Please visit the catalog archive for details about 2022-23 degrees and programs.

 
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Course Descriptions

 

View real-time listing of classes and sections offered.

NOTE: Individual course fees are subject to change. See your account summary in myUVU for accurate charges.

CJ-Criminal Justice
CJ 1010SS
Introduction to Criminal Justice
3 Credit Hours

Presents the processes, institution, and administration of criminal justice in the United States. Examines the crime problem, criminal law, law enforcement, criminal prosecution, criminal defense, bail, the jury system, and sentencing among adult and juvenile offenders. Explores the correctional system; namely, probation, prisons, inmates' rights, and parole.

CJ 1300
Introduction to Corrections Process
3 Credit Hours

Introduces the corrections system. Includes origin and evolution, philosophies of corrections, perspectives on sentencing, and alternatives to incarceration. Includes community corrections; probation and parole; offender rights and legal issues; adult, juvenile, and special needs offenders; corrections specialists, staff, and administration as a profession; and special challenges for the future.

CJ 1330
Criminal Law
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010

Provides an overview of criminal law. Covers history and terminology of the criminal justice system, the elements of specific offenses, and the role of the criminal justice profession in the fact-gathering process.

CJ 1340
Criminal Investigations
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010; CJ 1390 is also strongly recommended as a pre- or co-requisite for Criminal Justice majors

Introduces the fundamentals of criminal investigations. Examines the techniques commonly utilized by investigative personnel for crimes against property and persons to include case management and documentation, interacting with victims, witnesses and suspects, and crime scene analysis.May be delivered online.

CJ 1350
Introduction to Forensic Science
3 Credit Hours

Studies Forensic Science and multiple forensic disciplines as they correlate with criminal investigations. Teaches the identification and importance of multiple types of physical evidence typically found at a crime scene and how that evidence is used to provide a link between the victim, suspect, and crime scene. Explains the proper techniques needed to document a crime scene and physical evidence. Provides the process of taking the evidence from the scene and the scientific analysis of the evidence, which is completed at the crime laboratory.

CJ 1390
Introduction to Policing
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): CJ 1010

Evaluates police organizations, administration, and duties within federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Includes history and philosophy of law enforcement, evaluation of administrative practices, recruitment and hiring of new personnel, patrol and criminal investigative assignments, issues confronting American law enforcement agencies, emerging concepts, professionalism, and community crime prevention.

CJ 1800
POST Module I
7 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): Departmental approval required, Passing score on National Peace Officer Selection Test.

Completes all training required by Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to become certified as a Special Function Officer. Certification may become active when hired by an agency with Peace Officer authority.

CJ 1810
POST Module II
11 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1800, Departmental Approval Required

Completes all training required by Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to become certified as a Law Enforcement Officer. That certification may become active when hired by an agency with Peace Officer authority.

CJ 2110
Security Management and Loss Prevention
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010

Examines external and internal security measures, confidential personnel investigations, and interview procedures. Studies principle and major concepts in prevention, protection, loss control, and crime prevention in the commercial sector.

CJ 2200
Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals WE
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 and (ENGL 1010 or ENGH 1005)

Teaches written communication across the criminal justice spectrum. Emphasizes basic formats and language used to present accurate, understandable and factual information. Requires written reports, affidavits, warrants, probable cause statements and other legal documents. Applies proper communication principles to legal writing situations. Allows students to author a variety of formal legal documents. Canvas Course Mats of $49/Pearson applies.

CJ 2330
Juvenile Justice
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010

Provides an overview of the juvenile justice system from its origin through present-day trends and development. Examines the origin and development of the juvenile court as well as its changing social and political philosophy. Discusses the role and relationship of municipal law enforcement toward the juvenile offender. Examines closed juvenile institutions, juvenile probation, parole, and alternative placement such as group homes.

CJ 2350
Laws of Evidence
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1330

Examines the principles and practices of the laws and rules of evidence pertaining to the use of criminal evidence in the trial process. Studies legal issues including admissibility of evidence, judicial notice, burdens of proof, hearsay, documentary evidence, evidentially privileges and witnesses. Studies the various sources of rules at the Federal and State levels discovering how the American system of case law affects the development of evidence law.

CJ 250G
Justice For All
3 Credit Hours

Examines issues of diversity in criminal justice and current trends associated with racial and ethnic conflict. Investigates the topics of racism, immigration, gender, sexual orientation, and socio-economic disparity. Discusses salient issues to facilitate critical thinking, enhance knowledge, and inform perspectives. Analyzes varying viewpoints to provide a deeper understanding of the actions taken by individuals both inside and outside the criminal justice system. Emphasizes the social construction of crime and the treatment of minorities as offenders and victims.

