2021-2022 Graduate Catalog 
    
    Dec 11, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

CRJC 521 - Foundations of Criminological Thought


Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0

This course is a graduate seminar in criminological theory. It is an introduction to theory in criminology and criminal justice, beginning with an examination of the process of theory construction and the relationship between theory and research methodology. Students explore the history of criminological thought, examining the assumptions, elements and policy implications of classic and contemporary theories of crime and criminal justice within three major paradigms: Classical, Positivist and Critical Criminology. Students consider the level of research support that exists for widely accepted theories and examine the criminal justice policies associated with different criminological theories. Students are guided in the process of formulating research questions and policy proposals from criminological theories.