Request Info
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Core Course Descriptions
- General Education Course Descriptions
- General Elective Course Descriptions
Core Course Descriptions
BCJ 100 INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE
3 Semester Units
This course provides an introduction to the criminal justice system. The primary goal of this course is to develop a general understanding of the criminal justice system’s response to crime in society. It is important to note that the general theme of this course involves the delicate balance between community interests and individual rights that criminal justice decision making requires. We will explore this theme by examining the criminal justice process in some detail, focusing on how the system is structured to respond to crime.
BCJ 210 JUVENILE JUSTICE
3 Semester Units
This course serves to clarify the importance of juvenile justice within the larger framework of the criminal justice system. The interrelatedness of juvenile justice agencies and organizations will be explored, and the behaviors, patterns, trends and intervention strategies specific to juvenile delinquency will be discussed.
BCJ 230 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
3 Semester Units
This course is intended to meet the needs of students and others interested in criminal justice by presenting information in a logical flow, paralleling the steps and considerations observed in an actual criminal investigation. Additionally, it is designed to explain the fundamentals of criminal investigation as practiced by police officers on the job.
BCJ 240 PROCEDURES IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
3 Semester Units
This course introduces students to the procedural aspects of the criminal justice system systematically, making the concepts easy to apply to any state’s specific procedural laws. Detailed coverage of the Exclusionary Rule and Miranda procedures will be presented, and a balanced coverage of consensual encounter, detention, and arrest will be explored.
BCJ 303 TERRORISM
3 Semester Units
This course explores the history and definitions of terrorism from a global perspective in both the pre and post 9/11 world. The philosophies and tactics of terrorist groups will be explored, and current governmental roles, policies, and responses will be discussed to help students gain a solid understanding of the history, trends and the emerging future of terrorism in the modern world.
BCJ 351 FORENSIC SCIENCE
3 Semester Units
This course is designed to make the subject of forensic science comprehensible to a wide variety of students who are, or plan to be, aligned with the forensic science profession. Topics such as how to process crime scenes and evaluating physical evidence will be explored, and the important role of DNA, fingerprints, toxicology, and other forensic science applications will be discussed.
BCJ 360 CRIMINAL LAW
3 Semester Units
This course introduces students to basic concepts of criminal procedure and criminal law. The procedural protections afforded by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights will be explored and the development and historical context of the American legal system is discussed. In addition, students will become familiar with the wide range of behavior that is considered criminal including murder, treason, assault, property crimes, terrorism, and bribery and will be able to understand how the system works from the commission of an act which may be a crime through trial, appeal, incarceration, and release.
BCJ 400 THEORY & PRACTICES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
3 Semester Units
This course presents a global and detailed view of law enforcement philosophies, operations, tactics, strategies and processes as well as introduces students to the historical background and the development of the law enforcement field as we know it today. This course promotes a vision for law enforcement and other justice system personnel that integrates essential critical thinking, problem-solving, and communications skill development with the need to deploy ethical practitioners and peacekeepers that demonstrate effective leadership capabilities in the diverse post-9/11 society of the twenty-first century.
BCJ 403 THEORY & PRACTICES OF CORRECTIONS
3 Semester Units
This course offers a multidisciplinary study of corrections from the early 1800s to the present day by offering a historical and philosophical view of the development of the American correctional system while focusing on adult offenders. Significant studies relating to the role of corrections and the methods of community treatment are explored, and current models and practices are analyzed with a focus on the administrative and operational components of the field.
BAM 312 BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
3 Semester Units
This course presents the theory and practice of business communications. It covers the fundamental dimensions of communication: language and behavior. Alternatives for conveying messages are discussed. The course also covers in detail the various channels and media for business communication, with guidelines for effective and successful use of each.
BAM 402 PUBLIC RELATIONS
3 Semester Units
This course introduces the foundations, history, and process of the field of public relations. Students will be exposed to the dynamics of the various populations public relations personnel work with, and will be able to apply basic systems and communication theory to be able to effectively arrive at solutions to deal with the situations which distinguish the field.
BAM 406 BUSINESS AND SOCIETY
3 Semester Units
This course explores how business functions in, reacts to, and affects its social environment. The socioeconomic model, power-responsibility model, pluralistic social system model, cost-benefit model, and government regulatory models are all discussed to help students better understand the complex and ever changing relationship between business and society.
