CJ 305 – Criminology – Fall 2014

Instructor:Tammy E. Bracewell, MCJ

COURSE AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Class Location:

  • Founder’s Hall, Room 305

Class Duration:

  • August 25 – December 12, 2014

Class Time:

  • Tues/Thurs 5:30-6:45PM

Office Hours:

  • By appointment
  • After class

Phone:

  • Office: 254-939-2946 ext. 2
  • Please note this is the number for my full time job. I may not always be available to have an in-depth conversation with you. However, we can always schedule a phone conference.

Email:

  • Please direct all email communication through this email. This class will also have Blackboard accessibility, however I will check email more frequently.
  • When emailing, always identify yourself and what course you are in. In general, when communicating electronically you should use complete sentences and be very clear about what you are asking or saying to avoid miscommunication.

______

MODE OF INSTRUCTION AND COURSE ACCESS

This course is web-enhanced and uses the TAMUCT Blackboard system. To be able to successfully complete this course, the student must be able to access Blackboard.

______

STUDENT-INSTRUCTOR INTERACTION

This is primarily a lecture/discussion-based class, with some web-based components. Most communication between the instructor and students will be in the classroom, though all students are able to schedule a telephone conference or meet with me after class.

I will be checking and replying to student emails on a daily basis – students should expect a response within 24 hours. Any deviations from this will be announced on Blackboard. I refer correspondence through Blackboard.

There will be a discussion board available for students to post general questions that will be checked and responded to on a regular basis – students should expect a response within 48 hours. This is highly recommended for general questions (for example, what chapters will be covered on an exam), so that all students in the class may benefit from the answers.

______

COURSE INFORMATION

I. Catalog Description: Criminology. (3-0) Study and critical appraisal of various theories of crime causation, including an examination of classical, biological, psychological, and sociological perspectives on the etiology of crime.

II. Expanded Course Description: This course is intended for junior or senior level students, and is required of all Criminal Justice majors. CJ 305 is intended to assist students in developing an understanding of a variety of theoretical perspectives within the classical, biological, psychological, and sociological paradigms utilized to test and explain causal forces of crime and delinquency. Theories of criminality will be explained from a social historical basis, emphasizing that all theories are the product of their times and must be viewed within that context.

III. Course Objectives:

  1. Students will demonstrate writing skills appropriate to the discipline of Criminal Justice.
  2. Students will demonstrate proficiency in the use of technology appropriate to the discipline of Criminal Justice.
  3. Students will demonstrate multi-cultural awareness and respect for cultural diversity as applied to the topic presented.
  4. Students will demonstrate understanding of key concepts of Criminal Justice.
  5. The historical contexts of major criminological theories.
  6. The content of major criminological theories.
  7. Theoretical research within the field of Criminal Justice.
  8. Students will apply key concepts to Criminal Justice training, operational strategies and policies.

IV. Required Textbooks:

Jacoby, J.E., editor (1994). Classics of Criminology (4th Ed.). Waveland Press

ISBN: 0-88133-769-2

______

REQUIRED COURSE WORK

Non-Graded Requirements

I. Reading

Reading assignments are to be completed prior to class meetings (see course calendar). You are expected to be familiar enough with the readings to apply the material to class discussions as well as to respond to written and oral questions based on the readings. We will not spend class time going over the book, per se. Readings and lectures for this course are complementary

Graded Requirements

I. Critical Thinking Essays (70 points each/350 points total)

Students will be responsible for completing six (5) critical thinking assignments. The dates for the assignments to be posted and the due dates are listed in the course calendar. These assignments will engage the student in applying theories to criminal, delinquent, and deviant behavior.