CJ 281R
Internship
1 to 8 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): Department Approval

Provides actual, on-the-job work experience on a paid basis in a criminal justice profession or other approved related situation. Emphasizes successful work experience, with emphasis on identifying and solving problems. Completers should be qualified to work at entry-level jobs in the criminal justice profession. May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits toward graduation. May be graded credit/no credit.

CJ 290R
Criminal Justice Lecture Series
1 Credit Hours

Offers weekly lectures by professionals working in criminal justice related fields. Provides insight regarding the practical aspects of a career in policing, courts, corrections, and other related professions. Encourages social awareness, explores current legal issues, and develops civic consciousness. Credit/No-Credit grade issued. May be repeated for a total of three elective credits towards graduation.

CJ 2920
Short Course Workshop
1 to 3 Credit Hours

The specific title with the credit authorized for the particular offering will appear in the semester schedule and on the student transcript.

CJ 3020
Police Administration
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): ENGL 2010, CJ 1010 and University Advanced Standing

Discusses the issues facing contemporary law enforcement administrators. Focuses on the complexities associated with law enforcement organization leadership and strategic planning, training, and stress management; evaluation, promotion, and disciple; legal issues and police department liability; budgeting; politics; and media relations.

CJ 3040
Community Policing
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): ENGL 2010 (recommended), CJ 1010, and University Advanced Standing

Presents the fundamentals of the community-oriented policing philosophy. Includes the comparison of traditional and community policing philosophies; law enforcement and community relationships. Analyzes the importance of political and public support and involvement; attitudinal changes involving the roles of police management, supervisors, and line personnel; creation of partnership with community organizations and police problem-solving methodologies.

CJ 3060
Corrections in the Community
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1300 and University Advanced Standing

Studies the Criminal Justice Community Corrections component. Presents historical origin, development, and current practices in probation, parole, the halfway house, work and educational release, as well as furlough programs. Requires the design of an ideal corrections facility and a pre-sentence investigation report and recommendation.

CJ 3100
Criminal Profiling
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 and University Advanced Standing

Introduces process of reviewing and assessing the behavioral facts of a violent criminal act from a law enforcement and/or investigative perspective.

CJ 3140
Corrections Law
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1300 and University Advanced Standing

Teaches the law as it pertains to the corrections field. Examines civil liability and pertinent constitutional amendments as they relate to corrections covering the areas of probation, incarceration, and parole.

CJ 3270
Criminology
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 and University Advanced Standing

Introduces the field of criminology, providing an overview of the issues involved in defining, measuring, and explaining crime. Examines the nature, extent, and general characteristics of criminal behavior and the potential causes of criminal offenses and offenders. Reviews early and contemporary theories which attempt to explain criminal behavior from a sociological, psychological, and biological perspective; the effectiveness of theories in explaining crime; theory integration and application of theory to selected issues as they relate to the modern world.

CJ 3300
Victimology
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 and University Advanced Standing

Presents historic treatment and emerging roles of the crime victim in the criminal justice process. Investigates problems and dilemmas faced by crime victims and victimization risk factors. Studies systemic and societal creation of victims, relationships between victims and offenders, crime victim compensation, and reparations.

CJ 3320
Crime and Gender
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 and University Advanced Standing

Involves an in-depth approach to the study of women in the criminal justice system from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Covers three main areas: 1) women as offenders; 2) women as victims; and 3) women as criminal justice practitioners.

CJ 3330
Financial Crimes Investigations
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1340 or ACC 2010 or ACC 2110 and University Advanced Standing

Examines the complex world of financial crimes, money laundering, and the national and international standards for financial institutional compliance.

CJ 3340
Terrorism and the Criminal Justice System
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): University Advanced Standing and CJ 1010 or ACC 2010.

Examines the phenomena of radicalization and terrorism as they relate to the criminal justice system in America. Evaluates the various radical movements that have led to acts of terrorism, including jihadist extremists, animal rights and environmental extremist, as well as the white supremacist and domestic far-right extremist movement in America. Examines the role of law enforcement in counter terrorism efforts in the United States and law enforcement responses to terrorism. Assesses the challenges of prosecuting, sentencing, and incarcerating terrorists, both domestic and international. Evaluates the movement of Countering Violent Extremism as a means to impede the pathway to terrorism.

CJ 3360
Prisons Contemporary Issues and Dilemmas
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010, ENGL 2010, and University Advanced Standing

Studies the history of the American prison system, targeting current issues and trends. Explores options for resolving current issues and attempts to understand and diagnose future trends and issues.

CJ 3400
Drugs and Crime
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010, ENGL 2010, and University Advanced Standing

Presents historical, economic, social, and political roles of legal and illegal drugs. Explains the drug contribution to crime and the impact that drugs have on the criminal justice system. Compares drug production and distribution systems. Illustrates efforts to combat the drug epidemic including decriminalization, prevention, and treatment.

