USC: Academic Bulletins

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Michael R. Smith, Chair
Kathy R. Smiling, Director of Academic Programs

Professor
Geoffrey P. Alpert, Ph.D., Washington State University, 1975

Associate Professors
John D. Burrow, Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1998, J.D., University of Wisconsin, 2001
Barbara A. Koons-Witt, Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2000
Michael R. Smith, Ph.D., Arizona State University, 1996, J.D., University of South Carolina, 1993, Chair

Assistant Professors
Abigail Fagan, Ph.D., University of Colorado, 2001
Robert Kaminski, Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany, 2002
Jeffrey Rojek, Ph.D., University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2005
Eric Sevigny, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 2006

Lecturers
Danny E. Baker, M.Ed., University of South Carolina, 1976

Overview

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers professional degree programs with a strong foundation in the liberal arts and the social sciences. The department fosters programs of research and public service which focus on data gathering and alternatives in problem solving and seeks to stimulate the interest and involvement of all relevant academic disciplines in criminal justice issues and problems. For additional information, visit our Web site at www.cas.sc.edu/crju/.

Degree Offered

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers a four-year program of study leading to the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in criminology and criminal justice. The degree requirements are based upon a strong foundation in the liberal arts and the social sciences. An array of professional criminal justice courses is offered to support the particular interests of various students. Students also are encouraged to participate in community service activities. Pursuant to this, the department provides information on opportunities for volunteer work and involvement in the criminal justice field.

Criminology and criminal justice majors who have completed 90 hours with a GPA of 3.50 are eligible for the accelerated degree program. Students in the accelerated program may take up to 9 hours of credit at the 700 level which will count toward both their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Entrance Requirements

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice follows the general admission policies of the University. Should there be more applicants for the degree program than the number of spaces available, admission decisions will be competitive and may take into account the applicant's grade point average as well as other factors deemed indicative of the student's potential for success in the program.

Transfer Students. Transfer students from other institutions, other USC campuses, or other degree programs must have a cumulative GPA of 2.25 and a semester GPA of 2.00 on the last semester enrolled. Official transcripts of all academic work must be sent to the admissions office. These transcripts will be evaluated by the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice for possible transfer credits. Only collegiate courses completed at accredited institutions will be considered, and credit transfer will be approved only where an analysis of the course level and content indicates that the work is appropriate for inclusion in a program of study offered by the department.

Progression Requirements

Students in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice are expected to make orderly progress toward a baccalaureate degree. To facilitate this, the department's undergraduate program is divided into upper and lower divisions.

1. Lower-division students are those who have earned fewer than 60 semester hours toward the degree or who do not meet admission requirements to the upper division. Lower-division students may not enroll in upper-division criminal justice (CRJU) courses, which include all CRJU courses numbered 300 and above.

2. Admission to the upper division is based upon a minimum 2.00 cumulative USC GPA; completion of CRJU 101, 211, 221, 231, and 301 with grades of C or higher; completion of 60 hours or more toward the degree, including all general education requirements necessary to satisfy all University core requirements; and formal approval of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Office of Academic Programs.

3. Criminal justice courses in which majors make less than a grade of C must be repeated.

Degree Requirements

(120 hours)

The department's Office of Academic Programs will make every effort to assist students in maximizing their academic and professional potential through advisement. However, the ultimate responsibility for meeting all requirements for the degree rests solely with the individual student.

The following are the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in criminology and criminal justice:

1. General Education Requirements (56-65 hours)

For an outline of general education requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree, see "College of Arts and Sciences, Curriculum Section I."

2. Major Requirements (36 hours)

Each course must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Required Courses
CRJU 101, 211, 221, 231, 301, 321, and 341 (21 hours)

Additional Major Courses
Five additional CRJU courses selected with the consent of the department's Office of Academic Programs (15 hours)

3. Cognate or Minor (12-18 hours)

See "College of Arts and Sciences, Curriculum Section I."

4. Electives

See "College of Arts and Sciences, Curriculum Section I."

Course Descriptions (CRJU)

101 -- The American Criminal Justice System. (3) A survey of the law enforcement, courts, corrections, juvenile, and planning systems. Problems of interrelationships between criminal justice agencies and the community.
211 -- Policing. (3) Current and historical perspectives on the functioning of American policing. Emphasis on the management of police organizations and relationships with the community.
221 -- Criminal Courts. (3) A study of the structure and organization of the federal and state court systems, with special attention to the criminal courts. The basic functions of the courts will be examined.
231 -- Corrections. (3) Changes in American correctional philosophy, administration, and techniques, including the shift from institutional incarceration to community-based correctional programs.
301 -- Research Methods in Criminal Justice. (3) (Prereq: STAT 201 or equivalent courses in quantitative methods) Logic, design, analysis, and ethical principles in criminal justice.
321 -- Criminal Law. (3) The origin and development of criminal law in America. The basic elements of crimes and defenses.
341 -- Sociology of Crime. {=SOCY 353} (3) Social factors in the development, identification, and treatment of criminals.
351 -- Juvenile Delinquency and Justice. {=SOCY 350} (3) Social factors in the development, identification, and treatment of delinquents.
399 -- Independent Study. (1-6) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Contract approved by instructor, advisor, and Office of Academic Programs is required for undergraduate students.
491 -- Selected Current Topics. (3) A seminar for advanced students. May be repeated once with the consent of the advisor.
494 -- Internship. (3) (Prereq: consent of instructor) A supervised experiential course in a criminal justice agency. Contract approved by instructor, advisor, and Office of Academic Programs is required for undergraduate students.
524 -- Victimization. (3) Causes and consequences of criminal victimization and public policy responses to victimization issues.
531 -- Alternatives to Incarceration. (3) A survey of the correctional alternatives to imprisonment, including probation, parole, and various community service programs. The research evidence on the various alternatives and the role of the community and citizens in the correctional process.
532 -- Violence in American Society. (3) Historical overview of violence in American society. An examination of the theoretical causes and preventive strategies for acts of violence. Both individual and collective violence are studied.
542 -- Drugs and Crime. (3) A survey of the relationship between substance abuse and criminal offending. The historical and contemporary criminal justice system responses to illegal substances.
543 -- Criminal Justice and Mental Health. (3) An overview of the interface between the mental health sciences and the criminal justice field.
545 -- Crime Prevention and Private Security. (3) Crime prevention strategies and their relationship to private sectors of law enforcement.
554 -- Women and Crime. {=WOST 554} (3) Impact of gender-based relations on crime and the criminal justice system.
562 -- Citizen Involvement in Criminal Justice. (3) Citizen involvement programs including crime prevention, dispute-resolution centers, and use of volunteers.
563 -- Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice. (3) An historical overview of the intersection between issues of race, crime, and justice. The impact of the criminal justice system on minority groups.
577 -- Law and Criminal Justice Policy. (3) (Prereq: CRJU 221 and 321) Examines the law's impact on contemporary criminal justice policies. Specific focus will be on the origins of criminal statutes and their application to corrections and courts.
582 -- Computer Applications in Criminal Justice. (3) Computing, database systems, and software applications in research and professional practice.
585 -- Selected Topics in Crime and Public Policy. (3) Public policy responses to crime, their formation, and their impact on both crime and criminal justice systems. Individual topics to be announced with suffix and title. May be repeated with consent of advisor.
591 -- Selected Topics in Criminal Justice. (3) A seminar for advanced students. Individual topics to be announced with suffix and title. May be repeated once with the consent of the advisor.