MISSION STATEMENT
PREAMBLE: The College of Criminal Justice is committed to providing
students with a quality liberal arts education. Students will gain
an appreciation for their role as criminal justice professionals
and as contributing members of society. As a public university, the
College also is committed to public service and to meeting the
needs of the State. The College is especially cognizant of its
commitments in light of House Resolution 469 by the Texas
Legislature (1965) and will continue to faithfully execute this
mandate. The University baccalaureate core curriculum will provide
the foundation for competencies necessary to succeed in the
criminal justice profession and in society. These competencies
include:
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Criminal justice is a discipline that encompasses the preservation and protection of social order in a free society. It includes such principles as democracy, rule citizens against intimidation and oppression. The criminal justice curriculum which is based on the University's liberal arts core is designed to prepare students for higher education or entering careers in criminal justice. Graduates are expected to continue their personal and professional development in a variety of settings. To achieve this mission, four dimensions of development serve as the basis for the curriculum.
KNOWLEDGE, REASONING, JUDGEMENT: The criminal justice curriculum provides students with the opportunity and assistance to acquire knowledge of the roles of policing, courts, law, and corrections as they contribute to social order. Students will gain knowledge through criminal justice required courses. The curriculum further provides a theoretical foundation of the discipline, combined with a thorough understanding of the scientific method as it applies to criminal justice. This combination is expected to sharpen the students' competencies of reasoning and judgement; qualities imperative to rational functioning in the discipline.
ABILITY, SKILLS, INTEGRATION: The criminal justice curriculum provides students with the ability to achieve the professional goals of criminal justice. Students will learn how to prudently integrate knowledge and practice in criminal justice. Furthermore, the curriculum provides students with an opportunity to develop the individual and group skills necessary to meet various role expectations.
CONDUCT, PROFESSIONALISM, ETHICS: The criminal justice curriculum will provide graduates an appreciation for the complexity and dilemmas associated with the criminal justice profession. Criminal justice students will be exposed to the moral and ethical dimensions of the various careers within the discipline and will be charged with the essential aptitudes necessary for their professional conduct.
VISION, CHANGE, ADAPTATION: The criminal justice curriculum will provide students with an understanding of the discipline as it currently exists and as it is envisioned to be in the future. The criminal justice student will be able to apply vision in the face of change and to respond to the evolving nature of criminal justice and society. Furthermore, students will be equipped with the tools of adaptation for making these changes.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULA
Sam Houston State University is authorized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree with a major in Criminal Justice and a program in one of the following: Program in Criminal Justice; Program in Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement/Police Science; or, Program in Criminal Justice-Corrections. Course work for these degrees is offered by the College of Criminal Justice. The prefix designation for registration purposes is "CJ".
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Major English (ENG 164, 165 and 3 hours from ENG 265, 275, or 295) English (200 level or higher) or Speech Communication History (HIS 163, 164) Political Science (POL 261 and 3 hours) Mathematics (MTH 164 or approved substitute) Elective* Laboratory Science (from two different departments)** Fine Arts (ART, DNC, MUS, THR) Foreign Language (one field) Philosophy Perspectives*** Physical Development (KIN 215, 1 hour) Electives Total |
48 hours 9 hours 3 hours 6 hours 6 hours 3 hours 3 hours 8 hours 6 hours 12-14 hours 3 hours 9 hours 2 hours 11-13 hours 128 hours | |
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Major English (ENG 164, 165 and 6 hours literature) History (HIS 163, 164) Political Science (POL 261 and 3 hours) Mathematics (MTH 164 or approved substitute) Elective* Laboratory Science (from two different departments)** Fine Arts (ART, DNC, MUS, THR) Speech Communication (SCM 161 or 282) Perspectives*** Physical Development (KIN 215, 1 hour) Psychology Electives Total |
48 hours 12 hours 6 hours 6 hours 3 hours 3 hours 8 hours 3 hours 3 hours 9 hours 2 hours 6 hours 19 hours 128 hours | |
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE CORE Core Courses (21 semester hours) |
