Justice Science

Courses

Justice Sciences Course Descriptions

Lower Division Courses:

100. Introduction to Criminal Justice. Analysis of criminal justice as a system consisting of three main components: police, courts, and corrections. Examination and analysis of agency components and processes associated with them. 3 hours.

101. Crime and Criminality. Introduction to the scientific study of the causes and consequences of crime/delinquency in society. 3 hours.

110. Introduction to Forensic Science.Survey of major components of forensic science such as death investigation, toxicology, osteology, document examination, psychiatry, odontology, law, and criminalistics. Emphasis on scientific fact-finding approach in development of factual data from persons and things, including applications of deductive and inductive reasoning. 3 hours.

115. Comparative Criminal Justice Systems.Comparative aspects of criminal justice in selected European and non-Western nations. Comparison of police, judicial, and correctional components of criminal justice systems established by nations considered representative of world?s four major legal cultures. 3 hours.

120. Introduction to Statistics.Elementary statistical analyses with emphasis on application to crime & criminal justice data. 3 hours.

150. Foundations of Law. Development, nature, and function of law and legal systems in society. 3 hours.

Prerequisite for all 200-level courses: JS100.

220. Police In America: An Overview.Evolution of modern law enforcement in United States. Examination of police roles and functions within various environments. Discussion of public attitudes toward police and the police subculture. 3 hours.

230. The Judicial Process in America: An Overview.Judicial process, focusing on structure and function of courts, judicial selection and behavior, prosecution, jury system, and role of lawyers in American society. 3 hours.

240. Corrections in America: An Overview. Overview of legal response to law breakers, including probation, incarceration (prisons), parole, and community-based programs for adults and juveniles. 3 hours.

250. Criminalistics: An Overview.Relationship between physical sciences and administration of criminal justice. Identification and application of types of physical evidence involving analysis and comparison (laboratory component included). 3 hours.

Advanced Undergraduate Courses

Prerequisites for All Upper-Division Undergraduate Courses: JS 100 and JS101 and as noted.

300. Methods of Social Research. Introduction to elementary quantitative and qualitative research designs used in the collection and analysis of social science data, including experiments, surveys, field observation, and related designs. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing. 3 hours.

301. Research Methods in Criminal Justice. Focus on scientifically accepted methods for collecting and using agency data, including program evaluation. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing. 3 hours. Not open to non-majors.

320. Police Administration/Organizational Behavior. Functional and structural approaches to organization; Behavioral study of administration, organizations, and individuals; Effects of group and peer dynamics on decision making. 3 hours.

321. Police-Community Relations. Relationship between police and public. Focus on problem areas, crime prevention programs, communications, community participation, and police discretion. 3 hours.

322. Private Security.Inventory control methods; loss prevention; legal aspects of private security. 3 hours.

330. Criminal Law. Development of criminal law; Elements of criminal offenses; Defenses to criminal charges; Case analysis and legal terminology. Formerly JS 201. 3 hours.

331. Criminal Procedure.Process utilized to convict and punish. Analysis of legal steps of criminal proceeding from investigation through punishment. Prequisite(s): JS 330 3 hours.

332. Criminal Evidence. Overview and analysis of the system of rules and standards (state and federal) by which admission of proof at trial is regulated. Prequisite(s): JS 330 3 hours.

333. Trial Advocacy.General overview of both civil and criminal litigation. Focus on the judicial system and detailed exposure to courtroom procedure, evidence, and the art of advocacy. Prequisite(s) include: JS 230, JS 330, JS 331, JS 332. 3 hours.

335. Mediation. Examination of a specific form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including its history, development, and processes. 3 hours.

340. Society and the Offender.Society's reaction to offender population. Re-entry crisis and problems of ex-offenders. 3 hours.

341. Correctional Institutions. Prisons, jails, and juvenile institutions in U.S. Evolution of penology, correctional change strategies, inmate social system, stress, violence, and reform. 3 hours.

342. Probation and Parole. Probation and parole systems in United States. Emphasis on pre-sentence investigation, classification, offender selection, supervision, and administration. 3 hours.

343. Community-Based Corrections.Redefinition of correctional functions emphasizing development of resources in community at large. Diversion of offenders from criminal justice system. Analysis of nontraditional correctional programs. 3 hours.

350. Forensic Science Laboratory I.Basic identification and individualization of common, frequently occurring physical evidence materials, with emphasis on those derived from physical contact leaving impressions. 3 hours.

351. Forensic Science Laboratory II.Basic identification and individualization of common, frequently occurring physical evidence materials, with emphasis on trace evidence. 3 hours.

352. Forensic Science Laboratory III.Basic identification and individualization of common, frequently occurring physical evidence materials, with emphasis on biological materials. 3 hours.

360. Criminology. Late 19th through 21st century theories of crime and criminality and the policy implications arising from them. 3 hours.

