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Graduate Catalog 07-08
Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education
McKelvie Hall, 102 W. Rosedale Avenue
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2943
fax: 610-436-2763
gradstudy@wcupa.edu
Revised November 2007
Criminal Justice
| Faculty | Program Description | Degree Requirements | Course Descriptions |
200 Ruby Jones Hall
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2647
Prof. Nestlerode, Chairperson
Dr. Brewster, Coordinator of Graduate Studies
Mary P. Brewster, Ph.D., Rutgers - The State University
Jana L. Nestlerode, J.D., Widener University
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Brian O'Neill, Ph.D., City University of New York
ASSISTANT PROFESSORS
Dean B. Golding, M.A., Temple University
Randolph T. McVey, Ph.D., Sam Houston State University
Reginald Nealy, M.H.S., Lincoln University
Dian Williams, Ph.D., Walden University
The master of science degree in criminal justice is multidisciplinary, flexible, and career oriented; staffed by experienced professionals; and the basis for pursuit of further graduate study. While the department does not require a thesis, students may choose to write a thesis by enrolling in CRJ 610 and receiving three semester hours toward the M.S.
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to a graduate degree program at West Chester University, applicants must submit scores from the MAT. The department places special emphasis on the academic and professional goals statement found within the application.
Degree Requirements
Prior to receiving the master of science degree in criminal justice, all candidates must:
1. file an application for admission to candidacy with the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education after completion of 12 - 15 graduate credits, and
2. complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of course work with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 system).
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Curriculum (30 semester hours)
A. Required (15 semester hours)
CRJ 505, 507, 508, 509, and 600
B. Optional Thesis* (3 semester hours)
C. Electives (12-15 semester hours)
Chosen from among the following:
CRJ 500, 503, 504, 506, 522, 524, 526, 530, 535, 555, 560, 566, 570, 582, 590, 599, 610* (with departmental approval), and 999
(All courses listed are three semester hours unless otherwise noted.)
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Symbol: CRJ
500 Evolutionary and Comparative Justice (3) This course is intended to aid the graduate student in understanding the evolutionary influences on the American criminal justice system. Comparisons with simpler, more peaceful societies will be used to analyze the advancement of law and justice.
503 Criminal Behavior and the Law (3) This course is designed to help the student understand behavior by comparing criminal with normal behavior. A survey course, it reviews types of abnormal behavior and mental disorders, methods of diagnosis, and treatment and resolution of interpersonal conflicts. Also included is an understanding of criminal behavior as it applies to abnormality.
504 Resolution of Interpersonal Conflicts (3) This course assists students in developing personal effectiveness in group situations. Emphasis will be on the development of competence in group leadership, ability to translate the group experience into positive decisions about self and environment, and the ability to recognize changes that have affected one's life. The knowledge gained from this course will help students in relating to other persons in their personal, social, and vocational life.
505 Nature of Crime and Delinquency (3) This course is a survey of the historical and contemporary attempts to explain the phenomena of crime and criminal behavior from the perspectives of sociology, psychology, economics, biology, and law. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary theories and the analysis of evidence supportive of various theoretical positions.
506 Criminal Justice Management (3) This course is intended to aid in the instruction of graduate students who are potential candidates for administrative positions. It brings together the most appropriate concepts from the various approaches and problems to management, e.g., staffing, decision making, motivation, leadership, communications, and control.
507 Justice and Professional Ethics (3) This course is designed to identify and examine ethical issues among practitioners and students in the criminal justice field. Such issues include the discretionary power of arrest, the use of deadly force, the decision to prosecute, participation in plea bargaining, representation of the guilty, and the imposition of punishment.
508 Research Design and Analysis (3) This course is intended to introduce the graduate student to the process of social research. It discusses research concepts such as problem identification, data collection, data analysis, hypothesis testing, and the development of conclusions and recommendations.
509 Criminal Jurisprudence (3) This course examines the complex concepts and principles of criminal law and procedure. The foundations of these disciplines will be initially reviewed, followed by a more comprehensive and incisive analysis and investigation of the difficult issues which have evolved through decisions of the United States Supreme Court. Supreme Court jurisprudence is examined and contrasted with the jurisprudence of the Pennsylvania courts.
522 Occupational Crime (3) This course analyzes the usually nonviolent criminal conduct variously described as white-collar crime, official corruption, systematic crime, corporate crime, or violations of trust that are characterized by calculation, deceit, and personal enrichment in one's job or profession. The influence of organized crime also is explored.
524 Juvenile Law (3) This course will bring together the leading cases that have reached the Supreme Court, as well as other important federal and state court decisions relating to the juvenile justice process.
526 Policing in America (3) This course is designed to examine current policing strategies and political issues that have developed as a result of those strategies. It also will explore the future of policing in America and will present several interdisciplinary approaches to new theoretical perspectives.
530 Interviewing and Counseling Techniques in Criminal Justice (3) In this course, techniques of counseling applicable to law enforcement and corrections officers are explored. Areas of study include the initial interview, interrogation, handling the informer, manipulative behavior of offenders, report writing, and the exit interview. Role playing and sociodrama are used.
535 Assessment Methods in Criminal Justice (3) This course will develop one's ability to understand, recognize, describe, and interpret psychometric measures associated with juvenile and adult offenders. The student will develop an understanding of the use of tests in the criminal justice field.
555 Topical Seminar in Criminal Justice (3) This course will provide an intensive examination of a selected area of study in the field of criminal justice. Topics will be announced at the time of offering. This course may be taken more than once when different topics are presented.
560 Applied Legal Studies (3) This course presumes a sophisticated working knowledge of criminal law and procedure (successful completion of CRJ 509). The course will examine selected factual accounts of criminal law and process. Through critical examination and analysis of these cases, the student will be able to understand the practical realities of the criminal justice system, and to compare theory and philosophy with practice.
566 Contemporary Issues in Corrections (3) This course is designed to analyze contemporary issues in the area of corrections. Such issues will include flat-time sentencing, private corrections, diversion, prison industries, inmate unions, and the elimination of parole.
570 Gender, Crime, and Justice (3) This course is intended to introduce graduate students to the specific problems and conditions associated with female and elderly crime and victimization. The course will focus on the criminology, the law, and the response of the criminal justice system to the uniqueness of women and the elderly.
582 Controversial Criminal Jurisprudence (3) This course presumes a sophisticated working knowledge of criminal law and procedure (successful completion of CRJ 509). It provides an in-depth analysis of the Supreme Court's historical and contemporary approach to the most controversial issues of criminal law and procedure. The perspectives and arguments will be examined through the study and analysis of U.S. Supreme Court cases.
590 Practicum (1-6) A field experience (internship) program for preservice students only.
599 Independent Studies in Criminal Justice (1-3) This course will entail research projects, reports, and readings in criminal justice. Approval of the department chairperson is required.
600 Proseminar (3) This course will entail completing a capstone project. The project will involve conducting an empirical research study and presenting the findings verbally as well as in a scholarly paper. PREREQ: CRJ 508.
610 Thesis (3) Bound and shelved in the library, the thesis represents the student's ability to plan, organize, and direct a research effort designed to discover, develop, or verify knowledge. Students must have a B or better in PSY 501 or PSY 502.
999 Transfer Credits (1-6)