Requirements for writing assignments:

  • 1-2 pages in length; double-spaced; 12-pt. font; Ariel or New Times Roman
  • Grammatically correct and free from proofreading errors
  • Paragraph, narrative format
  • Must be completed in Microsoft Word and attached in the Assignment section of Blackboard
  • If outside sources are used, they must be properly cited using APA format for in-text and reference page citations

Grading Criteria for Critical Thinking Essays:

19 / Unacceptable / does not meet the intent of the assignment; many writing errors
36 / Acceptable/Weak / meets the intent of the assignment but lacks detail, clarity or specifics; some writing errors
53 / Acceptable / meets the intent of the assignment; shows understanding of class content; few writing errors
70 / Excellent/Superior / meets the intent of assignment and goes beyond the required/expected performance; free from writing errors; outside sources used

II. Exams (100 points each/300points total)

There will be three (3) non-cumulative exams in this course. The format of the exams may include a variety of question types, including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short essay. Exams may contain questions from the book, from other materials provided by the instructor, from discussions, and from writing assignments.

III. Discussion posts (70 points each/350 total)

There will be (5) discussion posts on blackboard that will be due throughout the semester. Students will be required to respond to a discussion prompt by a specified time (reference the course calendar). In addition, students will be required to respond to a minimum of two other students’ posts, also by a specified time and date.

The initial post is due on the class day associated with that post marked “online” on the calendar. The two discussion posts are due no later than the following class day by 5:30pm (the start of class).

These posts will be graded using the rubric above. The initial response is worth 50 points and the responses to other students are worth 20 points.

Your initial response should be roughly equal to a one page word document. Responses to other students should be roughly two paragraphs. You will be graded heavily on content, however, please ensure proper grammar and spelling rules are followed.

______

OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE COURSE

I. Late assignments: Late assignments will not be accepted. Students are given all assignments at the beginning of the semester. Therefore, it is up to you to ensure they are completed AND submitted on time.

EXAMS: If something arises to where you must miss an exam you will be given an opportunity to make the exam up. This is subject to the following limitations: ONLY one exam may be made up, regardless of circumstances and ALL make-up exams will take place on the final day of class, after the final exam. Please keep in mind that the make-up exam will be different from the original exam.

II. Supplementary Material: Additional information may be given during class times that supplement the topics to be addressed. Supplementary material may take the form of handouts, oral presentations and references from your instructor, presentations by students, power point presentations, and online activities. This supplementary material is designed to broaden the educational experience and create more variety to the usual lecture/discussion format of class presentations.

III. Extra Credit: Extra credit is not available in this class.

IV. Note: As in many Criminal Justice and Social Science courses, the issues of racial and ethnic diversity must be considered part of the course content. In addition, topics may come up in class that not everyone will be comfortable with or agree upon. Civility and courtesy to everyone in the class, including the instructor, is expected. Incivility or discourtesy to anyone in the class will not be tolerated and may result in your expulsion from the classroom.

V. Posting of Grades: All student grades will be posted in the Blackboard grade book and students shouldmonitor their grading status through this tool.

VI. Grading Criteria Rubric and Conversion:

Final course grades will be assessed on the following scale:

Assignment / Points / My Grade
Exam 1 / 100 points
Exam 2 / 100 points
Exam 3 / 100 points
Essay 1 / 70 points
Essay 2 / 70 points
Essay 3 / 70 points
Essay 4 / 70 points
Essay 5 / 70 points
Discussion 1 / 70 points
Discussion 2 / 70 points
Discussion 3 / 70 points
Discussion 4 / 70 points
Discussion 5 / 70 points
Total / 1000
900-1000 points / A
800-899 points / B
700-799 points / C
600-699 points / D
0-599 points / F

Mastery, understanding, and familiarity with course content will be demonstrated primarily through testing and written assignments, and secondarily through class participation.

