Foundation Series
All students are required to take the following seminars for a total
of 15 credits
CJA 501 Crime and Criminal Justice
This class locates the profession of criminal justice within historical, theoretical, and
political perspectives. The class focuses on contemporary theoretical perspectives,
including sociological, social-psychological, biosocial, cultural, genetic, linguistic,
and evolutionary. The nature and scope of the discipline are defined through the
discussion of the relationships among theory, policy, and practice. 3 credits
CJA 502 Organization and Management of Criminal Justice
The structures, functions, and operations of criminal justice organizations are analyzed.
Issues within these areas are approached with attention to their cultural, social,
and political implications. The relationship between formal and informal structures
and their social, political and legal environment is examined. 3 credits.
CJA 503 Criminal Justice Research
Basic methods of quantitative and qualitative research and their application to the field.
The relationship among theory, research, and social policy is examined. The
development and interpretation of research reports. 3 credits.
CJA 504 Statistics for Criminal Justice
Statistical analysis. Univariate and introductory multivariate techniques. Use
of computerized statistical packages in the social and behavioral sciences.
Statistical problem-solving using various data-sources. 3 credits.
Prerequisite: Undergraduate statistics.
CJA 506 Theories of Crime
Major explanations of crime and its control. Efforts toward an integration of
existing approaches are explored and consideration of the development of general theory is
discussed. 3 credits.
Seminar Series
Students are required to complete twelve credits (3 courses) from the
following list of courses.
CJA 505 Law and Social Control
A focus on the nature of law and legal institutions and the relationships between law and
other forms of social control. Theory and research on the development of law and its
implementation at various states of the legal process is reviewed. 3 credits.
CJA 507 Issues in Contemporary Policing
In-depth considerations of issues affecting policing today. Police organization,
management and leadership, policy formulation, community policing and related issues are
among the topics considered. Particular attention will focus on the role of police
officers in a changing society. 3 credits.
CJA 508 The Legal Process
Consideration of specific aspects of criminal adjudication, including prosecution and
defense, bail determination, plea-bargaining, jury decision-making, and alternative
sentencing practices. Specific subject matter will vary by semester. 3
credits.
CJA 509 Juvenile Justice
A detailed examination of the historical development and current practices of juvenile
courts and juvenile correctional institutions. Research on program evaluation is
presented, with an emphasis on developments in delinquency theory as related to practice.
3 credits.
CJA 510 Punishment and Corrections
An in-depth study of issues related to the philosophy and practice of punishment and
corrections. Topics include correctional theory, the prison and jail environment,
work and rehabilitation programs, corporal punishment, parole, overcrowding, capital
punishment, and alternatives to imprisonment. 3 credits.
CJA 511 Community Corrections
An assessment of contemporary trends in community corrections, with a particular focus on
considerations of effectiveness. this class focuses on the types of community
corrections options available, program characteristics, and implications for broader
correctional policy. The contribution of rehabilitative and deterrent philosophies
to corrections will provide a backdrop to a consideration of the diverse contemporary
perspective on community corrections. 3 credits.
CJA 512 Gender and Justice
An exploration of the theory, research, and practice related to women's
involvement in the justice system in the United States. Analysis will be directed
toward the various roles and treatment of women as offenders, victims/survivors, and
practitioners in the system. 3 credits.
Elective Series
Six credits are required from the elective series if a student chooses
to write a project. Three credits are required if the student chooses to write a
thesis..
CJA 520 Governor's Class
This class focuses on legislative policy in Idaho as it pertains to crime and criminal
justice. This class will be a forum for the application of practical knowledge of
policy theory and evaluation to crime/law in Idaho. Legislative policy makers will
be invited to present their views on crime and criminal justice. The process of
preparing and legislating crime bills will be discussed. The Governor will be
invited to provide a presentation and engage the class in discussion each semester the
class is offered. 3 credits.
CJA 521 Criminal Justice Issues/Policy in Idaho
Problem-solving and policy implementation in Idaho. Executives across the Criminal
Justice field in Idaho will be invited to discuss issues they have confronted and
strategies they have used to resolve those issues. This class will not focus on a
particular field, but instead seeks professionals from different components of the system.
3 credits.
CJA 522 Juvenile Offenders, Crime and Criminal Justice in Idaho
Examination of current processes in juvenile justice, policy, probation, and utilization
of community based resources in Idaho. Emphasis will be placed on understanding
issues and policy applications at the local and state level. 3 credits.
Prerequisite: CJA 509 or CJA 512.
CJA 523 Rural Criminal Justice
This class addresses the problems of criminal justice in a rural setting. This class
is developed with the recognition that criminal justice in Idaho has emerged to deal with
crime in the sparsely populated intermountain west. This class will provide
perspective on the organization and delivery of criminal justice and the types of crime
confronted by small municipal and Sheriffs' departments, and how those problems are being
met locally. 3 credits.
CJA 595 Directed Readings in Criminal Justice
With faculty supervision, students will pursue a program of readings related to specific
issues in criminal justice, and participate in a seminar for the purpose of discussing the
readings and to develop a paper based upon the materials. 3 credits.
CJA 599 Independent Study in Criminal Justice
Directed research on an issue of contemporary significance in criminal justice,
culminating in the development of a research paper. 3 credits.
Project or Thesis Requirement
CJA 591 Masters Project in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
Students will undertake a significant writing project on an issue in criminal justice or
crime control under the direction of a committee of three graduate faculty and write a
thesis.
CJA 593 Masters Thesis in Criminal Justice (6 credits)
Students will develop a research project involving the collection of data on an issue in
criminal justice or crime control under the direction of a committee of three graduate
faculty and write a thesis.
