Curriculum

This course introduces students to the social reality of crime, criminal behavior, and law as each of these relates to the criminal justice system. Students examine the role of law enforcement, prosecution, defense, court system, corrections, and juvenile justice at various levels. Students are challenged to expand both their knowledge and appreciation of the criminal justice system through arranged visits to courts, detention facilities and working law enforcement agencies.

This course deals with everyday problems, situations and operations of the police department and the police officer. Included in the course is the study of many jobs and applications of duty in the police service. The course is a study of the patrol officer's function, with a background investigation of the total organization. The use of staff deployment, tactical operations, and the use of various equipment are discussed in some detail during the course with an emphasis on how operations and equipment are changing.

This course teaches techniques for effective oral and written communication. In a workshop environment that features continual instructor and peer evaluation, students develop a process approach to writing and speaking. Students will write in a variety of genres and will reinforce rhetorical strategies pertaining to audience awareness while practicing oral delivery skills. A grade of C or better is required to pass the course.

This course is designed to assist entering students in making a successful transition to life at Husson College. The goals of this mandatory course include personal development and campus community engagement. Students will work together to identify academic and social resources, to develop skills for academic and social success, to make meaningful connections with the campus community, and to develop academic and career goals. The course is experiential in nature and all course activities are directed toward fostering the above two goals.

The social, political, and economic growth of the United States from 1620s to the Civil War is stressed. After a view of the colonial settlements, particular attention is devoted to the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the framing of the Constitution, the struggle between Hamilton and Jefferson, the War of 1812, Jacksonian Democracy, the beginning of industrialization, the causes of the Civil War, and the problems of the Reconstruction Era.

This is a scientifically based introduction to the discipline of psychology. It examines the study of basic patterns of behavior including motivation, learning, emotions, the physiological basis of behavior, human growth and development, personality theory and measurement, and abnormal and deviant behavior.

This course is designed to teach the background and current information regarding arrest, search and seizure. It explores the development of standards in this field, through constitutional law, state law, concepts and interpretation, limitations of police powers, probable cause, and the suppression hearing.

This course teaches techniques for effective oral and written communication. In a workshop environment that features continual instructor and peer evaluation, students develop a process approach to writing and speaking. Logical argumentation, academic conventions, and research-related skills are the primary focus. Public speeches are based on written assignments that incorporate various source materials. As students explore connections between the written and spoken word, the significance of nonverbal language and listening skills are emphasized. A grade of C or better is required to pass the course.

Late nineteenth and early twentieth century social and economic history is examined against a background of the increased nationalism and the rapid industrialization accompanying and following the Civil War and Reconstruction Periods. The Agrarian revolt, the emergence of the country as a first-rate power, the Progressive movement, the New Deal and America's part in the two World Wars are emphasized.

The substantive goal of this course is to cover the basic principles of criminal law, including the common law of crimes as well as the Maine Criminal Code and the Model Penal Code. The methodological role of the course is that of statutory construction - the techniques of applying legislative enactments to varying fact situations in light of text, history, purpose and structural context. All of this will proceed with the underlying assumption that it is always necessary to judge rules of law according to their effectiveness and desirability.

This course is an introduction to the study of society and the interaction of individuals within society. It is a prerequisite for all other courses in sociology. Topics studies include basic sociological theory and concepts, socialization, cultures, institutions, patterns of social structure, and social change. Some emphasis is placed on cultural relativity in modern society and the implications of cultural differences for business.

This course introduces the major theories of crime causation developed over the past two centuries. Explores the scope and nature of the current crime problem in the United States. Examines the characteristics of specific criminal behavior such as violent crime, property crime, organized crime, white-collar crime, and public order crime. Additionally, the course focuses on breaking down myths and stereotypes students may have formed about crime, and has them critically examine their own beliefs about crime.

The course examines written and oral forms of business communication, from memos and letters to research proposals and reports. Flexibility in addressing diverse audiences and human resource issues is a focus. The construction of resumes, cover letters, job interviews, and formal presentations is also emphasized.

This course, building upon EH 111, introduces students to the study of literature and the fundamental of literary research. Students explore fiction, poetry, and drama from both the western and non-western worlds. The creative process is explored through reading, discussion, research and writing. Additionally, the key themes of power, identity, justice and adaptation and explored in relation literature.

Contemporary College Algebra provides students a college level academic experience that emphasizes the use of algebra and functions in problem solving and modeling, provides a foundation in quantitative literacy, supplies the algebra and other mathematics needed in partner disciplines, and helps meet quantitative needs in, and outside of, academia. Students address problems presented as real world situations by creating and interpreting mathematical models. Solutions to the problems are formulated, validated, and analyzed using mental, paper and pencil, algebraic, and technology-based techniques as appropriate. Four credit hours.

This course introduces students to important traditional ethical theories, new directions in moral thinking, and contemporary ethical controversies. It focuses on ethics as the practice of informed dialogue and principled behavior in a diverse and changing society and in the workplace.

This course will focus on the recovery, documentation and laboratory analysis of physical evidence found at the scene of a crime. The course covers the principles of effective crime scene management as well as what information can be obtained from particular pieces of physical evidence as a result of laboratory study. The laboratory analysis of the following will be covered: glass, soil, organic and inorganic substances, hairs, fibers, paint, drugs, poison, arson and explosive evidence, serology, DNA, fingerprints, firearms, tool impressions, miscellaneous impressions, photography, document and voice examinations.

This course examines the application of modern management theory and technique to the criminal justice system. It emphasizes the unique nature of the criminal justice community and the complex relationships, which are necessary to make it efficient and effective. Topics covered include: hiring, developing personnel; managing budgets, dealing with public sector unions; discipline and problem behaviors; complaints and grievances; stress and time management; performance appraisals; deploying human resources; and emerging trends in criminal justice management.

This course is designed to synthesize the information and insights from other courses in the Criminal Justice Curriculum. It includes research in crime trends and causes, scholarly research, and an assessment of each student’s knowledge and understanding of the essential elements of the criminal justice system. This Capstone Course will focus on pragmatic application of principles and theories which guide Criminal Justice practice in the United States.

Electives are non-specific courses available to complement the goals and interests of an individual student. Those electives preceded by two letters (for example "CJ Elective") means that you may choose a course from the group of "CJ" courses. Likewise, those courses with a numeric listing (for example "CJ 3XX Elective") means you may choose a course from the group of "CJ" courses with a number of 300 or above. Some electives may require that you take a prerequisite course before you can enroll in the course you want.

Electives are non-specific courses available to complement the goals and interests of an individual student. "Open Electives" give students the option of choosing from a wide array of courses. If you are required to take an open elective, you have the freedom to choose courses that interest you beyond those specified as part of your program. Some electives may require that you take a prerequisite course before you can enroll in the course you want.