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| CJ 261 | Introduction to the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CJ 262 | Criminology | 3 |
| CJ 264 | Fundamentals of Criminal Law | 3 |
| CJ 339 | History of the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CJ 436 | Understanding Human Behavior | 3 |
| CJ 465 | Professionalism and Ethics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 478 | Introduction to Methods of Research | 3 |
|
21 |
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|
POLICE SCIENCE | ||
| CJ 267 | Police Systems and Practices | 3 |
| CJ 268 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| CJ 273 | Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement | 3 |
| CJ 294 | The Courts and Criminal Procedure | 3 |
|
12 | ||
| Electives | |
| CJ Advanced Electives | 15 |
Required Courses | ||
| CJ 432 | Legal Aspects of Corrections | 3 |
| CJ 460 | Correctional Systems and Practices | 3 |
| CJ 474 | Community Resources in Corrections | 3 |
| 9 | ||
| Electives | |
| CJ Advanced Electives | 18 |
Electives | |
| CJ Advanced Electives | 27 |
| CRIMINAL JUSTICE MINOR | ||
| CJ 261 | Introduction to the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CJ 262 | Criminology | 3 |
| CJ 264 | Fundamentals of Criminal Law | 3 |
| CJ 339 | History of the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CJ 436 | Understanding Human Behavior | 3 |
| CJ 465 | Professionalism and Ethics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ478 | Introduction to Methods of Research | 3 |
| 21 | ||
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM
The Center's educational program has always been closely tied to the operational aspects of the criminal justice system. While recognizing the value of theory, it has been the Center's educational philosophy to always assure a close tie between theory and practice. Through the Internship Program, many criminal justice agencies in the United States have had an opportunity to recruit dedicated and well- educated men and women for careers in law enforcement, corrections, penology, and a variety of social service agencies that work with the offender.
In 1979, Houston Endowment Inc. announced the award of $500,000 to the University thereby establishing a fund for the George J. Beto Chair of Criminal Justice, the only endowed chair in criminal justice in the nation. Houston Endowment Inc. is a philanthropic trust established by the late Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones to benefit educational, cultural, and religious organizations. The income derived from the award provides for the support of a Distinguished Professorship in Criminal Justice at the University.
In 1991, the Criminal Justice Center was renamed the George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center by action of the Board of Regents, Texas State University System. The late Dr. Beto, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice as designated by the Board of Regents, Texas State University System, was a former Director of the Texas Department of Corrections and an internationally recognized authority on criminology and corrections. Dr. Beto passed away on December 4, 1991.
The Division of Professional Programs includes educational as well as a variety of other services geared to the specific training needs of professionals in various criminal justice agencies in the United States. The Criminal Justice Center is the only educational facility in the United States in which actual criminal trials and Federal Hearings are routinely conducted, serving as a legal laboratory for undergraduate and graduate students seeking careers in criminal justice.
Another aspect of the Center's program involves production of training media. The Media Center is responsible for developing special training films for use in the pre-service and in-service training programs conducted by law enforcement agencies, jails, probation departments, prosecutors' offices, the judiciary, and other criminal justice agencies in the United States.
One of the most successful and widely acclaimed services of the Center has been the National Employment Listing Service (NELS) which publishes an extensive monthly listing of job opportunities in criminal justice throughout the United States.
Since its inception in 1965, the Center has evolved a wide-ranging program of research studies which are currently addressing a variety of problems related to crime and the administration of criminal justice. For example, the primary focus of the Survey Research Program has been the development of the Texas Crime Poll. Specifically, the Poll is designed to analyze public opinion about crime and justice which are of concern to the people of Texas. The results of each Texas Crime Poll are disseminated to the public through the mass media.
ELLIS-GIBBS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP. Two Ellis-Gibbs Memorial Scholarships are available for female criminal justice majors between 21 and 45 years of age who have attained a minimum of junior level undergraduate standing or are candidates working toward a master's or doctoral degree.
