Offered by Department of Criminal Justice
and Social Work
College of Natural and Social Sciences
CJUS Courses
- CJUS 101GS - Introduction to Criminal Justice - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
This course is intended to provide a broad understanding of the functional components of the criminal justice system and their
interrelationship. It will also provide a basic understanding of the American crime problem.
- CJUS 102GS - Crime, Democracy and Justice - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
This course is intended to provide a broad understanding of the American criminal justice system. This course will evaluate the
evolution of criminal justice in the United States, with particular attention paid to the role that individual rights play in
democracy and justice.
- CJUS 188GS - General Studies Portal - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
Students analyze critical issues confronting individuals and society in a global context as they pertain to the discipline in
which the Portal course is taught. The Portal is intended to help students succeed in their university education by being
mentored in process of thinking critically about important ideas and articulating their own conclusions. Students may take the
Portal in any discipline, irrespective of their major or minor. Satisfies the General Studies Portal course requirement. Students
may take their Portal course in any discipline. Students who transfer 24 credit hours or more to UNK are exempt from taking a
portal course.
- CJUS 201 - The Juvenile Justice System - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 101GS
This course is intended to introduce various components that comprise the juvenile justice system. Topics will include juvenile
courts, role modeling, interaction between youth and the juvenile justice system, and the future of the juvenile justice system.
- CJUS 215 - Correctional Services and Systems - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 101GS
This course covers the historical development of corrections leading to an analysis of our correctional process and systems in
contemporary America.
- CJUS 230 - The Police Service - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 101GS
This course is intended to introduce students to the major developments and problems in policing. Topics will include rights
and responsibilities of the uniformed officer, patrol and manpower distribution theories, police unionism, ethics and
corruption, community relations, and the police subculture as a distinct value system.
- CJUS 250 - Criminal Justice Research Methods I - 3 hours
- Prereq: STAT 235GS* or STAT 241GS*
A course intended to give students some fundamentals in planning, research, and grant writing for criminal justice subsystems,
(Program planning and evaluation).
- CJUS 305 - Criminal Justice Research Methods II - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 250
A course intended to give students an applied research experience in the field of criminal justice.
- CJUS 310 - Community Based Corrections - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 101GS
This course is concerned with correctional theory and practice as they are applied in the community setting. Specific areas of
concern are probation, parole, diversion, and nontraditional community correctional programs. The application of community
resources and responsibilities with the needs of offenders in the criminal justice system is a primary focus of the course. Some
contrasts and comparisons are made with the institutional correctional setting.
- CJUS 315 - Victimology: Victims of Crime - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
This course is designed to introduce the students to the overall problems dealing with victimization. Areas covered will include
homicides, child abuse and neglect, rape, spouse abuse, abuse to the elderly, and other victimizations along with the post
traumatic stress involved. The philosophy, history, and objectives of victimology will be reviewed in additions to the Victims'
Rights Movement and research findings about victims. This course is designed to assist students in relating to victims of crime
in a professional manner.
- CJUS 321 - Technology in Criminal Justice - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 101GS
This course is designed to introduce students to some of the major developments and issues in technology that are facing the
criminal justice system. Students will explore topics such as cybercrime, digital investigation and evidence preservation, use
of technology in the commission of sex crimes, fraud, hacking, terrorism, and the legal issues and statues surrounding the use
of technology in the commission of crime and in the investigation of crimes involving technology.
- CJUS 326 - Theories of Crime and Criminal Law - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 101GS
This course is intended to introduce students to the philosophical foundations of criminal law, as well as the various theories
that have been proposed to address criminal offending and the prevention of crime. Students will evaluate each theory within the
context of the crime and the criminal justice system in the United States.
- CJUS 330 - Laws of Arrest, Search and Seizure - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
An examination of state and federal American law concerning arrest, search and seizure. Emphasis on basic legal precedents
developed by courts.
- CJUS 340 - Criminal Evidence and Procedure - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 101GS
The emphasis of this course will be on the concept of evidence and the rules governing its admissibility. There will also be
theoretical and pragmatic considerations of constitutional requirements affecting evidence and procedure.
- CJUS 345 - Criminal Law - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 101GS
Examines the foundation and elements of criminal law. Special emphasis is placed upon the definition of crime, criminal
liability, defenses to criminal liability and the sanctions for committing crime.
- CJUS 350 - Organized Crime - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
Designed to examine the different organized criminal elements in American society. This examination will include their economic
effect on society, law enforcement efforts to minimize that effect, the major criminal areas involved in their day-to-day
operations, and the historical development of the criminal groups as they exist today.
- CJUS 353 - Crime Prevention and Security - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
Concerned with the security and safety of communities, businesses, and individuals. It emphasizes the needs for citizen
involvement, private industry and business participation, educational programs, in cooperation with criminal justice agencies.
- CJUS 360 - Sex Crimes - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
This course is designed to introduce the students to the growing problem of sex crimes. Areas covered will include prostitution,
the role of fantasy in sex crimes, pornography, Internet related sex crimes, sex trafficking and tourism, pedophilia, dangerous
sex crimes, and rape. Related laws, typologies of offenders, profiling offenders, and evidence collection will also be discussed.
- CJUS 375GS - Comparative Criminal Justice Systems - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
An examination of selected non-American criminal justice systems. Specific areas of comparison will include but not be limited
to, the police, judiciary, and criminal corrections, of selected foreign systems.
