Criminal Justice
Pathway

Principles of Criminal Justice covers the purposes, functions, and history of the three primary parts of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, courts, and corrections. This course further explores the interrelationships and responsibilities of these three primary elements of the criminal justice system.

Law Enforcement Fundamentals introduces students to criminology theory and the structure and practice of modern law enforcement. Students examine how theory informs criminal justice practice and analyze criminal behavior across multiple levels of analysis.
- Major criminological theories and perspectives, including research support and application to criminal justice practice.
- Analysis of violent and non-violent criminal behavior at the individual (micro) and societal (macro) levels.
- Foundations, organization, and evolution of law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels.

Corrections and Cultural Awareness examines the U.S. criminal justice and corrections systems through historical, cultural, and policy lenses, emphasizing multidisciplinary and multicultural perspectives.
- Systems & Administration: Structure and operations of local, state, and federal correctional agencies, including jails, prisons, probation, and parole
- Policies & Practices: History and evolution of correctional policy, sentencing, prisoner rights, rehabilitation, and alternative sanctions
- Contemporary Issues: Current philosophies, technologies, special populations, and debates on the effectiveness of correctional approaches