COURSE CALENDAR

Subject to revision, if necessary, during the semester

Date / Description / Reading/Assignments
Tues
Aug 26 / Course expectations/Syllabus
Personal introductions
Plagiarism
Thu
Aug 28 / Introduction to Theory
Classical School / Reading:
Articles 16, 48 – Jacoby
Tues
Sept 2 / Positive School
ONLINE / DQ 1 Due 11:59pm
Thu
Sept 4 / Positive School / Articles 18, 21, 24 Jacoby
DQ1 responses due by class time
Tues
Sept 9 / Chicago School
Thu
Sept 11 / Chicago School / Article 4 Jacoby
Tues
Sept 16 / Differential Association
ONLINE / Articles 30, 31 Jacoby
Essay 1 due by 11:59pm
Thurs Sept 18 / Differential Association / Articles 30, 34, 35, 36 Jacoby
Tues Sept 23 / EXAM 1
Thurs
Sept 25 / Anomie / Articles 26, 27, 28 Jacoby
Tues Sept 30 / Anomie
ONLINE / DQ2 due by 11:59pm
Thurs
Oct 2 / Subcultural Theories
ONLINE / Essay 2 due by 11:59pm
Tues
Oct 7 / Subcultural Theories / Articles 6, 7, 31 Jacoby
DQ2 responses due by 5:30pm
Thurs
Oct 9 / Labeling / Article 42 Jacoby
Tues
Oct 14 / Labeling / Articles 43 Jacoby
Thu
Oct 16 / Conflict
ONLINE / Essay 3 due by 11:59pm
Tues
Oct 21 / Conflict / Articles 19, 29
Thu
Oct 23 / Social Control / Articles 33, 38, 40 Jacoby
Tues
Oct 28 / Social Control
ONLINE / DQ3 due by 11:59pm
Thu
Oct 30 / Exam 2 / DQ3 responses due by 5:30pm
Tues
Nov 4 / Social Learning
Thurs
Nov 6 / Social Learning
ONLINE / DQ4 due by 11:59pm
Essay 4 due 11:59pm
Tues
Nov 11 / Rational Theories / DQ 4 responses due by 5:30pm
Thu
Nov 13 / Rational Theories / Articles 8, 9 Jacoby
Tues
Nov 18 / Gender Based Theories
ONLINE / Chapter 10 W&S
DQ5 due by 11:59pm
Thu
Nov 20 / Gender Based Theories / Articles 45, 46, 47 Jacoby
DQ5 responses due by 5:30pm
Tues
Nov 25 / ONLINE / Essay #5 due by midnight via Blackboard
Thu
Nov 27 / THANKSGIVING
Tues
Dec 2 / Contemporary Theories
Thurs
Dec 4 / Contemporary Theories
Tues Dec 9 / Exam 3/Final Exam
Thu
Dec 11

______

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPORT

For this course, you will need reliable and frequent access to a computer and to the Internet.

Blackboard supports the most common operating systems:

PC: Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista

Mac: Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks), 10.8 (Mountain Lion), and 10.7 (Lion)

NOTE: Computers using Windows XP, Windows 8 RT and OS X 10.6 or lower are NO longer supported

Check browser and computer compatibility by following the “Browser Check” link on the TAMUCT Blackboard logon page. ( This is a CRITICAL step as these settings are important for when you take an exam or submit an assignment.

Upon logging on to Blackboard Learn, you will see a link to Blackboard Student Orientation under My Courses tab. Click on that link and study the materials in this orientation course. The new Blackboard is a brand-new interface and you will have to come up to speed with it really quickly. This orientation course will help you get there. There is also a link to Blackboard Help from inside the course on the left-hand menubar. Your ability to function within the Blackboard system will facilitate your success in this course.

Technology issues are not an excuse for missing a course requirement – make sure your computer is configured correctly and address issues well in advance of deadlines.

Accessing Blackboard:

  • Access Blackboard at the following link:
  • Login using your MyCT Username and Password. To set up your MyCT account, follow the instructions in the following link:
  • Select Criminal Justice Criminology from the course list

Technology Support

For technology issues, students should contact Help Desk Central. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

Email:

Phone: (254) 519-5466

Web Chat:

When calling for support please let your support technician know you are a TAMUCT student.

