The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective.
Criminal Justice
cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/criminal-justice
Science & Engineering Building (VSCI), Room 130
360-546-9620
Academic Director, Professor P. Narayanan; Associate Professors L. Drapela, K. Dubois, C. Long
At the WSU Vancouver campus Criminal Justice is available as a concentration for students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and is available as a minor.
Some criminal justice courses may also be used for credit toward the Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs.
The criminal justice program aims to prepare students for employment opportunities in criminal justice agencies such as law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, courts, and so on.
The emphasis of the program is the interdisciplinary study of crime and social control. Students who pursue courses in criminal justice are prepared to think critically about criminal justice policies, to articulate and solve legal problems, and to write professionally and creatively about legal and criminal justice issues.
Minors
Criminal Justice and Criminology
The student who minors in Criminal Justice will learn about the various components and activities of our system of justice, such as the police, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice. A minor in Criminal Justice will be useful to any student desiring knowledge of how our American system of justice works.
The minor in Criminal Justice and Criminology requires 18 credits of coursework in criminal justice (CRM J), including CRM J 101. 9 credits must be 300-400 level and earned in WSU courses or through WSU-approved education abroad or educational exchange courses. All coursework with the exception of CRM J 490 and 499 must be graded. CRM J 499 may not be applied toward the minor unless approved in advance by department. Interested students should contact the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology for details.
Courses
The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective. Courses showing two entries of the same number indicate that the course information is changing. The most recently approved version is shown first, followed by the older version, in gray, with its last-effective term preceding the course title. Courses shown in gray with only one entry of the course number are being discontinued. Course offerings by term can be accessed by clicking on the term links when viewing a specific campus catalog.
Criminal Justice (CRM_J)
101 [SSCI] Introduction to the Administration of Criminal Justice 3 Agencies and processes in the administration of criminal justice. Typically offered Fall. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
201 Introduction to Criminological Theory 3 Analysis of conceptions of crime and seriousness as determined by societal factors. Typically offered Spring.
205 [EQJS] Advancing Justice: Addressing Power and Inequity in the Justice System 3 The pursuit of justice and the historical, contemporary, and future issues and challenges facing society and the criminal justice system.
311 Research Methods for Criminal Justice 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Discussion of research methods appropriate for the study of crime and criminal justice policies and institutions.
320 Criminal Law 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Substantive criminal law; principles, functions, and limits; basic crime categories, state and national legal research materials. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
321 Quantitative Methods for Criminal Justice 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Critical discussion of skills and methods needed for the analysis of implementation and impact of criminal justice policies.
330 Crime Control Policies 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Analysis of ideologies, assumptions, and performance of crime control policies. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
365 Juvenile Justice and Corrections 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. History, philosophy, legal process, performance, and outcomes of the juvenile justice and corrections systems. (Crosslisted course offered as CRM J 365, SOC 367.) Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
370 Policing and Society 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Development, organization, policies, and performance of the police. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
380 Criminal Courts in America 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Structure and process of the prosecution and adjudication of individuals charged with crimes in the criminal court system.
381 Crime and Justice in the Movies 3 (2-2) Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Mass media as both reflector and shaper of public attitudes and opinions about crime, criminals, law, order, and justice; using films. (Crosslisted course offered as CRM J 381, POL S 381.)
385 Institutional Corrections 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Ideologies of punishment and correction, intermediary sanctioning and reintegration policies in the criminal justice system.
390 Criminal Justice Management 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Predominate and progressive thought and theory of criminal justice administration in the U.S.; exploring important and troubling issues faced by those involved in managing criminal justice agencies.
400 [M] Special Topics in Criminal Justice and Criminology 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101; junior standing. Selected topics in criminal justice and criminology. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
400 (Effective through Summer 2025) [M] Special Topics in Criminal Justice and Criminology 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Selected topics in criminal justice and criminology. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
403 [CAPS] Violence Toward Women 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Violence toward women and its relationship to broader social issues such as sexism and social control. (Crosslisted course offered as CRM J 403, WGSS 403.) Typically offered Spring.
405 [M] Comparative Criminal Justice Systems 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101; junior standing. Comparative study of criminal justice systems in the US and selected foreign countries. (Crosslisted course offered as CRM J 405, POL S 405.) Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
405 (Effective through Summer 2025) [M] Comparative Criminal Justice Systems 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Comparative study of criminal justice systems in the US and selected foreign countries. (Crosslisted course offered as CRM J 405, POL S 405.) Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
420 [M] Criminal Procedure 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101; junior standing. Principal court decisions concerning standards of conduct and rights in the criminal process. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
420 (Effective through Summer 2025) [M] Criminal Procedure 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Principal court decisions concerning standards of conduct and rights in the criminal process. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
424 Community Corrections 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Theory practice and human impact of treating criminal offenders in the community. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
426 Victimology and Public Policy 3 Examination of victimization; policy responses to victims; victim's rights.
427 Crime Prevention Strategies 3 Personal, environmental, community-based and government crime prevention strategies and issues.
428 Drug and Alcohol Use and Abuse 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101. Drug use, impact on behavior and drug control policies.
450 [M] Senior Seminar: Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101; senior standing. Examination of ethical issues in decision making in criminal justice.
468 Addictive Behavior Among Diverse Populations 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Overview of social, cultural, and historical perspectives on dealing with addictive behavior. Recommended preparation: SOC 101, PSYCH 105, or CRM J 101. (Crosslisted course offered as PSYCH 468, CRM J 468, SOC 468.)
480 [CAPS] [M] Senior Capstone in Criminal Justice and Criminology 3 Course Prerequisite: CRM J 101; CRM J 311; CRM J 321; senior standing. Experiential learning emphasizing refining skills and preparing students for the myriad of challenges awaiting them in public safety.
490 Criminal Justice Internship V 2-12 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 12 credits. Course Prerequisite: By instructor permission. On/off-campus internship in criminal justice institutions (police, FBI, jails, law firms, etc.); written assignments and readings will be required. S, F grading.
491 Special Topics: Study Abroad 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 12 credits. Criminal Justice Study Abroad. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
499 Special Problems V 1-4 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: By Instructor permission; CRM J 101. Independent study conducted under the jurisdiction of an approving faculty member; may include independent research studies in technical or specialized problems; selection and analysis of specified readings; development of a creative project; or field experiences. S, F grading.
522 Foundations of Quantitative Methods 4 Application of foundational quantitative methods utilized in the field of Criminal Justice and Criminology.
530 Criminal Justice: Process and Institutions 3 Processes of criminal justice in the context of the social, political, and economic environments. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
540 Evaluation Research 3 Interrelationship of ideology, data, policy development, and policy implementation in public policy analysis. (Crosslisted course offered as CRM J 540, POL S 541.) Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
600 Special Projects or Independent Study V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Independent study, special projects, and/or internships. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor before enrolling in 600 credit, which cannot be used toward the core graded credits required for a graduate degree. S, F grading.
800 Doctoral Research, Dissertation, and/or Examination V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: Admitted to the Criminal Justice and Criminology PhD program. Independent research and advanced study for students working on their doctoral research, dissertation and/or final examination. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor/committee chair before enrolling for 800 credit. S, U grading.