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CRIMJ 450W Senior Seminar: Race and Crime (3): Capstone course exploring past, current and future developments in criminal justice.. Prerequisites: CRIMJ 100 or CRIM 100 and sixth semester standing or permission of program.
Overview
Through the exposure to diverse scholarly and popular literature and films from a variety of disciplines, this course critically appraises the role which the criminal justice system has played on racial/ethnic minorities in America. More specifically, the course examines racial/ ethnic minorities as offenders, victims, and workers in the American justice systems. In addition, the various theories that have been offered to explain the over representation of racial/ethnic minorities in the American justice systems are reviewed and critiqued. Finally, the course expostulates the various strategies that have been used to address crime in disadvantaged communities, which are heavily populated by racial/ethnic minorities.
Course Objectives
By the time you complete this course, you should have learned about the following:
- explain the history of the concept of race;
- appraise the past and current status of race and the criminal justice system;
- contrast the theories used to explain race and crime;
- differentiate both the discrimination thesis (DT) and the non-discrimination thesis (NDT); and
- describe the current trends in the race and crime literature.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
This course also requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically electronic reserve readings for this course.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
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| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Assignments
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Exams:
There will be three exams in this course. Each exam will require students to integrate materials learned throughout the course. Make-up exams will only be given in the case of a documented emergency.
- Book Reviews:
Students are required to conduct one book review. All students will read and critique All God’s Children. The guidelines for the critique will be posted in ANGEL. These are individual book reviews and should not be discussed until the specified date.
- Movie Reviews: Students are required to write a movie review of Gangs of New York. The guidelines for the movie reviews will be posted in ANGEL. This is an individual movie review and should not be discussed until the specified date.
- Content Inventory: At the end of the semester, students will take the Criminal Justice Program’s content inventory. This is a multiple choice exam that measures your knowledge of criminal justice. It is incumbent on the students to take notes throughout the semester to prepare for the exam.
Course Schedule
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
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| Week 2 Lesson 2: Religious and Biological Perspectives on Race and Crime |
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| Week 3 Lesson 3: Sociological and Subcultural Perspectives on Race and Crime |
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| Week 4 Lesson 4: Labeling and Conflict Perspectives on Race and Crime |
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| Week 5 Exam 1 |
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| Week 6 Lesson 5: Social Control, Colonial, and Feminist Perspectives on Race and Crime |
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| Week 7 Lesson 6: Race and Policing in Public and Private Spaces |
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| Week 8 Lesson 7: Race and the Courts |
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| Week 9 Lesson 8: Race and Sentencing |
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| Week 10 Exam 2 |
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| Week 11 Lesson 9: Race and the Death Penalty |
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| Week 12 Lesson 10: Race and Corrections |
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Week 13 |
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Week 14 Thanksgiving Holiday |
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| Time frame: | November 24, 2008 - November 30, 2008 |
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| Week 15 Lesson 12: Race and Crime in the Twenty-first Century |
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| Time frame: | December 1, 2008 - December 7, 2008 |
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Week 16 |
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| Time frame: | December 8, 2008 - December 12, 2008 |
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Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
The World Campus follows the same grading system as the Penn State resident program. The grades of A, B, C, D, and F indicate the following qualities of academic performance:
A = (Excellent) Indicates exceptional achievement
B = (Good) Indicates extensive achievement
C = (Satisfactory) Indicates acceptable achievement
D = (Poor) Indicates only minimal achievement
F = (Failure) Indicates inadequate achievement necessitating a repetition of the course in order to secure credit
Assignment Policies
Your responsibilities in this course are working through lessons and assigned readings, completing activities and assignment, and participating in discussions. You are expected to complete all activities and assignments by the due date listed in the course syllabus. The course number and your name must be on all electronic documents that you submit to me. This prevents confusion when I print documents for grading.
Late Policy
Late assignments will lose one grade for each day or part of a day they are late.
Schedule conflicts may be unavoidable in rare cases, even with the extreme flexibility offered by asynchronous instruction. If you anticipate a conflict, discuss it with the instructor in sufficient time to allow for agreement on an alternative schedule or alternative work submissions. Just as in resident instruction, don't expect leniency "after-the-fact" for missed assignments. The general policy is that no credit is given for late submissions that are not prior-approved, but extreme extenuating circumstances may be considered.
Grading
Course grades will be determined on the following basis:
| Requirement | Points |
| Exams (3 @150pts) | 450 |
| Movie Review | 150 |
| Book Review | 200 |
| Participation | 100 |
| Content Inventory | 100 |
| Total | 1000 |
Grades will be based on the total number of points acquired. The following grading scale will be used to determine your overall course grade:
Points |
Letter Grade |
951-1000 |
A |
900-950 |
A- |
867-899 |
B+ |
834-866 |
B |
800-833 |
B- |
767-799 |
C+ |
734-766 |
C |
700-733 |
C- |
600- 699 |
D |
Below 600 |
F |
Please refer to the University Registrar's information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity (for undergraduate students in undergraduate courses) and policy GCAC-805 Academic Integrity (for graduate students and undergraduate students in graduate courses), an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity or GCAC-805 Academic Integrity as appropriate). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal
integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help
create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the
fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is
requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, procedures allow a student to accept or contest/appeal the allegation. If a student chooses to contest/appeal the allegation, the case will then be managed by the respective school, college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. Review procedures may vary by college, campus, or school, but all follow the aforementioned policies.
All academic integrity violations are referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, which may assign an educational intervention and/or apply a Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion.
Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page.
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Students with disabilities participating in internship, practicum, student teaching, or other experiential learning opportunities as part of their degree requirements may also be eligible for reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access and opportunity. These accommodations are determined through an interactive process involving the student, their University supervisor, and the site supervisor. Student Disability Resources can assist students with identifying potential barriers, facilitating accommodation requests, and coordinating with University supervisors to promote inclusive learning experiences.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.