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The Minor in Criminal Justice

Course Requirements for the Minor: 18 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this minor.

3 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
POLS 250 Introduction to Criminal Justice   3.0 FS  
The history and philosophy of criminal justice in America; recapitulation of the system; identifying the various sub-systems, role expectations, and their interrelationships; theories of crime, punishment, and rehabilitation; ethics, education, and training for professionalism in the criminal justice system. 3 hours lecture. (001563)
POLS 259A Introduction to Criminal Law   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: POLS 250 or faculty permission.
Examines current and developing programs and issues in the field of criminal justice. 3 hours seminar. (001603)
PHIL 332 Criminal Justice Ethics   3.0 FS  
An investigation of contemporary moral issues involved in police work and corrections, such as deadly force, entrapment, undercover work, corruption, and prisoners' rights. 3 hours seminar. (007269)

3 courses selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
ANTH 311 Survey of Forensic Science   3.0 FS  
A survey of the relationship between science and society by noting the history and nature of the role of the expert witness and the forensic scientist in aiding to resolve various legal issues. 3 hours lecture. (000511)
POLS 257 Juvenile Justice Process   3.0 INQ  
This course provides an introduction to the juvenile justice system in the United States. Juvenile justice is a key component of the overall criminal justice system. The course highlights the activity in the main institutions of juvenile justice (the police, the courts, and corrections), examines past practice as well as concentrating on current policies, explores some of the reasons for treating juveniles differently from adults, and investigates future policy in juvenile justice. 3 hours lecture. (007478)
POLS 259 Chico Police Service Learning Practicum   3.0 SP  
This course examines criminal investigation techniques and includes a survey of a wide variety of topics in criminal investigation. Emphasis is placed on the practical application of education toward gaining employment and enhancing law enforcement careers. During the semester, students participate in a Chico community service learning project. 3 hours lecture. (007479)
POLS 352 Policing in America   3.0 FA  
Prerequisites: POLS 250.
This course examines the history, philosophy, evolution, and legal obligations of the police and the roles, functions, and policy issues associated with policing in a democratic society. 3 hours lecture. (007505)
POLS 353 Corrections   3.0 SP  
Prerequisites: POLS 250.
This course surveys corrections in the United States, including the history, philosophy, and evolution of correctional systems; correctional institutions, community-based corrections, and correctional policy issues. 3 hours lecture. (007506)
POLS 354 Community Corrections   3.0 INQ  
This course considers the historical development of probation and parole, addresses questions regarding how and why probation and parole have changed over time, and outlines how community corrections are influenced by the constraints of the criminal justice system and how it is affected by public perceptions of crime and criminals. Students assess the success and feasibility of community corrections given current resources and public sentiment. Finally, the course addresses the population of offenders that are on probation and parole, their likely backgrounds and futures. 3 hours lecture. (007507)
POLS 426 Women and the Law   3.0 INQ  
This course is also offered as WMST 426.
In this class, students discuss how the criminal justice system and civil law affect women's lives and their experiences with the state. Students take a historical view on how women have made progress toward equality in the United States by using the legal system in a variety of ways and examine women's status as criminal justice professionals, victims, and perpetrators of crime and how the criminal justice system deals with women in these positions. 3 hours lecture. (007547)
POLS 451A Constitutional Law: Powers and Restraints   3.0 INQ  
Analysis of judicial cases and related materials illustrating historical and current interpretations of constitutional problems such as the powers of the courts, congress, and President; and the balance of federal-state power in such areas as commerce and taxation. 3 hours lecture. (007577)
POLS 451B Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties   3.0 FS  
This course is also offered as MCGS 451B.
Analysis of judicial cases and related materials illustrating historical and current interpretations of constitutional problems such as racial discrimination, criminal procedures, and freedom of speech and religion. 3 hours lecture. (005645)
POLS 459A Criminal Procedure   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: POLS 250.
The machinery of criminal justice in theory and practice; the significance of the rule of law and its exceptions in the actual administration of justice. This course will concentrate on the application of the fourth, fifth, and sixth amendments to the U.S. Constitution in the administration of justice and the application of modern behavioral research as it applies to police and court administration. 3 hours discussion. (007588)
POLS 460E Police Administration and Management   3.0 INQ  
This course introduces students to the organization of police departments and explores the history of policing and organizational theory. It further examines the role of the police executive as a public manager and as a leadership position. Topics for the course include departmental management, police operations, budgeting, discipline, promotion, external political factors, and public planning and research. By the end of the course, students should have a general knowledge of public organizations and specific knowledge about the operation and management of police departments. 3 hours lecture. (007595)
POLS 464 Administrative Law   3.0 FA  
Study of the role of administrative law in American government. Scope and implications of discretionary decision-making. 3 hours lecture. (007599)
POLS 465 The Administration of Justice   3.0 INQ  
The machinery of justice in theory and practice; the significance of the rule of law and its exceptions in the actual administration of justice. 3 hours lecture. (007600)
POLS 489E Internship in Criminal Justice   1.0 -3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
Field work with criminal justice agencies in the areas of policing, courts, and corrections. Work supervised by the faculty internship coordinator and the staff of the internship office. Directed readings and writings may be assigned. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (007618)
SOCI 484 Youth, Crime, and Delinquency   3.0 SP  
Prerequisites: SOCI 384 recommended.
This course examines marginalized, deviant, and criminally active youth. Students consider how teen experiences and behaviors are labeled and treated differently throughout society. Social, historical, and legal perspectives are used to understand the impact of the juvenile justice system, policies, and trends on the lives of American youth. 3 hours lecture. (009018)
Catalog Cycle:11