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

  1. Academic Integrity

Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Students found responsible of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials. The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of academic dishonesty and report the incident to the Associate Director of Student Conduct. More information can be found at

  1. Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty. Plagiarism, most simply defined, is not properly crediting your sources of information through the use of textual citations and the provision of a works cited list. If something is not your own original idea, thought, words, or the product of your original data collection and analysis, you need to cite your source in the text. You must also include a works cited list. Failure to do so is cheating and will be dealt with as such.

Submitting the same, or essentially the same work, from another class may also be a form of academic dishonesty, unless I approve it in advance. Work handed in should be your own, not that of a friend, relative, Internet site, published article, or anyone else.

  1. Disability Support Services

If you have or believe you have a disability and wish to self-identify, you can do so by providing documentation to the Disability Support Coordinator. Students are encouraged to seek information about accommodations to help assure success in their courses. Please contact Vanessa Snyder at (254) 501-5836 or visit Founder's Hall 114. Additional information can be found at

IV. Tutoring

Tutoring is available to all TAMUCT students, both on-campus and online. Subjects tutored include Accounting, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, and Writing (APA). Tutors are available at the Tutoring Center in Founder's Hall, Room 204, and also in the Library in the North Building. Visit and click "Tutoring Support" for tutor schedules and contact info. If you have questions, need to schedule a tutoring session, or if you're interested in becoming a tutor, contact Academic Support Programs at 254-501-5830 or by emailing .

Chat live with a tutor 24/7 for almost any subject on your computer! Tutor.com is an online tutoring platform that enables TAMU-CT students to log-in and receive FREE online tutoring and writing support. This tool provides tutoring in Mathematics, Writing, Career Writing, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Spanish, Calculus, and Statistics. To access Tutor.com, click on

  1. Religious holidays

If you need to be absent for religious observance please notify me at least one week in advance so that arrangements may be made for you to obtain lecture notes, turn in assignments, or schedule exams.

VI. Library Services

INFORMATION LITERACY focuses on research skills, which prepare individuals to live and work in an information-centered society. Librarians will work with students in the development of critical reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research techniques. Help may include, yet is not limited to: exploration of information resources such as library collections and services, identification of subject databases and scholarly journals, and execution of effective search strategies. Library resources are outlined and accessed at

  1. Drop Policy

If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and ask for the necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of the student. The record’s office will give a deadline for which the form must be returned, completed, and signed. Once you return the signed form to the records office and wait 24 hours, you must go into DuckTrax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. If you are still enrolled, you must FOLLOW-UP with the records office immediately. You are to attend class until the procedure is complete to avoid penalty for absence. Should you miss the deadline or fail to follow the procedure, you will receive an F in the course.

VII.

Disability Support

If you believe that this course may present barriers to learning due to a disability, please contact Disability Support and Access at (254) 501-5831 in Warrior Hall, Ste. 212. For more information, please visit their website at Any information you provide is private and confidential and will be treated as such. The instructor cannot accommodate your disability unless you communicate with Disability Support.

______

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

I. Attendance

Attendance on a regular basis and participation in class discussions is expected. it is to your benefit to show up to class regularly; often, I will be introducing material that is not covered in any of your assigned readings, yet such material will be instrumental in your ability to successfully fulfill the other course requirements. I have observed a direct correlation over the years between class attendance and course grade; those that attend class regularly often have higher grades than those who rarely or sporadically attend – something to think about.

Just as an employer expects you to come to work, I expect you to come to class. If you need to be absent for any reason, it is your responsibility to obtain class notes from another student; it is not the instructor’s responsibility to provide this material to you.

II. Conduct

Mastery of course content is greatly enhanced through professional conduct in the classroom. You will be expected to conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times in this class. Professionalism includes but is not limited to:

-Punctuality – chronic lateness will not be tolerated. If you need to leave class early, please do so as quietly and with as little disruption as possible.