LAMBDA ALPHA EPSILON-DELTA CHI CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIP. The Lambda Alpha Epsilon-Delta Chi Chapter Scholarship of $150 is available each semester for one male and one female student who are members of this criminal justice organization. They may be either undergraduate or graduate students.
Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP). Scholarships
from The Hundred Club of Houston, Inc. are available for law
enforcement officers majoring in criminal justice and employed by
an agency in Harris County. The amount of each scholarship is
$1,200 per long semester and $300 for each summer session attended.
The following six scholarships were established by The Hundred
Club of Houston, Inc. to assist undergraduates seeking degrees in
law enforcement: Robert T. Herrin, Sr. Scholarship
These scholarships are available to both male and female law enforcement majors junior standing or above, who have completed at least one long semester at Sam Houston State University, enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
MICHAEL SCHULZE SCHOLARSHIP. The Michael Schulze Scholarship is available to a criminal justice major, junior standing or above, who has completed at least one long semester at Sam Houston State University, enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
JAMIE JAMISON SCHOLARSHIP. The Jamie Jamison Scholarship is available to a criminal justice major; junior standing or above, who has completed at least one long semester at Sam Houston State University, enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
T. C. MORROW MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP. The T. C. Morrow Memorial Scholarship is available to a male or female criminal justice major, junior standing or above, who has completed at least one long semester at Sam Houston State University, enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
LT. C. E. JORDAN, SR. SCHOLARSHIP. The Lt. C. E. Jordan, Sr. Scholarship may be granted for the fall and spring semesters only to first-time freshmen at Sam Houston State University who have satisfactorily met the standard entrance requirements established by the University. Other conditions of the scholarship require a recipient to be: (1) A United States citizen and permanent resident of Texas; (2) a son or daughter or legal ward of any peace officer or individual otherwise employed in areas related to or affiliated with the Criminal Justice field; (3) under 25 years of age, unless employed full time as as peace officer, in which case the age limit is waived.
TOM BROUSSARD, PH.D. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP. The Thomas Broussard, Ph.D. Memorial Scholarship may be granted for the fall and spring semester only, to academically deserving graduate/or undergraduate students at Sam Houston State University.
JAMES C. BOSWELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP. The James C. Boswell Scholarship may be granted for the fall and spring semesters to deserving undergraduate students in the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University who have demonstrated financial need, and who are seeking to pursue careers in law enforcement.
STEVE MOORE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP. The Steve Moore Memorial Scholarship available for a male or female criminal justice major, junior standing or above, who has completed at least one long semester at Sam Houston State University, enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Both need and scholarship are considered and the award may be renewed for a second semester for the initial recipient or awarded to another student.
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION SCHOLARSHIP. The National Society of the
Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship is available to a
male or female criminal justice major, sophomore standing or above,
who has completed at least one long semester at Sam Houston State
University, enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours, with a
minimum grade point average of 3.0.
INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS AND GRANTS
For additional information regarding admission requirements,
degree programs, description of courses, and scholarships available
to students, please refer to appropriate sections of the
Undergraduate Catalogue or the Graduate Catalogue of Sam Houston
State University. Brochures and information regarding the College
of Criminal Justice baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral programs
may be obtained by writing:
Requests for information concerning loans, grants, and other financial aid to undergraduate students should be addressed to the Office of Student Financial Aid.
NOTE: Course numbering is according to the following scheme:
100
level Designed primarily for freshman and sophomore level.
200
level Designed primarily for freshman and sophomore level.
300
level Designed primarily for sophomore and junior level.
400
level Designed primarily for junior and senior level.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
CJ 261 INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. [CRIJ 1301] An
introductory overview course designed to familiarize students with
the various facets of the criminal justice system, the sub-systems
and how they interrelate, processing of offenders, punishment and
its alternatives, and the future of the criminal justice system.
Knowledge obtained from the course should enable students to see
where their other courses stand in relation to the whole criminal
justice system. Credit 3.
CJ 262 CRIMINOLOGY. [CRIJ 1307] Crime as
a form of deviant behavior; nature and extent of crime; past and
present theories; evaluation of prevention, control, and treatment
programs. Credit 3.