BAM 410 ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY AND BEHAVIOR
3 Semester Units
This course emphasizes the relationships among individuals, groups, organizations and society. A dynamic, systems approach to understanding and facilitating work relationships is examined. Emphasis is given to the interaction of individual values, attitudes, needs, abilities, traits, and motivation within teams and organizations.
BAM 411 HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
3 Semester Units
This course examines the concepts, models, procedures, tools, and techniques of human resource management. Aspects of the individual and how the work environment influences people at work is explored, and the emphasis on recent and relevant findings from the behavioral sciences and other disciplines is discussed to help students apply appropriate human resource approaches in their organizational settings.
General Education Course Descriptions
GED 102 THE HUMAN BODY
3 Semester Units
This course is an invitation to discover more about yourself and how your body works, both when it is healthy and when it is suffering from disease. It is intended for anyone interested in gaining a basic understanding of the human body, and seeing how that information can be used to diagnose and treat various diseases.
GED 108 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
3 Semester Units
This course is an interdisciplinary approach to environmental science, focusing on the interrelatedness of humans and the natural world. Historical perspectives, economic and political realities, varied social experience and ethnic backgrounds are integrated into the identification of major issues and the search for possible solutions.
GED 120 INTRODUCTION TO THE HUMANITIES
3 Semester Units
This course explores the conduct of human life with emphasis on understanding the esthetic sense, an important element in the art of being human. The course focuses on key events, styles, movements and figures of Western art, philosophy and religion which are all essential to exploring the esthetic human experience. Students will learn to think critically about how the past themes, movements and creative genius have impacted, and still influence, the modern world which we live in today.
GED 130 INTRODUCTION TO CIVILIZATION
3 Semester Units
This course is a presentation of Civilization's major happenings including the cultural, social, political and economic development of the World from earliest times to the Fifteenth Century. A survey of the birth and diffusion of world civilizations is explored, and interactions between or among civilizations are stressed- leading to a better understanding of where man has been, and where he is now.
GED 132 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
3 Semester Units
This course will review and examine the institutions of the American political system, the Presidency, the Congress, the Superior Court, state and local governments, as well as political parties and the roles they have played in the development of the American polyarchy.
GED 150 MATHEMATICS
3 Semester Units
An introduction to the concepts and techniques of arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.
GED 155 ENGLISH
3 Semester Units
This course introduces the necessary writing, composition, grammar, and spelling skills needed for various careers in the 21st century. This comprehensive course provides the student with a firm grasp of what components are required to be a good writer.
GED 215 PSYCHOLOGY OF ADJUSTMENT
3 Semester Units
This course explores major perspectives on psychology and provides opportunities for students to apply useful concepts to their personal lives. Content is drawn from theory and research in different areas of psychology, and covers personality development, stress management, health issues, relationships, work, life span development, and other areas of life.
GED 216 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
3 Semester Units
This course is a study of how society around us influences the way we act, think and feel. Culture, society, social interactions, social class and gender stratification all influence every part of who we are, how we behave, and how we participate in our existence on this earth. An introduction to social problems including minority inequality, aging and death, women’s rights and urban problems in general is also explored.
GED 232 EARLY U.S. HISTORY
3 Semester Units
This course explores the history of the United States from 1600 to 1877. An in-depth analysis of transition in United States history from pre-colonial beginnings to an independentnational state. This course will survey the historical, cultural, political, and economic events that shaped early United States history.
General Elective Course Descriptions
BAM 418 SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
3 Units
This course presents an overview of entrepreneurship, including launching a new venture, managing an on-going venture, financial planning, taxation, and other topics specific to entrepreneurs. Students will learn the necessary elements to successfully start, run, and manage a small business and will be able to apply those concepts and ideas within their business careers, even if they do not choose the entrepreneurial route.
BAM 421 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
3 Units
This course introduces the theory and practice of operations management, and explores the systems approach to tie information together. Students will explore issues in operations strategy, development, and implementation and will be able to apply various management tools such as inventory management, supply-chain management, and others to effectively contribute to managing operations.
GEL 205 MARKETING HOSPITALITY
3 Units
This course examines marketing concepts and principles specific to the hospitality and tourism industry. Strategic and operating marketing plans for hospitality properties will be explored supported by research and evidence from economics, the behavioral sciences, modern management theory and real-world examples from today’s global marketplace. Consumer buying behavior specific to tourism, and the design and delivery of guest services will be explored with a practical, marketing-management approach.
