of these disciplines will be initially reviewed, followed by a more comprehensive and incisive analysis and investigation of the difficult issues which have evolved through decisions of the United States Supreme Court. Supreme Court jurisprudence is examined and contrasted with the jurisprudence of the Pennsylvania courts.
515 Crime Mapping and Analysis (3) This course examines the process of electronically mapping crime distribution and other spatially defined data with a focus on crime analysis and social service information over time regarding the relevant demographic and social environment. The goal is to teach law enforcement and related social service personnel how to create, manage, map, and analyze data within the spatial context of the relevant community.
522 Occupational Crime (3) This course analyzes the usually nonviolent criminal conduct variously described as white-collar crime, official corruption, systematic crime, corporate crime, or violations of trust that are characterized by calculation, deceit, and personal enrichment in one's job or profession. The influence of organized crime also is explored.
524 Juvenile Law (3) This course will bring together the leading cases that have reached the Supreme Court, as well as other important federal and state court decisions relating to the juvenile justice process.
525 Retorative Justice (3) This course examines the use of restorative justice in the criminal justice system and its impact on the victim and victim’s family, offender, and community at the adult and juvenile level. The history and philosophy of punishment will be explored, as well as a critique and overview of contemporary models of restorative justice.
526 Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement (3) This course examines current policing strategies and political issues that have developed as a result of those strategies. It also will explore the future of policing in America and will present several interdisciplinary approaches to new theoretical perspectives.
528 Advances in Law Enforcement Technology (3) This course will present, identify, and discuss major trends and cutting-edge initiatives in law enforcement technology, as well as address the latest technology in the lab and in the field. Potential problems with new technologies will be examined, including constitutional issues, public policy implications, and difficulties of implementation.
530 Interviewing and Counseling Techniques in Criminal Justice (3) In this course, techniques of counseling applicable to law enforcement and corrections officers are explored. Areas of study include the initial interview, interrogation, handling the informer, manipulative behavior of offenders, report writing, and the exit interview. Role playing and sociodrama are used.
535 Assessment Methods in Criminal Justice (3) This course will develop one's ability to understand, recognize, describe, and interpret psychometric measures associated with juvenile and adult offenders. The student will develop an understanding of the use of tests in the criminal justice field.
545 Criminal Profiling (3) This course explains the art and science of criminal profiling used as an investigative technique to identify offenders’ demographic, personality, and behavioral characteristics. The course defines the differences between clinical profiling by mental health professionals and profiling as an analytical investigative tool.
546 Addiction (3) This course explores the history and extent of alcohol and other drugs of abuse and the relationship to crime. The current criminal justice response will be analyzed, as will past efforts at crime control. This course will provide students with the factual, theoretical, and philosophical information necessary to understand the multifaceted dimensions of drug abuse and addiction, as well as a rational approach to address the problem.
555 Topical Seminar in Criminal Justice (3) This course will provide an intensive examination of a selected area of study in the field of criminal justice. Topics will be announced at the time of offering. This course may be taken more than once when different topics are presented.
560 Applied Legal Studies (3) This course presumes a sophisticated working knowledge of criminal law and procedure (successful completion of CRJ 509). The course will examine selected factual accounts of criminal law and process. Through critical examination and analysis of these cases, the student will be able to understand the practical realities of the criminal justice system, and to compare theory and philosophy with practice.
565 Victimology: Theory, Research and Practice (3) This course analyzes historical and contemporary issues in victimology and victim services. The course covers the historical and modern-day roles of victims in criminal justice, victimization trends and patterns, theories of victimization, current research findings related to crime victims, legal rights of victims, and available victim services.
566 Contemporary Issues in Corrections (3) This course analyzes contemporary issues regarding corrections. Such issues will include the privatization of corrections, diversion, restorative justice, treatment of the mentally ill, sentencing disparity, the politics of corrections, the incarceration of youth, the death penalty, prison overcrowding, inmate rights, the media and corrections, and the use of technology in corrections.
570 Gender, Crime, and Justice (3) This course examines the impact gender has on the criminal justice system by exploring of the victimization of women and the culture that supports it. It will also address the unique issues of women as criminals, as prisoners, and as workers in the criminal justice system.
575 Bioterrorism and Public Health (3) This course addresses the protection of the public's health and that of workers, such as first responders, from biological agents that cause disease and/or death. Students will learn current issues in disaster mitigation, how biological agents can be transmitted in the environment, measurement techniques, decontamination methods, the proper use of personal protective equipment, and response strategies for bioterrorism emergencies and related catastrophic events. Students will synthesize this information to analyze risk, communicate that risk, and develop policies and action plans to protect specific populations. Communication and coping strategies, group interaction, case studies, and the use of Internet resources will be integrated.
580 Cyber Crime (3) This course addresses the evolution of criminal activity using Internet technology. Areas of study will include cyber terrorism, cyber stalking, espionage, information warfare, electronic fraud, "phishing," systems interference, and other virtual crimes.
582 Controversial Criminal Jurisprudence (3) This course presumes a sophisticated working knowledge of criminal law and procedure (successful completion of CRJ 509). It provides an in-depth analysis of the Supreme Court's historical and contemporary approach to the most controversial issues of criminal law and procedure. The perspectives and arguments will be examined through the study and analysis of U.S. Supreme Court cases.
590 Practicum (1-6) A field experience (internship) program for preservice students only.
599 Independent Studies in Criminal Justice (1-3) This course will entail research projects, reports, and readings in criminal justice. Approval of the department chairperson is required.
600 Proseminar (3) This course will entail completing a capstone project. The project will involve conducting an empirical research study and presenting the findings verbally as well as in a scholarly paper. PREREQ: CRJ 508.
610 Thesis (3) Bound and shelved in the library, the thesis represents the student’s ability to plan, organize, and direct a research effort designed to discover, develop, or verify knowledge. Students must have a B or better in PSY 501 or PSY 502. Only for those students taking the thesis track.