CJ 264 FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL LAW. [CRIJ
1310] A course in substantive criminal law which includes
definition of law, definition of crime, general principles of
criminal responsibility, elements of the major crimes, punishments,
conditions or circumstances which may excuse from criminal
responsibility or mitigate punishment, the court systems of Texas
and United States, basic concepts of criminal law with emphasis on
the penal law of the State of Texas. Credit 3.
CJ 267 POLICE
SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES. Philosophy and history of law enforcement;
limitations imposed on law enforcement in a democratic society in
accordance with the Constitution; agencies of law enforcement; role
and place of law enforcement in the total justice process. Credit
3.
CJ 268 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. [CRIJ 2314] Survey of scientific
crime detection methods; identification and preservation of
evidence; instrumentation, and report writing. Prerequisite: CJ 267
or consent of the instructor. Credit 3.
CJ 273 LEGAL ASPECTS OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT. [CRIJ 2323] Investigation, arrest, search and seizure;
study of constitutional and statutory law and the decisions of the
United States Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals. Credit 3.
CJ 294 THE COURTS AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. [CRIJ
1306] The preservation and admission of evidence in criminal cases.
Credit 3. CJ 339 HISTORY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. A study of
the major social, economic, legal and political events which have
contributed to the formation of the American Criminal Justice
System. Emphasis is on the common roots of the different components
of the present system. Prerequisite: CJ 261. Credit 3.
CJ 396
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. Nature and extent of delinquency: competing
explanatory models and theories; evaluation of prevention, control,
and treatment programs. Credit 3.
CJ 430 LAW AND SOCIETY. The
nature, functions, limitations and objectives of law; civil
procedure; civil law and selected social problems, for example
abortion, euthanasia; the civil courts; the grand jury and petit
jury; torts; civil liability for police and correctional officers;
family law. Credit 3.
CJ 432 LEGAL ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONS. Legal
problems from conviction to release; pre-sentence investigations,
sentencing, probation and parole; incarceration; loss and
restoration of civil rights. Emphasis on practical legal problems
confronting the probation and parole officer and the correctional
administrator. Credit 3.
CJ 436 UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOR. The
dynamics of human behavior; analysis of the biological, cultural,
sociological, and psychological factors. Credit 3.
CJ 460
CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES. Analysis and evaluation of
contemporary correctional systems; discussions of recent research
concerning the correctional institution and the various field
services. Credit 3.
CJ 462 DRUG USE AND ABUSE. The description,
classification, and analysis of the extent of the drug problem.
Credit 3.
CJ 464 ALCOHOL: A SOCIAL DILEMMA. Overview of the most
serious drug abuse problem confronting today's society. Alcohol
education Ñ philosophy and background; physiological, and social
aspects of alcohol use and abuse; social control measures; alcohol
and public safety. Credit 3.
CJ 465 PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS IN
CRIMINAL JUSTICE. The study of theories and practices in areas of
legality, morality, values and ethics as they pertain to criminal
justice. Included will be such topics as corruption, brutality, and
methods of dealing with such practices, as well as the concept of
professions and professional conduct. Credit 3.
CJ 468 ORGANIZED
CRIME. Historical survey of organized crime in America, areas of
influences, remedial practices and control. Credit 3.
CJ 469
JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. The juvenile justice system; history,
philosophy, and evaluation of the juvenile court, juvenile court
practices and procedures; neglect, dependency and delinquency,
jurisdiction of the court; the role of the police officer, the
correctional officer, and the social welfare worker in the juvenile
justice system. Credit 3.
CJ 470 CORRECTIONAL COUNSELING.
Counseling psychology with emphasis on principles and procedures;
the theoretical foundations of therapeutic psychology; therapeutic
techniques and therapeutic process. Credit 3.
CJ 473 UNDERGRADUATE
INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. A minimum of three months in an
approved criminal justice or social agency setting taken preferably
between junior and senior years. Designed to provide the student
with an opportunity to apply academic learning in practical
situations. Credit 9.
