Courses
Search for courses listed in this bulletin. To find a semester course schedule (including instructors, meeting times and locations), go to mynmu.nmu.edu.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: CJ 110 or instructor's permission.
The role of law enforcement in the criminal justice system and society at large is explored. Emphasis is placed on the history and current practices of policing, the demands and rewards of careers in law enforcement and the dilemma inherent in policing a free society.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: CJ 110 or instructor's permission.
An examination of the criminal court system and criminal adjudication processes from setting bail through sentencing and appeal. Analysis of the professional roles of prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges and the courtroom work group.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: CJ 110 or instructor's permission.
Theory of investigation, crime scene conduct, collection and preservation of physical evidence; introduction to criminalistics and crime scene processing; overview of methods used in scientific interpretation of evidence; pursuit of investigative leads; and preparation of evidence for use in the judicial system.
Notes:This course was previously numbered CJ 314 The Investigative Process I.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: CJ 110 or instructor’s permission.
Introduction to the philosophy, theory and practice involved in dealing officially with convicted offenders; appraisal of treatment and post-correctional practices plus functions of probation and parole are analyzed. Problems, trends and issues are identified.
- Offered: On demand.
- Prerequisites: CJ 110, or instructor’s permission.
Study of offenders in terms of their personal background and definitional dimensions. Attitudes, behavior and criminal careers are examined to help develop realistic perspective on crime and criminals.
- Offered: Yearly
- Prerequisites: CJ 110.
This course is an examination of the use of force by law enforcement officers and the major court decisions that dictate how and when that force is appropriate. A significant focus is placed on less lethal weapons and their placement within the force continuum through the use of a use of force training simulator.
- Offered: On demand.
- Prerequisites: CJ 110, or instructor’s permission.
An overview of the major issues, trends and the political and social dimensions of criminal convictions. An analysis of constitutional law, court decisions, current legislation of the federal and state law affecting prisons and the judicial proceedings.
- Offered: Every other winter.
- Prerequisites: CJ 110 or instructor's permission.
This course focuses on planning, conducting and analyzing interviews and interrogations as part of an investigation. Fundamental theories will be demonstrated in practical exercises including detecting deception. The class will analyze and discuss key Supreme Court decisions, particularly Miranda v. Arizona and the subsequent Fifth and Sixth Amendment cases that guide current practices in public and private investigations.
- Offered: Every other fall.
- Prerequisites: CJ 110 or instructor's permission.
This course describes and examines the history and current state of the illegal drug problem in the United States from the early 1800s to the present. This includes the nature of illegal drug use, the drug-crime connection, illegal drug production and trafficking, the structure of illegal drug enterprises, drug user profiles, drug control policy and treatment programs, and the drug legalization debate.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: SO 101 or SO 113 OR CJ 110 or instructor’s permission. Cross listed with SO 263.
This course explores the nature, extent, causes and methods of treatment and prevention of crime and criminality. Emphasis is placed on theories and methods of studying crime and criminal behavior as social phenomena.
- Offered: Summer
An online asynchronous course which examines the history, development and operations of wildlife conservation law enforcement officers at the state and federal level in the United States. Also included is comparative material on wildlife rangers operating in select African and Asian nations.
- Offered: Yearly
- Prerequisites: CJ 110.
This course involves the scientific study of environmental crime, sometimes referred to as green crime, including their forms, causes, victims, and efforts for prevention and control. The course focuses on theoretical explanations of environmental or green crimes, offender behavior, victim characteristics, greater social harms, and the role of specialized agencies within the justice system to both prevent these offenses.
- Offered: Contact department
This course provides a survey of the intersection of race and ethnicity with the criminal justice system. This course will emphasize the role of race and ethnicity with respect to crime, victims of crime, offenders, defendants, and criminal justice professionals.
- Offered: On demand
- Prerequisites: Instructor's permission.
- Offered: On demand
- Prerequisites: Instructor and department permission.
Individual research at an advanced level in the student’s field of interest as approved and directed by the major professor.
Notes:No more than 4 credits of CJ 191 and/or CJ 298 may be applied toward the AS or AAS degree programs. CJ 191 and CJ 298 do not apply toward the bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
- Offered: Summer
- Graded: S/U
- Prerequisites: Admission to NMU Regional Police Academy.
The Regional Police Academy is a 16-week, 800-hour police training school designed to provide basic law enforcement training to in-service and pre-service recruits. At the successful completion of academy training, a recruit becomes certifiable as a police officer through the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). This certification is transferable to all U.S. states except California and Hawaii.
Notes:These credits apply toward the associate of applied science in law enforcement degree, but will only count as general electives in other criminal justice programs.
- Offered: Contact department
- Prerequisites: CJ 110 and Junior standing or higher.
This course focuses on the relationship between media, crime and the criminal justice system. Television, film, newspaper, and internet/social media shape our ideas and responses while impacting the commission of crime. Key criminological theories and concepts are utilized to analyze the construction of crime news and other popular media representations.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: Junior status, or instructor permission.
Introduces methods to recognize possible behaviors of traumatized youth while offering a selection of responses that will likely result in successful individual interactions for first responders or other professionals. You will apply the latest research findings to improve the quality of personal interactions while minimizing the likelihood of re-traumatizing victims. In addition, this course explores community resources to promote trauma-informed practices and support for victims of trauma and secondary traumatic stress.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: CJ 110 and junior standing or instructor's permission.
- Offered: Contact department for information
- Prerequisites: CJ 110 and junior status, or instructor permission.
The course presents an in-depth analysis of the history and operation of prisons and jails in the United States and other countries. The course covers the management and operation of prisons and jails from the perspective of both employees and incarcerated persons. This course also explores the role of civil commitments as a form of involuntary incarceration in the criminal justice system.
- Offered: Every other winter.
- Prerequisites: CJ 110 and junior standing or instructor's permission.
This is a course on non-institutional corrections that focuses on the contemporary means and philosophy of positive intervention in the lives of selected offenders in an effort to facilitate improved social functioning. Specific attention is given to such critical corrections issues as resource brokering, problem solving, accountability and communication. Methods and techniques of service delivery within the context of probation, parole, diversion, halfway houses and other community settings are stressed.
- Offered: Contact department
Photographic documentation plays a crucial role in the criminal justice system. The knowledge of proper photographic techniques helps ensure that evidence is documented correctly and admissible in a court of law. This course examines how photography is used within the criminal justice system in the investigation and prosecution of cases. Students will learn and apply photographic investigative skills in practical exercises and study the law of evidence as it applies to this practice.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: Junior status, or instructor permission.
Course examines the subjects of firearm ownership, use and violence in the United States. Topics include the technical aspects of firearms; the Second Amendment to the US Constitution; the research on firearm violence; and the arguments for and against gun control.
- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: Junior status, or instructor permission.
CJ 350 is an in-depth study of the body of United States common and statutory law that defines criminal offenses, regulates the apprehension, charging, and trial of suspected persons, establishes the legal defenses, and sets penalties and modes of treatment applicable to convicted offenders.
- Offered: Contact Department
- Co-requisites: Junior standing, or instructor permission.
This class explores the myths of serial killers as well as their criminological origins. Important topics are covered including childhood trauma and rejection, stalking, fantasies, progression into serial murder, distinctions between mass murder and serial murder, psychopathology of serial killers, team killers, female serial killers, and the role of victim facilitation in serial killer events. This class also provides insight on profiling serial killers, the victim selection process, and the M’Naghten and Durham legal doctrines.