District Syllabus
CCJ1020
Introduction To Criminal Justice


Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3
Laboratory Fee: None.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course.
Corequisites: There are no corequisites for this course.
Catalog Description: An introductory course designed to familiarize students with the criminal justice system. Emphasis is placed on understanding the nature, functions and limits of law. Special attention will be given to the criminal justice process from arrest to final disposition. The course will prepare the student for succeeding courses in the criminal justice program. Course is highly recommended for non-majors.
Required Materials: Books:
  • Schmalleger. Criminal Justice: Brief Intro, 10 ed., Pearson Education, 2014. ISBN: 9780133009798
Supplemental Materials:
Special Requirements: None
Program Learning Outcomes: 
Global Learning Outcomes:
I.  Critical Thinking: Students will develop the ability to evaluate
    the validity of their own and other's ideas through questioning 
    and analyzing, and the skill to synthesize the results into the 
    creative process.
    A.  collect, organize, classify, correlate, analyze, and present 
        materials and data from a variety of academic disciplines and 
        sources, distinguishing between facts and opinions, judgments
        and inferences, and the objective and subjective.
    C.  Consciously raise questions, suspending judgments and 
        remaining open to new information, methods, cultural systems, 
        values and beliefs.

VI.  Social Skills: Students will develop and use skills and 
     attitudes that integrate individuals into society.
     B.  Develop insight into his/her own and others' behaviors and 
         mental processes accepting responsibility for his/her own 
         actions.
     D.  Embody honesty, respectability and integrity. 

Major learning Outcomes:

1.  To evaluate the root causes of crime and to be able to develop
    criteria for what is and is not criminal behavior.
2.  To identify the different participants in the criminal justice 
    system and define their roles with regard to its operation.
3.  To articulate future goals for possible changes in the field of
    criminal justice that will enhance the effectiveness of the 
    criminal justice system and reduce the instances of crime.
Course Learning Outcomes: 
Specific Performance Objectives: The student will be able to:

1.  Be able to analyze the different causal relationships which are 
    related to crime.
2.  Demonstrate a comprehension of the immense toll that crime has on 
    our society.
3.  Awareness of the commonly held beliefs and factors regarding 
    criminal justice and the legal system.
4.  Identify the different officials and groups within the public 
    arena and the criminal justice field and their contributions to 
    the criminal justice system.
5.  Understand the public's perception of crime and criminal justice 
    and how this impacts the system.
Methods of Evaluation: Evaluation of student progress towards achieving the stated learning outcomes and performance objectives is the responsibility of the instructor, within the polices of the college and the department. Detailed explanation is included in the expanded syllabus developed by the instructor for each section being taught.
Flexibility: It is the intention of the instructor to accomplish the objectives specified in the course syllabus. However, circumstances may arise which prohibit the fulfilling of this endeavor. Therefore, this syllabus is subject to change. When possible, students will be notified of any change in advance of its occurrence.
Student Email Accounts Pensacola State College provides an institutional email account to all credit students. Pirate Mail is the official method of communication, and students must use Pirate Mail when communicating with the College. In cases where companion software is used for a particular class, emails may be exchanged between instructor and student using the companion software.
Note: For students with a disability that falls under the Americans with Disability Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, it is the responsibility of the student to notify Student Resource Center for ADA Services to discuss any special needs or equipment necessary to accomplish the requirements for this course. Upon completion of registration with the Student Resource Center for ADA Services office, specific arrangements can be discussed with the instructor.