CJ 474 COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN CORRECTIONS. A
survey and analysis of probation, parole, and other community-
reintegration procedures, halfway houses, community treatment
centers, volunteer programs, and graduated release with special
emphasis upon the functions, possibilities, and problems of
community-based programs. Credit 3.
CJ 476 READINGS AND INDEPENDENT
STUDIES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Designed for advanced students in the
behavioral sciences who are capable of independent study.
Registration upon approval of the Assistant Dean of the College of
Criminal Justice and the instructor directing the course. Credit to
be arranged.
CJ 477 SPECIAL TOPICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Designed to
give the advanced undergraduate student academic flexibility. May
be repeated for credit. Credit 3.
CJ 478 INTRODUCTION TO METHODS OF
RESEARCH. Methods and techniques of research in the behavioral
sciences; historical development of psychological and social
research; techniques and problems. Credit 3. CJ 480 VICTIMOLOGY.
Survey of the literature, research and current trends concerning
the victim in the criminal justice system; particular attention is
given to victim rights and compensation, fear of crime measuring
victimization, and the impact of victimization on the individual.
Credit 3.
CJ 481 ADMINISTRATIVE CONCEPTS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. Basic
principles and practices of administration and their application to
law enforcement. Relationship of theoretical administrative
concepts and practical police problems. Credit 3.
CJ 482 SOCIAL
DEVIANCE. The psychological and sociological aspects of socially
deviant behavior; theoretical overviews and implications for social
control and social policy. Credit 3.
CJ 483 FAMILY VIOLENCE. The
course will address the theoretical issues, both past and present,
regarding family violence in order to provide the student with an
understanding of the salient issues. In addition, attention will be
given to the impact family violence has on the victim and society,
legal aspects of family violence, key factors associated with
recognition of family violence (especially child abuse), and
pertinent research focusing on the subject. Credit 3.
CJ 484
CURRENT POLICE POLICIES. Analysis of police policies with
particular attention to current major problem areas from the point
of view of both the administrator and the line operations officer.
Integration of established scientific knowledge with practical
police experience in the various areas of police functioning.
Prerequisite: CJ 267. Credit 3.
*CJ 488 INTRODUCTORY STATISTICS FOR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Descriptive statistics, probability theory,
statistical inference, and significance tests by parametric and
nonparametric methods, and the measures of association. Credit 3.
CJ 489 FUNDAMENTALS OF INTERVIEWING. The interaction involved in
the face to face interview, knowledge of behavior reactions;
development of an awareness of likely responses to the behavior of
the interviewer. Credit 3.
CJ 493 POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. A
basic introductory course treating the broad field of Police and
Community Relations, focusing particularly on police and community
response. Prerequisite: CJ 261 or CJ 267. Credit 3.
CJ 495
PSYCHOLOGY FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL. The course deals
with the psychological screening and selection, career influences
and extra-career influences on criminal justice personnel and the
public. Credit 3.
CJ 496 ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING.
Virtually all community and institutional programs for juvenile and
adult offenders either voluntarily or by mandate utilize an
individual written treatment plan (IWTP). In addition, drug and
alcohol programs for offender and non-offender populations use
individual written treatment plans. Also, correctional personnel
increasingly are supervising more offenders with special conditions
who were previously diverted to other agencies. Agencies and
programs are assessing these offender populations and developing
plans based on these assessments. Criminal Justice students and
specifically students interested in the field of corrections need
to be able to read, write and understand these documents to be
knowledgeable and employable in the field. Prerequisite: Core
courses. Credit 3.
CJ 497 GROUP COUNSELING. The goal of a helping
professional in the corrections component of the Criminal Justice
System is developing or changing attitudes and behaviors of clients
in some socially accepted direction. Social skill development,
increasing self-confidence, and planning for the future are other
focuses. Group-based methods of intervention are effective and
efficient for confronting a variety of personal and social problems
and planning for and creating change. Prerequisite: Core courses.
Credit 3.
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