The Criminology Department at IUP offers diverse classes that build up student strengths. Lindsey Smathers, MA'16, said, "It was not until graduate school that I had much experience with statistical systems and databases. I now have the ability to not only work with a statistical database, but also have grown comfortable while doing so."
Enjoy Diverse Coursework in Criminology and Criminal Justice
MA courses are listed as 600 and 700; doctoral courses are listed as 800 and 900.
CRIM 600: Criminological Theory
3 credits
An examination of criminological theories with an emphasis on origins and applications of relevant theoretical approaches to crime and criminally deviant behavior. Required of all master's students.
CRIM 601: Proseminar
3 credits
Survey of current research, critical issues in the administration of justice, and criminological theory. Designed to acquaint the student with recent developments in the discipline of criminology. Required of all master's students.
CRIM 605: Research Methods
3 credits
Methods and techniques of research in criminology. An in-depth examination of the role of research in the analysis, interpretation, and clarification of the problems in criminology and the administration of justice. The development of a research proposal/thesis prospectus will be the end product of the course. Required of all master's students.
CRIM 610: Legal Issues in Criminology
3 credits
An in-depth study of contemporary legal issues faced by criminal justice professionals. Emphasis is placed on criminal constitutional problems as well as the judicial review of administrative decisions made by criminal justice organizations. Required of all master's students.
CRIM 630: Seminar in Administration and Management in Criminal Justice
3 credits
The study of bureaucracy and complex organizations with an emphasis on the concepts and practices of the organization and management of agencies in the administration of justice. Required of all master's students.
CRIM 631: System Dynamics in Administration of Justice
3 credits
A study of dynamic systems and analytical techniques relevant for understanding new perspectives of the administration of justice. Required of all master's students.
CRIM 632: Organizational Dynamics within the Criminal Justice System
3 credits
An examination of organizational and systems theories, concepts, applications, and research within the criminal justice system. Attention is given to the role organizations play independently and collectively in the administration of justice. Required of all master's students.
CRIM 645: The Dynamics of Cybercrimes
3 credits
An examination of the current and future issues in cybercrimes. Emphasis will be given to criminals and victims, law enforcement, state and federal laws, criminology theories, and the development of research topics in cybercrimes.
CRIM 681: Special Topics
3 credits
Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of the department in a wide area of subjects directly related to law enforcement, courts, corrections, or security.
CRIM 694: Applied Teaching in Associate Degree Programs
3 credits
Provides an overview of responsibilities and tasks required when teaching criminology and criminal justice classes in associate degree programs. The adjunct faculty role will be identified. Pedagogical practices will be discussed. Evaluation includes the development of a portfolio, which includes a teaching philosophy statement, and a course design represented by a syllabus, lectures, assignments, and exam questions.
CRIM 699: Independent Study
3 credits
Research of a significant issue or problem in criminology or the administration of justice. Instructor, coordinator, and chair approval required. May be taken twice for a maximum of six semester hours.
CRIM 718/818: Quantitative Strategies for Analysis in Criminology
3 credits
Computer analysis of quantitative data applied to the behavioral science of criminology: the logic of data analysis, fundamentals of statistical procedures commonly used in criminological analysis. Students also will learn to critique published criminological research.
CRIM 730/830: Ethical and Philosophical Issues in Criminology
3 credits
An intensive examination of selected ethical and philosophical issues currently facing the field of criminology. Issues for analysis will be drawn from (but not limited to) such categories as the function of law; integrating theory and practice; ethical issues surrounding research strategies; punishment forms; social control strategies; and crime and justice in the future.
CRIM 748/848: Criminal Violence: Theory, Research, and Issues
3 credits
An overview of general theories of violence and their applications to criminal violence. A variety of research and policy/programmatic issues will be explored, with attention given to issues relating to predicting dangerousness.
CRIM 765/865: (Previously CRIM 665) Criminal Justice Planning and Evaluation
3 credits
The study of planning and evaluation in criminology and the administration of justice and of the literature and practices, including problems and issues and tasks confronting planners and evaluators.
CRIM 770/870: (Previously CRIM 670) Seminar in Contemporary Corrections
3 credits
An examination of current issues and problems in contemporary corrections.
CRIM 781/881: Special Topics
3 credits
CRIM 785/885: (Previously CRIM 685) Seminar in the Contemporary Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
3 credits
An examination of current issues and problems in contemporary juvenile justice and delinquency.
CRIM 790/890: (Previously CRIM 690) Seminar in the Contemporary Judicial System
3 credits
An examination of current issues and problems in the contemporary judicial system.
CRIM 791: Synthesis Project
3 credits
Provides a synthesis of theory, research, and policy in criminology/criminal justice. This course will be taken during the student's final semester in the program, unless exceptional circumstances exist. The development of a substantial paper and oral presentation will be the required end products of this course. Prerequisites: CRIM 600, 601, and 605. Required of all non-thesis master's students.
CRIM 795: (Previously CRIM 850) Thesis
3-6 credits
CRIM 798/898: (Previously CRIM 698) Graduate Readings in Criminology
3 credits
With faculty supervision, students read at least six major criminological texts and participate in a seminar situation for the purpose of discussing the reading materials.
CRIM 799/899: Independent Study
3 credits
CRIM 810: (Previously CRIM 710) Advanced Theoretical Criminology
3 credits
An intensive examination and critical analysis of the original works of selected theorists. Major theorists will be chosen each semester based on the interests of the professor and students.
CRIM 817: (Previously CRIM 717) Advanced Qualitative Methods
3 credits
Explores the criminological research enterprise from the qualitative perspective. Focuses on the relationship among all components of research design, including problem formulation, theory, data collection, analysis, and presentation of findings.
CRIM 820: (Previously CRIM 720) Advanced Quantitative Methods
3 credits
An in-depth analysis of the logic and uses of advanced criminological research models. Emphasis will be given to the use of quantitative research techniques and perspectives as they relate to formal theory construction.
CRIM 840: (Previously CRIM 740) Advanced Criminal Justice Policy
3 credits
A study of the impact of government crime policies on individuals and groups. An examination of criminal justice policy formulation and analyses of specific policies relevant to crime and the administration of justice.
CRIM 845: (Previously CRIM 745) Comparative Justice Systems
3 credits
An examination of criminological field research in diverse cultural settings around the world. Special focus given to problem formulation, theory construction, and general research design in comparative justice systems.
CRIM 851: (Previously CRIM 750) Doctoral Colloquium in Criminology
3 credits
Provides an academic setting for graduate students to present research and theoretical papers for group discussion. Special topics in criminology will be selected each semester.
CRIM 901: (Previously CRIM 801) Advanced Applied Research I
3 credits
The application of selected principles of criminological theory and research methods towards understanding and resolving specific problems of justice processing.
CRIM 902: (Previously CRIM 802) Advanced Applied Research II
3 credits
The application of selected principles of criminological theory and research methods towards understanding and resolving specific problems of justice processing.
CRIM 903: (Previously CRIM 803) Advanced Applied Research III
3 credits
The application of selected principles of criminological theory and research methods towards understanding and resolving specific problems of justice processing.
CRIM 904: (Previously CRIM 804) Advanced Applied Teaching Techniques
3 credits
A review of prominent models of effective teaching and applications of selected models of teaching theory to specific criminological courses.
CRIM 995: (Previously 950) Dissertation
1-12 credits