- CJUS 380GS - Minorities and Criminal Justice - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
This course provides a survey of minority relations and criminal justice adjudication in America (law enforcement, judicial
processing and corrections). Particular attention is focused on majority/minority relations and how these sentiments are
reflected within the criminal justice process. While many minority groups will be examined, three will be emphasized: (1) racial
minorities; (2) female victims and offenders; and (3) unique white ethnic subcultures.
- CJUS 388GS - General Studies Capstone - 3 hours
- Prereq: open to juniors and seniors or to students within 6 hours of completion of their General Studies program
An interdisciplinary experience where students apply the knowledge, cognitive abilities, and communication skills they have
gained from General Studies in designing and completing an original project or paper. Students employ methods and interpretive
means of two or more disciplines to integrate knowledge and synthesize their results. Satisfies the General Studies capstone
course requirement. Students may take their Capstone course in any discipline.
- CJUS 390 - Criminal Investigation - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 101GS
Deals with the following fundamental procedures of criminal investigation: Crime scene search and recording; collection and
preservation of physical evidence; scientific evaluation; modus operandi; sources of information; interviews and interrogations;
and case preparation.
- CJUS 401 - Special Topics - 1-3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 101GS or permission of instructor
Concerned with current issues and developments in the criminal justice field. Each semester a topic will be chosen as the
subject for inquiry. It is designed for students who wish to explore current issues and broaden their exposure to important and
timely issues in criminal justice. This course may be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours.
- CJUS 411 - Readings in Criminal Justice - 1-3 hours
- Prereq: 9 hours of CJUS, permission of instructor
An independent study course intended to supplement students' understanding of the criminal justice system through selected
readings in the field. This course may be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours.
- CJUS 415 - Correctional Casework - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 215*
Designed to develop knowledge of specific treatment programs and to help students learn the role of correctional caseworkers as
practiced in correctional agencies.
- CJUS 420 - Supervision and Management in Criminal Justice - 3 hours
- Prereq: junior standing
This course introduces upper-level students to supervision and management concepts within criminal justice organizations,
Students will learn how to employ sound principles of human relations and supervision techniques to be effective leaders.
- CJUS 430 - Drugs and the Criminal Justice System - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
This course focuses on the historical and contemporary pattern of psychoactive drug use in the United States and on the
development of criminal justice policies intended to reduce or eliminate drug use and/or drug problems. Specific topics include
major types of psychoactive drugs, the War on Drugs, the international context of drug production and distribution, and personal
and social problems resulting from drug use. A major focus of the course will be the evaluation of different criminal justice
strategies for reducing drug-related problems.
- CJUS 431 - Correctional Law and Administration - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 215*
This course is designed as an upper division class presenting the fundamental aspects of correctional law and a consideration of
the impact of law on correctional administration. The course will provide the student the opportunity to examine the legal
process, case law and the nature of litigation against correctional administrators and the impact of these actions on
corrections. Recommended prior coursework: CJUS 215 and either CJUS 345 or
PSCI 320.
- CJUS 435 - Interviewing and Correctional Case Management - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 415*
This course is designed to develop student knowledge of specific interviewing techniques, case management and technical report
writing as they apply to the fields of probation, parole, community corrections and correctional institutions. Specific emphasis
will include the integration of assessment tools, interview results and community resources to formulate case management plans.
This class emphasizes report writing and traditional written products as they relate to the corrections field.
- CJUS 475 - Internship - 6 or 9 hours
- Prereq: 9 hours of CJUS, permission of instructor and department chair
Designed to give students on-the-job exposure to their areas of interest within the criminal justice system. Offered only as
credit/no credit.
- CJUS 476 - Terrorism and Crisis Negotiations - 3 hours
- Prereq: none
This course is designed to introduce the students to the overall theories behind the use of terrorism to obtain a political
objective and an overview of major terrorist organizations. Emphasis will be placed on the culture diversity within the United
States and other countries. Specifically it will show the actions of different ethnic, culture and religious groups that have
resorted to the use of terrorism because of government actions. This class will also discuss the primary methods of operational
and counter actions taken by police and government agencies. A portion of the class will be devoted to the planning and
conducting hostage negotiations and examining the psychological factors on both the hostage taker and hostage.
- CJUS 480 - Senior Seminar: Professional Ethics and Career Development - 3 hours
- Prereq: senior standing
Graduating seniors must take this class in the school year they plan on graduating. This is a capstone course for the criminal
justice program and will include assessment methods. Emphasis of the course will be on ethics in the criminal justice profession
and the continued development of skills that will aid in the student's career development.
- CJUS 490 - Advanced Criminal and Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) - 3 hours
- Prereq: CJUS 390*
This course is designed to present various advanced methods and theories of criminal investigation, crime scene process, and
related areas of forensic science. More complex crimes not covered in CJUS 390 will be examined, with associated crime scene
material presented. Additionally, criminal identification methods and investigative behavior in court will be presented.
- CJUS 499 - Independent Study - 1-3 hours
- Prereq: 9 hours of CJUS, permission of instructor and department chair
An examination in depth of specific areas of the criminal justice system, with emphasis on the special roles of related agencies
and disciplines. This course may be repeated to a maximum of six hours with permission of the Chair.
* This course is the immediate prerequisite. Other preparation is required prior to this immediate prerequisite.