362. Victimology.Criminal-victim relationship, focusing on such contributing factors as perception, location, and societal reaction. Topics include crime prevention, victim services, restitution, crime compensation, and elderly victimization. 3 hours.

399. Co-op in Criminal Justice.Cooperative education experience in criminal justice. Prerequisite: Permission of co-op coordinator and department chair. Evaluation (pass/fail) based on achievement of approved learning objectives. May be repeated for maximum of 12 hours. Elective credit only -- does not fulfill major or minor requirements. 3 hours.

401. Legal Research and Writing. Foundation in the elements of legal research and writing, with an emphasis on developing and writing a legal brief. Prerequisite(s): JS 230 and JS 330 3 hours.

402. Special Topics: The Legal Profession. Weekly mini-seminars by accomplished practitioners under the guidance of the Pre-Law Program Director. Civil litigation, criminal prosecution, criminal defense, labor and employment law, products liability, domestic relations law, military justice, environmental law, indigent legal aid, and alternative dispute resolution techniques (ADR). Prerequisite(s): JS 230 and JS 330 3 hours.

403 - 404. Special Topics in Criminal Justice. Investigation of specific current topics (e.g., serial homicide, violence, drugs, prisons) of interest in criminal justice. Topic is listed in class schedule. May be repeated with different topics for maximum of 12 hours. 3 hours.

405/505. Special Topics: Introduction to Computer Forensics. Overview of field, including components of PCs, information storage and retrieval, and varieties of computer-related crimes. 3 hours

408/508. Juvenile Delinquency.Juvenile delinquency in modern society. Nature, scope, causes, treatment, and reaction to juvenile delinquency. Evaluation of various delinquency prevention and diversion programs. Formerly JS 310. 3 hours.

410. Criminal Justice Ethics. Overview of different systems of ethics; Analyses of ethical issues involving the police, courts (prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges), and corrections (probation and parole officers; correctional officers). Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. Not open to non-majors. 3 hours.

411/511. The Juvenile Justice System. Analysis of the evolution, structure, and function of agencies involved in juvenile justice, including police, juvenile/family courts, and juvenile corrections. Evolution and change in juvenile justice philosophy and policies. Formerly JS 311. 3 hours.

412/512. Juvenile Law. Review and analysis of historical and emerging statutory and case law in American juvenile justice. Formerly JS 312. 3 hours.

434. Mock Trial Competition. Represent UAB as member of the UAB Mock Trial Team in invitational, regional, and national mock trial competition. May be taken twice for a total of 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): JS 330 and JS 332. 3 hours.

435. Advanced Mediation and Competition. Represent UAB as member of UAB Mediation Team at invitational, regional, and national competitions. May be taken twice for a total of 6 hours. Prerequisite: JS 335. 3 hours.

440/540. White Collar and Corporate Crime. Analysis of illegal/deviant behavior occurring in complex organizational settings, including crimes committed by and against these organizations. 3 hours.

441/541. Terrorism and Social Control. Causes and consequences of international and domestic terrorism, including governmental responses of investigation, prosecution, and punishment of terrorists. 3 hours.

442/542. Women and the Criminal Justice System. Feminist theories of crime and deviance; Analysis of the role of women in the criminal justice system as offenders, victims, and professionals. 3 hours.

443/543. Race, Crime, and Justice. How subordinate status of minority groups (primarily African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans) affects interactions with criminal justice system. 3 hours

444/544. Law and Society. Origins of law and legal systems; Analysis of law as instrument to advance or retard social conflict, social control, and social change. 3 hours.

445/545. Juvenile Corrections. Efforts to reduce juvenile delinqeuncy, including recent innovations and evaluation of their effectiveness. 3 hours

456/506. Forensic Approaches to Osteology (also ANTH 401/501). Applied human osteology, emphasizing ability to identify age, sex, and population group from skeletal material. Effects of disease and behavior on bones. 3 hours.

483/583. Crime Patterns. Analysis of the distribution of crime in society, including its major correlates and concentration across space. Major sources of data, including Uniform Crime Reports, victim surveys, and self-reports. 3 hours.

481. Honors Research. Develop undergraduate Honors Project. Prequisite: Jr. standing and admission to Honors Program. Offered Fall Semester each year. 3 hours.

482. Honors Research and Colloquium.. Completion of undergraduate Honors Project under guidance of faculty member. Prerequisite: Jr. standing and admission to Criminal Justice Honors Program. Offered Spring Semester each year. 3 hours.

490-491. Independent Research in Criminal Justice. Independent readings or research approved and directed by faculty member. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing and faculty member's permission. 1 to 3 hours.

499. Internship.Supervised field experience in local, state, or federal criminal justice agency. Students' evaluation is based both on agency performance and on analytical paper. Prerequisite: Permission of Internship Coordinator. May be repeated for maximum of 12 hours; however, not more than 6 hours may be counted toward fulfilling major or minor requirements. 3 to 6 hours.