Criminal Justice Curriculum

Required courses for the major in Criminal Justice
The Drexel University Catalog page.

Recommended plan of study for the major in Criminal Justice
The Drexel University Catalog page.

Required courses for the minor in Criminal Justice
The Drexel University Catalog page.

Class List for Criminal Justice
The Drexel University Course Descriptions page.

Course Descriptions for Criminal Justice Electives

Course Descriptions for Criminal Justice Electives

Forensic Science Concentration  

CJ 265: Criminal Investigation
As viewers of Law and Order, C.S.I. and other very popular TV programs attest, the initial crime scene investigation can make or break subsequent crime solving and conviction of offenders.  What does one look for and who and how does one do interviews of suspects? Who has responsibility for the collection of what types of evidence and the resulting chain of custody?  What is the relationship and distribution of authority in cases that involve several states and the federal law enforcement?  These are important and fascinating questions. They are the routine activity of criminal investigations.

CJ 378: Forensic Science
In this course students will learn how to apply the scientific method to the analysis of criminal evidence and how to translate these findings in criminal court hearings and trials. The excitement generated by such TV shows as C.S.I. and Forensic Files reflect the dominance of forensic evidence gathering and presentation in the prosecution and conviction of criminal offenders in the criminal investigation filed today.

CJ 379: Forensic DNA Analysis
The use of DNA analysis results has been instrumental in the conviction of many criminal offenders as well as the exoneration of many others who had been falsely convicted, some even sentenced to be executed. This new scientific evidence is considered more accurate and dependable than fingerprint data.  Many states and the federal governments have or are considering legislation and funding that would make DNA testing available to criminally charged offenders. This is a very important development in criminal justice and one which that all criminal justice practitioners and researchers should have a basic knowledge. In this course students will apply their knowledge gained from courses as CJ 378 Forensic Science and courses in Bioscience & Biotechnology to the study of DNA analysis in the criminal justice context. Students will learn how to evaluate DNA results and present them in criminal court or other proceedings.

CJ 380: Forensic Anthropology
Information needed for this course

PSY 370: Forensic Psychology
This course describes the psychological processes involved in the legal system. The material delves into the growing field of psychological study and application in the legal field.

Computer Crime Concentration

CJ 274: Sex, Violence, and Crime on the Internet
This course explores how offenders are adopting computers to commit traditional crimes in a high-tech manner.  Specific attention will be paid to how the Internet has affected the structure of hate groups and the child pornography and sexual predator subcultures.  Cyberstalking and online harassment will also be examined.

CJ 276: Computer Crime
This course provides an overview of computer crime.  Emphasis will be placed on the legislative responses and policy issues related to computer intrusions and cyberfraud.  Issues encountered when enforcing laws in cyberspace and the public/private sector initiatives for dealing with computer crime will also be explored.

CJ 377: Intellectual Property Theft in the Digital Age
This seminar focuses on the changing nature of intellectual property theft, piracy, and copyright infringement in the Digital Age. Attention will be paid to legislative and technical solutions for protecting intellectual property (including music, movies, and software) and the challenges faced when investigating the theft of intellectual property.  Additionally, theoretical explanations to account for intellectual property theft will be explored.

CJ 380: Surveillance, Technology, and the Law
This course will examine current surveillance technologies used by criminal justice agencies and private sector organizations and the laws that regulate government surveillance and protect privacy. 

CJ 380: Computer Forensics and Internet Investigations
This course will examine the techniques used to investigate Internet crimes and extract evidence from digital storage devices.  Specific attention will be paid to the procedural laws that govern digital forensic techniques.

ISYS 480: Introduction to Information Systems Assurance
This course is an introduction to the study of "information operations that protect and defend information and information systems by ensuring their availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation." This includes providing for restoration of information systems by incorporating protection, detection, and reaction capabilities.  It will present an overview of various threats, both human and computer, to the security, integrity and availability of an organization's data and information resources, and possible ways the system may be made less vulnerable to such threats.

Crime and Procedures

CJ 275: Issues in Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence is a major public health problem as well as a crime problem.   This course will describe domestic violence in the context of multiple response systems including health care, police, advocacy, criminal justice and legislation. How does domestic violence affect men, women and children differently and what responses are required by each? Students will examine the social conditions in which mallow domestic violence to occur and continue.   In addition to psychological and sociological theories, students will approach the problem through site visits and guest lectures.

