Master of Science in Criminal Justice Curriculum
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Theories of Crime
Analysis
The course covers the three types of crime analysis. The focus of
the class is an overview of the theory behind the crime analysis
process and an outline of some of the major issues crime analysts
and crime analysis units must face. Emphasis will be placed on the
examination of how research supports the use of crime analysis
theory to enhance the productivity of police departments.
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Contemporary Criminal
Justice: Issue and Trends
Provides a contemporary overview of the criminal justice system
with a focus on current trends, crime problems and statistics,
crime control issues, the nature and causes of crime, justice
agencies and personnel, key decision-making, and the changing
features of the American legal system.
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Research Design and
Analysis
Examines various research design models applied to crime, criminal
justice, and agency administration issues. Includes discussion of
the philosophy of science, sampling, and various research designs
such as historical, legal, action, quasi-experimental,
experimental, and program evaluation. Students will construct,
implement, report, and analyze the results of a research project
important to criminal justice practice.
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Computer Applications in
Crime Analysis, Community Policing and Investigations
The focus of the class is a study of the crime analysis process
through the utilization of applications software (Microsoft
Office). The student will develop an understanding of the
usefulness of the software and see how each component is applicable
to crime analysis. Work will be collected, analyzed and presented
through all aspects of the applications software, individually and
in combination.
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Statistical Applications in
Criminal Justice
Explores and applies practical statistical methods to the relevant
work of criminal justice agents, managers, and executives. The
course will focus on statistical methods to prepare students to be
intelligent consumers of reported research, to apply appropriate
statistical analysis to various types of research designs, to
report criminal justice agency performance results, and to identify
and use various criminal justice statistical data sources in print
and electronic form.
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Legal and Ethical Issues in
Criminal Justice
This course provides an in-depth discussion of legal and ethical
issues such as confidentiality, conflicts of interest, professional
behavior, use of force, factual and legal guilt, discretion,
corruption, codes of ethics, whistle-blowing, race and gender
problems, appropriate punishment, law and rulemaking, ethical
dilemmas in research settings, methods of resolving ethical
dilemmas, and classic cases of ethical lapses and collapses in
criminal justice agencies.
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Criminal
Intelligence
Course is focused on the criminal intelligence process as a whole.
This process defines problems, data collection and storage, data
analysis and dissemination for action to be taken by appropriate
personnel. Students will learn to consider relationships between
individuals, between individuals and organizations and between
organizations in developing pertinent analysis. Class will utilize
both inductive and deductive logic.
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Geographic Information
Systems: Applications in Criminal Justice
Course covers the concepts of how a geographic information system
(GIS) can enhance the development of new data and assist in making
data analysis more effective. Students will learn about the various
types of maps and map analysis as well as the value of producing
this type of analysis. One or more current software applications
will be utilized in the instructional process for this course.
Prerequisite: May include an applications software
lab fee.
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Crime Analysis Field
Project
Capstone course utilizing the skills for other analysis courses,
the student will work with an instructor to develop a crime
analysis project. This project will describe a defined problem, set
parameters for solving the problem, select tools and options for
choosing a correct path for solving the problem. The project does
not necessarily have to involve crime analysis but it must approach
a significant problem that any police department might
experience.
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