Course Description
This course examines the principles and concepts of criminal behavior including criminological theories and typologies; the nature, distribution and extent of crime and the legal and societal reactions to crime. The objectives of the course are to develop the ability to engage in focused, systematic thinking and written expression about criminal behavior and to draw correlations between actual criminal activity and theoretical models. (3 credits)
Prerequisite
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Upon completion of the course students will have achieved the following goals:
- Describe the techniques for measuring the characteristics of criminals, crime, and victims, using scientific method, UCR, NCVS, etc.
- Explain the various theories of criminal behavior.
- Identify the characteristics of violent crimes and property crimes.
- Describe the characteristics of enterprise crime and public order crime.
- Explain society's response to today's crime.
- Discuss and evaluate a topic in criminology, research and analyze that topic further and produce a cogent research paper on the subject.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-8) | 25% |
Quizzes (Weeks 2 & 6) | 10% |
Midterm Exam (Week 4) | 25% |
Research Paper (Week 7) | 15% |
Final Exam (Week 8) | 25% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
- Schmalleger, Frank. Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction. 10th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2021. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-577881-4
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1,2,5 | Topics: What is Criminology? Where Do Theories Come From?
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2 | 1,2,5 | Topics: Classical, Neoclassical Thought and Early Biological Perpectives on Criminal Behavior
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3 | 2 | Topics: Biosocial, Psychological and Psychiatric Foundations of Criminal Behavior
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4 | 2 | Topics: Social Structure Theories and Theories of Social Process and Social Development
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Midterm Exam | |||
5 | 1,2,3,5 | Topics: Social Conflict Theories and Criminal Victimization
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6 | 1,3,4,5 | Topics: Crimes Against Persons and Property
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7 | 1,4,5,6 | Topics: White-Collar and Organized Crime and Drug and Sex Crimes
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8 | 1,4,5 | Topics: Technology and Crime and Globalization and Terrorism
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Final Exam | |||
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.