CJ 4060
Special Problems in Criminal Justice WE
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 and University Advanced Standing

Examines selected current issues and problems in criminal justice. Researches external factors related to the professions of police, courts, and corrections. Demonstrates functions of the criminal justice system through realistic situations and events.

CJ 4160
Constitutional Criminal Rights
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1330, ENGL 2010, and University Advanced Standing

Studies decisions in leading U.S. Supreme Court criminal cases. Presents an overview of criminal procedure relating to constitutional amendment laws with a criminal justice emphasis. Discusses leading cases concerning constitutional rights and responsibilities.

CJ 4200
Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 and University Advanced Standing

Presents major ethical problems within the criminal justice system. Studies differences between moral decay and the ideal justice system. Uses an issue-based approach to solve individual, group and departmental ethical dilemmas.

CJ 4250
Criminal Justice Career Strategies
2 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): University Advanced Standing

Emphasizes the development of effective techniques for successfully locating, applying for and securing employment as well as advancing in a Criminal Justice related career path. Includes industry and job research, demonstration, role play, and application exercises. Should be taken during second semester junior year. Provides preparation for coop/internship experience.

CJ 470G
Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010, and University Advanced Standing

Studies the implementation of criminal justice within the four major legal traditions and the cultural issues that influence its administration. Compares and contrasts the differences in interpretation of procedural and substantive law, policy-making, law enforcement, court systems, corrections, and juvenile justice with that of the United States.

CJ 475R
Current Topics in Criminal Justice
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010, University Advanced Standing, and Instructor Approval

Presents selected topics in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, and/or National Security and will vary each semester. Requires a special project related to the area of study. May be repeated with different topic areas for a maximum of 9 credits toward graduation.

CJ 481R
Internship
1 to 12 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): University Advanced Standing

Provides actual, on-the-job work experience on a paying or non-paying (volunteer) basis in a criminal justice profession or other approved related situation. Emphasizes successful work experience, with emphasis on identifying and solving problems. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits toward graduation. May be graded credit/no credit.

CJ 487R
Criminal Justice Field Experience
1 to 6 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior status and University Advanced Standing

Provides students access to law enforcement agencies, prisons, detention centers, courts and institutions dealing with criminals and delinquents. Includes 2-3 weeks of intense classroom instruction, interviews, and lectures by practitioners in the field and several on-site visits of varying duration. Course may be repeated five times for a total of 6 hours of credit.

CJ 4880
Qualitative Research Methods in Criminal Justice
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): University Advanced Standing

Explores the methods of research used by criminal justice educators and practitioners. Introduces the application of basic research practices to law enforcement and corrections problems. Includes the use of American Psychological Association (APA) style.

CJ 491R
Directed Reading and Special Projects
1 to 3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior status and University Advanced Standing

Offers independent study as directed in reading, individual projects, etc., at the discretion and approval of the department chair. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits.

CJ 4990
Criminal Justice Capstone Seminar
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): CJ 4880 and University Advanced Standing

Applies qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed research methods to selected issues and dilemmas in criminal justice. Requires the student to develop and present an undergraduate research project both orally and in writing.

CJ 6200
Advanced Topics in Criminal Justice
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into Master's of Public Services program.

Evaluates contemporary issues in criminal justice, including current and historical concepts of criminal justice, interrelationships among different components of the system, and the role and function of the justice system in society. Develops philosophies of punishment, contemporary policing issues, courtroom decision making, and modern trends in corrections.

CJ 6210
Information-based Decision Making for Criminal Justice Administrators
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into Master's of Public Services program.

Describes contemporary criminal justice models and how data and information are critical to their success (Intelligence-led Policing, CompStat, Problem Oriented Policing, Community Policing, etc.). Builds crime analysis, crime maps, hot spots, intelligence models, and other data analysis from an administrative perspective in order to compile the tools, resources, and practices used around the world to assist in data-based decision making.

CJ 6220
Contemporary Issues In Criminal Justice
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Masters of Public Services Program

Evaluates developments and changes in the practice of criminal justice brought about by current issues such as terrorism, rapid technological change, police misconduct, active shooter response, police, and the media. Formulates effective policies and procedures using strategic planning to manage organizational change with the use of current management strategies and philosophies.

CJ 6230
Criminal Justice Policy
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into Master's of Public Services program.

Evaluates a conceptual approach to the creation, implementation, and evaluation of criminal justice policies. Constructs a framework for planning and formulating policy context now and in the future. Summarizes court decisions instrumental in criminal justice policies for police, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice.