Criminal Justice - Corrections, Certificate of Completion
- Academic Year: 2022-2023
- Division / Department: Emergency Services Education / Criminal Justice
- Degree Code: CJ.CORREC.CERT
The objective of these criminal justice courses is to prepare students for careers in criminal justice with an understanding of the criminal justice system in state, county and municipal law enforcement; corrections; courts; security; and other criminal justice-related agencies. Curricula in corrections are available to meet the different needs of the student by teaching workplace competencies.
A grade of C or higher is required in all Criminal Justice classes for graduation.
Marketable Skills 1.Demonstrate Critical Thinking skills to assess and evaluate information in stressful situations. 2.Self-management to plan and organize task in a demanding corrections environment without close supervision.
3.Effectively communicate verbally and in writing. 4.Function in a team setting to accomplish goals and tasks. 5.Make appropriate ethical decisions using stated policy
and procedures
6.Skill to overcome negative situations and adversity to accomplish goals while maintaining a professional demeanor.
Semester I
CRIJ 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Course Description× CRIJ 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice This course provides a historical and philosophical overview of the American criminal justice system, including the nature, extent, and impact of crime; criminal law; and justice agencies and processes, and an overview of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement and court procedures. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) May be eligible for articulation with a high school that has a current articulation agreement with McLennan. See the high school counselor for information. |
3 hours |
CRIJ 1306 Court Systems and Practices
Course Description× CRIJ 1306 Court Systems and Practices This course is a study of the court system as it applies to the structures, procedures, practices and sources of law in American courts, using federal and Texas statutes and case law. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CRIJ 1307 Crime In America
Course Description× CRIJ 1307 Crime In America American crime problems in historical perspective, social and public policy factors affecting crime, impact and crime trends, social characteristics of specific crimes, and prevention of crime. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CRIJ 1310 Fundamentals Criminal Law
Course Description× CRIJ 1310 Fundamentals Criminal Law This course is the study of criminal law including application of definitions, statutory elements, defenses and penalties using Texas statutes, the Model Penal Code, and case law. The course also analyzes the philosophical and historical development of criminal law and criminal culpability. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) May be eligible for articulation with a high school that has a current articulation agreement with McLennan. See the high school counselor for information. |
3 hours |
CRIJ 1313 Juvenile Justice System
Course Description× CRIJ 1313 Juvenile Justice System A study of the juvenile justice process to include specialized juvenile law, role of the juvenile law, role of the juvenile courts, role of police agencies, role of correctional agencies, and theories concerning delinquency. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CRIJ 2301 Community Resources in Corrections
Course Description× CRIJ 2301 Community Resources in Corrections An introductory study of the role of the community in corrections, community programs for adults and juveniles, administration of community programs, legal issues, and future trends in community treatment. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
18 hours |
Semester II
CRIJ 2313 Correctional Systems and Practices
Course Description× CRIJ 2313 Correctional Systems and Practices This course is a survey of institutional and non-institutional corrections. Emphasis will be placed on the organization and operation of correctional systems correctional roles, institutional operations; alternatives to institutionalization; treatment and rehabilitation; populations served; Constitutional issues; and current and future issues. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
DAAC 1317 Basic Counseling Skills
Course Description× DAAC 1317 Basic Counseling Skills An overview and application of the basic counseling skills. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) SPCH 1318 Interpersonal Communication Course Description× SPCH 1318 Interpersonal Communication Application of communication theory to interpersonal relationship development, maintenance, and termination in relationship contexts, including friendships, romantic partners, families, and relationships with co-workers and supervisors. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CJCR 2325 Legal Aspects of Corrections
Course Description× CJCR 2325 Legal Aspects of Corrections A study of the operation, management, and legal issues affecting corrections. Analysis of constitutional issues involving rights of the convicted, as well as civil liability of correctional agencies and staff. This course will serve as the Capstone for the AAS and Certificate in Corrections. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
Social/Behavioral Science elective | 3 hours |
Criminal Justice elective | 3 hours |
15 hours |
Total hours: | 33 hours |
Criminal Justice
CJCR 2325 Legal Aspects of Corrections
Course Description× CJCR 2325 Legal Aspects of Corrections A study of the operation, management, and legal issues affecting corrections. Analysis of constitutional issues involving rights of the convicted, as well as civil liability of correctional agencies and staff. This course will serve as the Capstone for the AAS and Certificate in Corrections. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CJSA 1308 Criminalistics I
Course Description× CJSA 1308 Criminalistics I Introduction to the field of criminalistics. Topics include the application of scientific and technical methods in the investigation of crime including location, identification, and handling of evidence for scientific analysis. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CJSA 1372 Forensic Art
Course Description× CJSA 1372 Forensic Art Course addresses forensic art reconstruction techniques that are used for the postmortem identification of persons and the identification/location of missing or wanted individuals, including age progressions, reconstructive and composite drawings, clay construction of a skull and muscles and clay reconstruction of appearance on a plastic skull model. Semester Hours 3 (2 lec/2 lab) |
3 hours |
CJSA 1373 Forensic Anthropology
Course Description× CJSA 1373 Forensic Anthropology This online course surveys the recovery and analysis of skeletal remains. Estimation of biological factors such as age at death, sex, ancestry, stature, pathology and time since death will be explored. The role of physical anthropology in criminal investigation will be discussed. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CJSA 1392 Special Topics - Crime Analysis
Course Description× CJSA 1392 Special Topics - Crime Analysis This course introduces students to the role of professional crime and intelligence analysis in criminal investigations, crime prevention and homeland security. The concepts of the intelligence cycle, behavior analysis, data mining and use of information technology to further goals in criminal investigations, crime prevention and homeland security within legal and constitutional boundaries will also be introduced. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CJSA 1393 Special Topics: Criminal Justice Studies
Course Description× CJSA 1393 Special Topics: Criminal Justice Studies Forensic Art is face-to-face in the classroom and Forensic Anthropology is an online class. (Forensic Art) In this science-based anthropology course, as it relates to criminal justice, students will practice the forensic art reconstruction techniques that are used for the postmortem identification of persons and the identification/location of missing or wanted individuals. This includes age progressions, reconstructive and composite drawings, clay construction of a skull and muscles, and clay reconstruction of appearance on a plastic skull model. Students will use pencil and paper to create imagery in two dimensions and modeling clay to reconstruct craniofacial appearance in three dimensions. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) (Forensic Anthropology) This course will survey the recovery and analysis of skeletal remains. Estimation of biological factors such as age at death, sex, ancestry, stature, pathology and time since death will be explored. The role of physical anthropology in criminal investigation will be discussed. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CJSA 1400 Death Investigation I
Course Description× CJSA 1400 Death Investigation I Students will develop concepts, investigation processes, scene management, required documentation and case management for incidences of natural, accidental and suicidal deaths. Students will follow the Department of Justice National Guidelines for Death Investigation and meet the criteria for academic credit recognition from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. Semester Hours 4 (3 lec/2 lab) |
4 hours |
CJSA 2389 Internship - Criminal Justice
Course Description× CJSA 2389 Internship - Criminal Justice This course serves as the Capstone for the Level II Certificate within the Criminal Justice program. Semester Hours 3 |
3 hours |
CJSA 2471 Forensic Science I
Course Description× CJSA 2471 Forensic Science I An introduction to crime scene investigation, evidence gathering, and preservation. Utilizing lecture and lab, this course presents the methods, procedures, and techniques for the analysis and preservation of crime scene evidence appropriate for first responders to a crime scene. Includes the use of scientific instrumentation to perform trace analysis of hair and fiber, stains, epithelial cells, latent fingerprints, DNA, and other basic evidence gathering techniques. Additional skills and knowledge will be obtained from guest speakers and local documented cases. In the process, students will gain hands-on experience as well as practical understanding of the basic operation of a busy forensic lab. Semester Hours 4 |
4 hours |
CJSA 2472 Forensic Science II
Course Description× CJSA 2472 Forensic Science II A forensic science lecture/lab course focused on research in adolescent and adult neuropsychology. A study of the latest research from neuroimaging related to biological templates for violence within Paul MacLean's Triune Brain paradigm. Explores the developmental sequencing and powerful illumination of the brain's centers of addiction and the impact of neurocriminalistics, such as brain mapping and brain fingerprinting. The psychopathology and known offender characteristics will be analyzed and discussed. Also demonstrated are how forensic specialists analyze mens rea (the criminal mind), MO (modus operandi), signature, and criminal aftermath activity as part of crime scene analysis. Prerequisite: CJSA 2471. Semester Hours 4 (3 lec/2 lab) |
4 hours |
CRIJ 1307 Crime In America
Course Description× CRIJ 1307 Crime In America American crime problems in historical perspective, social and public policy factors affecting crime, impact and crime trends, social characteristics of specific crimes, and prevention of crime. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CRIJ 1313 Juvenile Justice System
Course Description× CRIJ 1313 Juvenile Justice System A study of the juvenile justice process to include specialized juvenile law, role of the juvenile law, role of the juvenile courts, role of police agencies, role of correctional agencies, and theories concerning delinquency. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CRIJ 2301 Community Resources in Corrections
Course Description× CRIJ 2301 Community Resources in Corrections An introductory study of the role of the community in corrections, community programs for adults and juveniles, administration of community programs, legal issues, and future trends in community treatment. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CRIJ 2314 Criminal Investigation
Course Description× CRIJ 2314 Criminal Investigation Investigative theory, collection and preservation of evidence, sources of information, interview and interrogation, uses of forensic sciences, and case and trial preparation. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
CRIJ 2323 Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement
Course Description× CRIJ 2323 Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement Police authority; responsibilities; constitutional constraints; laws of arrest, search, and seizure; and police liability. This course will serve as a Capstone for the AAS degree and Certificate in Law Enforcement. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
Social/Behavioral Science
ANTH 2351 Cultural Anthropology
Course Description× ANTH 2351 Cultural Anthropology The study of human cultures. Topics may include social organization, institutions, diversity, interactions between human groups, and ethics in the discipline. Prerequisite: Must have passed the reading portion of the TSI Assessment or have credit for INRW 0402. Semester Hours 3 (3 Lec) |
3 hours |
CRIJ 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Course Description× CRIJ 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice This course provides a historical and philosophical overview of the American criminal justice system, including the nature, extent, and impact of crime; criminal law; and justice agencies and processes, and an overview of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement and court procedures. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
Course Description× ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics Analyzes the economy as a whole including measurement and determination of aggregate demand and aggregate supply, national income, inflation, and unemployment. Other topics include international trade, economic growth, business cycles, fiscal policy and monetary policy. Prerequisite: Must have passed the TSI Assessment or be concurrently enrolled in INRW 0402. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics
Course Description× ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics Analyzes the behavior of individual economic agents, including consumer behavior and demand, producer behavior and supply, price and output decisions by firms under various market structures, factor markets, market failures, and international trade. Prerequisite: Must have passed the TSI Assessment or be concurrently enrolled in INRW 0402. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
ENGR 2308 Engineering Economics
Course Description× ENGR 2308 Engineering Economics Methods used for determining the comparative financial desirability of engineering alternatives. Provides the student with the basic tools required to analyze engineering alternatives in terms of their worth and cost, an essential element of engineering practice. The student is introduced to the concept of the time value of money and the methodology of basic engineering economy techniques. The course will address some aspects of sustainability and will provide the student with the background to enable them to pass the Engineering Economy portion of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Prerequisite: MATH 2413 with a grade of C or better. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
PSYC 2301 General Psychology
Course Description× PSYC 2301 General Psychology General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. NOTE: Must have passed the reading portion of the TSI Assessment or have credit for INRW 0402. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology
Course Description× SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology The scientific study of human society, including ways in which groups, social institutions, and individuals affect each other. Causes of social stability and social change are explored through the application of various theoretical perspectives, key concepts, and related research methods of sociology. Analysis of social issues in their institutional context may include topics such as social stratification, gender, race/ethnicity, and deviance. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
SOCI 1306 Social Problems
Course Description× SOCI 1306 Social Problems Application of sociological principles and theoretical perspectives to major social problems in contemporary society such as inequality, crime and violence, substance abuse, environmental issues, deviance, or family problems. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
SOCI 2326 Social Psychology
Course Description× SOCI 2326 Social Psychology Study of individual behavior within the social environment. May include topics such as the socio-psychological process, attitude formation and change, interpersonal relations, and group processes. Cross-listed as PSYC 2319. NOTE: Credit will not be given for both PSYC 2319 and SOCI 2326. Prerequisite: PSYC 2301 or SOCI 1301. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |
SOCW 2361 Introduction to Social Work
Course Description× SOCW 2361 Introduction to Social Work An overview of the history and development of social work as a profession. The course is designed to foster a philosophical, historical, and critical understanding of the social work profession, including social work values, ethics, and areas of practice utilized under a Generalist Intervention Model. Prerequisite: TSI complete in Writing or have credit for INRW 0402 Semester Hours 3 (3 lec) |
3 hours |