Course Syllabus
Course: CJ 1390
Division: Social and Behavioral Science
Department: Behavioral Science
Title: Introduction to Policing
Semester Approved: Fall 2022
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2027
End Semester: Summer 2028
Catalog Description: This course will explore the history, structure, and function of law enforcement in America. The student will learn who the police are, what they do, and how they do it. The course is designed to help those considering a career in law enforcement to decide if they want to continue the traditions of American law enforcement.
Semesters Offered: TBA
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Justification: This course is part of the Criminal Justice curriculum and similar courses exist a USHE institutions. CJ 1390 is part of the lower division course compliment for a bachelor degree in Criminal Justice.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to evaluate contemporary and/or historical problems using appropriate discipline specific research methodology. This will be assessed through student research writing projects and a final class project.
Students will analytically compare different social political, economic, cultural, geographical, or historical settings and processes. This will be evaluated through critical thinking textbook chapter exercises as well as exams/quizzes and a research writing project.
Develop and communicate hypothetical explanations for individual human behavior within the large scale historical or social context. This will be assessed though a final class project.
Write and/or demonstrate effectively within the (appropriate) social science discipline using correct disciplinary guidelines to analyze, interpret, and communicate about social science phenomena. Students writing and analysis will be assessed through research writing project and a final class project.
.
Content:
Throughout this course the student will be able to examine the historical perspectives of policing in America, learn the broad framework of the criminal justice system, and become familiar with the law as it applies to policing in America. The student will be able to differentiate between the separate authorities, departments, and operations in American policing. The student will be able to explain the growth and related problems of the American policing system including issues that relate to the interaction of law enforcement with the range of diverse people, personalities, and cultural practices that can impact police-community trust levels and cooperation. Finally, the student will gain perspective on potential careers in the American system of policing.
Key Performance Indicators:
Final Learning Project 25 to 30%
Chapter assignments 15 to 25%
Research Writing Project 20 to 35%
Exams and Quizzes 20 to 30%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
An Introduction to Policing, Cengage Learning, current edition
Pedagogy Statement:
This course will be taught by lecture, group work, discussion, written assignments, and projects which require practical application. This course on policing naturally lends itself to diversity and inclusion because of the recruiting processes that focus on minority populations. Additionally, learning to police and interact effectively and appropriately with people who have mental health issues is a major focus of this course.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Online
Maximum Class Size: 40
Optimum Class Size: 40