CJ 277: Introduction to Correctional Practices
Students, like most others, are fascinated by prison and jails. Unfortunately the media representation of our correctional facilities and those held in them is largely fantasy.  In this course students will learn the history of incarceration, architecturally and philosophically. What is the purpose of prison/jail in our society? What actually goes on in prisons and jails? What legislation and court decisions guide the operation of these facilities? What does it mean to the law abiding citizen? It is critically important that criminal justice students understand the reality of modern imprisonment, its strengths and its limitations. This course will provide direct experience by way of site visits and guest lectures by correctional professionals.   There are career opportunities at many levels and professional orientations in corrections. These will be presented to the students.

CJ 278: Introduction to Law Enforcement
The introduction to law enforcement course, will present the student with an overview of the entire field of criminal justice, and the numerous complexities within it.  We will explore the evolution of law enforcement and criminal justice, not just in the United States , but with a world wide perspective.  In addition, we will discuss contemporary issues facing law enforcement, including the various styles of policing, and the challenges to the profession. This course will provide the student with an excellent foundation for future justice courses.

CJ 279: Terrorism
Criminal Justice has long been concerned about industrial, environmental and commercial terrorism. After 9/11, the study of terrorism has attained new national import and funding as the nation seeks to understand and prevent further acts of political terrorism.  Students taking this course will examine terrorism through historical and contemporary cases, motivations, revisions of terrorist profiles and strategies for preventing terrorism in various venues.  Private industry, government and nonprofit agencies are hiring consultants and funding research in the detection and prevention of terrorism. Students will learn how to prepare themselves for these opportunities.

CJ 373: Environmental Crimes
The violation of established standards of clean air, water and toxic substances in our general environments and food supply are only a few of the many environmental offenses that destroy our quality of life, health and even our lives.   In this course students will examine the relevant laws by analysis of case studies and by looking at crime scene investigations and prosecutions. Issues of potential terrorism and how we might protect our communities from these environmental threats will be discussed.

CJ 374: Restorative Justice
One of the most exciting new paradigms in criminal justice is the worldwide movement toward Restorative Justice. In the last several decades in the United States , the federal government and many states have incorporated restorative justice concepts into their legislation and funding and criminal and juvenile justice practices.  The traditional approach has been a retributive one where the focus is on the formal charging of an accused and the infliction of some pain (punishment) in return for pain (the crime committed). Victims have been largely neglected. The community is remotely represented by the jury or the prosecutor and the offenders often feel that they are inadequately represented. None of these stakeholders has expressed great satisfaction with the "Justice" that the system has been delivering and looked for alternative dispute resolution approaches. Restorative Justice places the emphasis on repairing the harm caused by crime by recognizing the needs of the victims, the obligations for accountability of the offenders and the need of the community for safety at a cost effective rate. It is imperative that our students understand this approach and how it is being applied in both the juvenile and the adult criminal justice systems and in many non criminal contexts as well.

CJ 375: Criminal Procedure
This course will examine the constitutional foundation that under girds the American system of justice.  Specifically, the course will examine the genesis of the constitutional protections grounded in the 4th Amendment (Arrest and Search & Seizure); the 5th Amendment (Confessions and Double Jeopardy) and the 6th Amendment (Right to counsel), which seek to protect the accused from over zealous law enforcement by the State and will further examine whether these protections continue to have meaning as the Supreme Court has in recent decisions restricted defendants' rights and has relaxed the constitutional restrictions on law enforcement.  Students will be taught how to draft a Motion to Suppress and to do basic legal research necessary to advocate the grant or denial of such motions by the Court. This course is a necessary foundation for any student pursuing a career in any aspect of law, law enforcement or criminal justice.

CJ 376: Sentencing and Punishment
What sentences are appropriate and effective in reducing crime?  Should the discretion to sentence be limited by guidelines and mandatory sentencing? Should the judge or the jury decide on the appropriate sentence? What is the role of the prosecutor in determining appropriate punishments?   Students will examine relevant decisions of the US Supreme Court and discuss the impact of sentencing changes over time on the criminal justice system. Topics will include alternatives to incarceration and the death penalty.  This course is important to the criminal justice student and those considering a career in law or law-related careers. Changes in sentencing have led to a record 2.5 million people in state and federal prisons, the highest incarceration rate in the world. Students need to understand the impact of sentencing changes on individuals, communities and taxpayers.

CJ 380 Death Penalty
This course examines the legal, social, ethical and political issues surrounding capital punishment. 

CJ 380: Media and Justice
This course closely examines the images of the criminal justice process and its participants as offered by the media and popular culture, decoding the representations, comparing them to the statistical realities, and probing the rational behind the entertainment.

BLAW 498: White Collar Crime
This course examines the current federal and local criminal codes as they apply specifically to managers and businesses and the enforcement process.

COM 365: Journalism and Law
Students explore and apply techniques for covering the court system, and explore case law and recent key legal developments

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