Spring 2009

CRJU 3100

Course Number 87291

Monday & Wednesday, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM

Room: T 201

Professor: Clifford Sanders

E-mail: CliffordSanders@mail.clayton.edu

Fax Number: 303-731-1953

Office Hours: By Appointment and After Class

Mailing Address:

Clayton State University
2000 Clayton State Blvd
Morrow, Georgia 30260

Criminology is a study of the nature and scope of crime and delinquency with an emphasis on criminology theories and research. The course will introduce students to sociological and psychological explanations for criminal behavior and will allow students to use basic research methods to test theories and measure the incidence of crime in the United States and in other countries. Prerequisite: CRJU 1150

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to discuss competently, will be evaluated upon, and is expected to demonstrate through readings, handouts, written examinations, quizzes (which could include pop quizzes), writing assignments, oral/group discussions/presentations, and other chosen methods, to accomplish the following achievements which are outlined by your course syllabus.

Students completing this class will have an understanding of and be able to apply

1. The basics of criminological theory
2. Explain Crime from a criminological perspective
3. To competently argue criminal causation
4. Apply Criminological theory to the explanation of 21st century criminal behavior

This class will incorporate several teaching methods. Each of these methods is important to the learning process in this course. Some of the more common methods to be used in this class are as follows:

Traditional lecture will be used to assure that all students are fully aware of the information the instructor wishes the students to grasp. This information will come from the book, with the assistance of outside paperwork that the Professor deems to be appropriate.

Criminal justice practitioners may be utilized a few times throughout the course to offer their assessments about working in the system.  Like the documentaries, the guest lectures are to be highly regarded and may be included on the course exams.

Documentary films will be shown throughout the course to provide visually stimulating examples for several course topics.  These screenings are to be treated as "lectures" for the course, and should be taken as serious subject matter that may be included in class exams.

There will be periodical library research assignments given throughout the semester. These assignments will require each student to spend time at the library. To accommodate each student, you may be given time to attend the library to work on your assignments.

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in discussion of the daily topics by providing their insights and asking questions for clarification or rhetorical contemplation.

Small-group work will be integrated into the course to foster participation by students who do not feel as comfortable sharing their thoughts and inquiries among the larger class setting.

• You will be required to use your CSU e-mail account for all electronic communications to either email account provided. Please include in the subject line of ANY communication your name and the course name. Do not include your SID number. The instructor will not be responsible for lost or discarded e-mails not conforming to these standards.
• The instructor may send e-mails with information vital to your success in the course.  Check your e-mail often, at least once a day.
• Any voice-mail or e-mail messages are returned during the regular workweek. 
• ABSOLUTELY NO GRADED ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA E-MAIL.  Assignments must be turned in as the instructor directs.
• The instructor will NOT email or telephone to tell you everything you missed in class if you did not attend that day - please consult the course calendar, which is kept up to date.   
• Because of the number of students we typically have, there may be some delay in the instructor's response to an individual's e-mail. 
• Do not send time-sensitive information via e-mail, speak to the instructor in person.  A delivered e-mail does not relieve you of the responsibility of informing the instructor about some concern. 
• Do not send a personal email correspondence to the instructor via the email class list.

The course workload and points are distributed as follows:

Course Work Points Overall %

Quiz 50 points 10%

Midterm 100 points 20%

Examination 1 100 points 20%

Final Examination 100 points 20%

Research Paper 150 points 30%

Total 500 points 100%

Grade Points Overall % Grade Points Overall %

A 464 – 500 93 – 100% C 363 – 382 73 – 76%

A- 450 – 463 90 – 92% C- 350 – 362 70 – 72%

B+ 433 – 449 87 – 89% D+ 333 – 349 67 – 69%

B 413 – 432 83 – 86% D 313 – 332 63 – 66%

B- 400 – 412 80 – 82% D- 300 – 312 60 – 62%

C+ 383 – 399 77 – 79% F 0 – 299 0 – 59%

Larry J. Siegel (2007). Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies (Ninth Edition). Thomson Wadsworth, Thomson Learning Inc.

Students are responsible for all material covered in class and listed on the "Class Schedule" (see below). Prior to each class, students are expected to read the assigned material and be prepared with questions or comments. It is widely held in academia that students should spend at least two hours studying outside of class for every hour in class. That is, each week six hours of study time should be devoted to this course.

Students are expected to attend every class if at all possible, and even though attendance will not be Mandatory. Although you are the students, and you pay for your education, I cannot make attendance mandatory. However, I can tell you that your attendance will be monitored and reported for compliance with University standards. In the event of an absence, Students should confer with the instructor outside of class sessions after an absence, to find out if any handouts were provided or films were screened. Students are not to notify the instructor of absences before the anticipated missed class, unless an absence will occur during one of the three exams (see missed exam procedure below, under "Examinations"). During office hours or at a meeting time agreed upon between the student and instructor, the absentee student will be provided with handouts. The majority, if not all, of the films to be shown in this course are owned by the instructor, so students may set up a time to borrow the film shown on the missed day. It is strongly suggested that each student assemble class companions with whom to exchange lecture notes in the event a class is missed.