GEL 477 BUSINESS ETHICS
3 Units
This course reviews business ethics and how it relates to the environment, corporate culture, health care, financial reporting, information technology, and strategy. The primary focus is to present potential ethical dilemmas that decision makers may face pertaining to a number of different decision-making areas. Real-world business ethics cases will be utilized including some with a global focus.
HCA 200 THE UNITED STATES HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
3 Units
This course is designed to introduce you to the organization, structure, and operation of the nation’s health care system in such a way to help you identify more effectively your present and future roles as consumer, provider, manager, decision maker, and analyst. The class examines an overview of the health care system, causes and characteristics of health service utilization, nature of wellness and disease, individual provider settings, financial and nonfinancial resources used and needed, measurement of quality of care, and current issues in delivery.
HCA 305 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY HEALTH
3 Units
This course will allow the student to reflect the latest trends and statistics in community health in an effort to effectively address the health issues facing today’s communities. With emphasis on developing the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in health care, the course covers such topics as epidemiology, community organization, program planning, minority health, health care, mental health, environmental health, drugs, safety, and occupational health.
HCA 340 CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN HEALTH & ILLNESS
3 Units
This course promotes an awareness of the dimensions and complexities involved in caring for people from diverse cultural backgrounds. The course will review the latest information on the health care delivery system, it examines the differences existing within North America by probing the health care system and consumers, and examples of traditional health beliefs and practices among selected populations. An emphasis on the influences of recent social, political, and demographics changes helps to explore the issues and perceptions of health and illness today.
MKT 121 CUSTOMER SERVICE
3 Units
This course focuses on building career success by applying proven principles that create customer satisfaction and loyalty. The text is skill based and offers practical, immediately applicable information. The course provides a clear and usable process for developing the skills, attitudes, and thinking patterns needed to overcome the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities in customer service.
MKT 310 ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS
3 Units
This course will allow students to see a collective picture of integrated marketing communications. Focus is placed on business-to business marketing concepts, international marketing discussions, brand management and various advertising and promotional tactics. An integrated approach with a solid advertising core.
PSY 102 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
3 Units
This course introduces the methods and findings of contemporary psychology. Topics include a survey of biology and behavior, sensory process, human development, perception, learning and motivation. Emotion, personality, abnormal behavior, therapy and social interaction are also examined to provide students with a solid understanding of the facts, principles and theories which make up the field of psychology.
PSY 116 PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER
3 Units
This course examines the biological, cultural, and historical factors that influence the development of gender roles and identities. Stereotypes of masculinity and femininity are examined, and the impact that these ideas have on our lives at the personal, social, and institutional levels are explored.
PSY 150 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
3 Units
This course surveys the correlation between health, illness, and optimal health care with behavioral medicine. The relationship between health and behavior is explored through an integration of relevant research and findings, and the biopsychosocial health psychology model is explicitly contrasted and compared to the traditional biomedical model to help students effectively navigate and apply concepts and ideas from the science of Health Psychology.
PSY 220 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
3 Units
This course introduces students to the scientific study of patterns of change and stability that occur as we move through the process of human development from conception to death. Various theories of development will be presented, and an emphasis on physical, emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial changes throughout the life-span will be discussed.
PSY 228 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
3 Units
This course offers students an in-depth look at how people come to understand themselves and others in a social context. Research methods used by social psychologists are explored with the goal of explaining how attitudes develop and change, and the influence of groups on behavior. The process of interpersonal attraction and love is covered, as is altruism, aggression, prejudice and social deviance.
PSY 380 PERSONALITY THEORIES
3 Units
This course presents an in-depth look at a number of classical and current personality theories, providing an explanation and interpretation of personality development from several different theoretical approaches. Classic theory is integrated with the latest research and current topics, preparing students to apply theoretical approaches to better understand the particular individuals and personalities they may encounter in their professional and personal lives.
PSY 408 ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
3 Units
This course offers students an eclectic, multicultural approach to abnormal behavior, drawing on contributions from various disciplines and theoretical stances. The psychosocial and psychophysiological factors of abnormal behavior are examined, and the causes and classifications are discussed. Case vignettes and client experiences will be explored and combined with research based explanations of abnormal behavior.
PSY 418 COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
3 Units
This course addresses the history of counseling and the theory behind its practice; exploring the multicultural, ethical, and legal environments in which counselors operate. Counseling in a multicultural society and with diverse populations will be covered, and the various counseling theories including Behavioral, Cognitive, Systemic, Brief, and Crisis counseling will be discussed.