There are three examinations and one quiz in this course, which will count for a total of 70% of each student’s final grade. The quiz will be administered on February 16, and is worth 10%. The two exams of the Midterm and Examination 1 will be administered throughout the semester (February 25 and April 6) during the regularly scheduled class time. Both of these exams will cover reading/lecture material and are worth 20% each. The final examination will be somewhat cumulative of the entire course, as the student will be required to apply criminological theory, analyze, and communicate in written form and is worth 20% of the final grade. It will be administered during the scheduled day of Finals.

Each exam will consist of multiple choice, short answer and/or essay questions. It will NOT be an open book or open note exam.

Make-up exams will only be given under the following conditions:

Legitimate Absence Proof Needed for--

 Legitimate Absence Illness: Note from a certified medical professional

Death in the family: Note from a family member and funeral information

Work (should be of an emergency nature): Note from a supervisor

NCAA or Collegiate Sports Club athletic meet:  Note from a coach

Make-up exams will be taken at a time convenient for the instructor and the student.

Each student is required to research and write a paper examining a true criminal and reasons for their criminal behavior. The paper counts for 30% of the total course grade.

Each student must select only one true criminal or serial killer. Ideas on topic selection can include: read a true crime book, watch various A&E segments, or read current media attention. Enough information must be available to understand the criminal’s social history. Possibly, additional research on the offender may be necessary.

The research for the paper is to include gathering and reading scholarly articles and/or books on the subject from the university library or library databases. A minimum of eight scholarly citations are to be used in the paper. This does not include the course textbook. Though citation of material in the course textbook is encouraged, such citations do not count toward the eight mandatory library cites.

The research paper is a critical analysis of theoretical application, using various media forms and published research findings to make educated inferences about the offender. Students should include, at the least, the following discussions in the paper:

• A thorough detailed explanation of the crime(s) itself and current status of the offender
• The criminal’s social history, i.e. family, education, child-rearing, neighborhoods lived in, peers, etc.
• An explanation of at least one criminological theory; discuss this theory’s tenants, theoretical explanation for criminal behavior, etc.
• Relate the theory to the criminal’s actions and/or history. Provide a rationale for their behavior using theoretical interpretation.

In addition, each paper must meet the following technical requirements:

• Must be typed on white paper, using black 12-point font, with double-spacing and one-inch margins all around
• Must include a cover page with student name and title of the paper
• Must use APA-style citation throughout the paper and on the "References" page(s)
• Must be 8 to 15 pages total (no more, no less) not including the cover page or references page(s)

ACADEMIC STANDARDS:

Clayton State University does not condone cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty. The student handbook contains further information and guidelines.

Students are expected to uphold the school's standard of conduct relating to academic honesty. Students assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the academic work they submit. The guiding principle of academic integrity shall be that a student's submitted work, examinations, reports, and projects must be that of the student's own work. Students shall be guilty of violating the honor code if they:

1. Represent the work of others as their own.

2. Use or obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic work.

3. Give unauthorized assistance to other students.

4. Modify, without instructor approval, an examination, paper, record, or report for the purpose of obtaining additional credit.

5. Misrepresent the content of submitted work.

The penalty for violating the honor code is severe. Any student violating the honor code is subject to receive a failing grade for the course and will be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. If a student is unclear about whether a particular situation may constitute an honor code violation, the student should meet with the instructor to discuss the situation.

Students must abide by policies in the University Catalog, Student Handbook, and if applicable, program handbook.  Academic misconduct will not be tolerated. 

Students should read and understand the Basic Student Responsibilities policy posted at

Respect of others is not only expected, but also required.  This includes valuing others’ opinions, no matter how wrong some may believe those views to be, and allowing others to speak without interruption.  Naturally, racial or sexual harassment or other forms of harassment will not be tolerated and will be dealt with authoritatively.

Students should make every effort to attend all classes on time. In order to not disrupt class, students shall utilize the restroom and take care of other personal matters prior to or after class sessions.  If a student needs to leave class early, he or she is to notify the instructor of such before the start of class.

Side conversations between small groups or a pair of students make it difficult for others to actively listen and learn. Repeated warnings to students engaging in side conversations will result in the involved students being directed to leave the class session.

All communication devices must be turned off or silenced upon entering the classroom and are not to be used inside the classroom during class sessions.  Aside from the obvious speaking on wireless phones, this includes the use of text messaging on phones and other apparatuses and accessing the internet on a laptop computer or personal digital assistant (PDA) via a wireless connection.  Any use of wireless devices or other information technology during an exam or quiz will result in a zero for the exam or quiz.

Falling asleep in class is not considered appropriate student behavior.  Students should make the mature decision to either stay awake and alert in class or go elsewhere and get some sleep.  Reading books or materials without being assigned to do so by the instructor or studying for other courses during the class is also not considered appropriate student behavior.  Overall, students should make every effort to pay attention and join in the group discussions, which will assist students with mastering the material.  Besides, the class sessions are only 75 minutes long!