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M.A. in Criminal Justice Leadership Course Descriptions

CJU500 Administration of Criminal Justice (4 credits)
This course is a scholarly consideration of the concepts, principles, and analytical tools for effectively administering criminal justice agencies. Students will examine the critical application of strategic management skills in operational environments that are everchanging, under intense scrutiny by the public and media, and limited by the legal, financial and political constraints.

CJU502 Correctional Design (4 credits)
The philosophies, roles and designs of corrections continue to evolve. This course expands upon the basics of institutional and community corrections by exploring modern research and trends in modern corrections. Students will address leadership, legal, and political financial issues impacting the effectiveness of corrections in society with increasing demands and expectations of the criminal justice system.

CJU505 Reflective Adult Learner and Leadership (4 credits)
The premise of this course is leaders must have an understanding of who they are and why they are here. Students will devote considerable time to self-examination and reflection to gain greater awareness and understanding of who they are, and how their life and professional experiences influence their paradigms and leadership qualities. There is an emphasis on how attitude and emotional intelligence influence leadership effectiveness and results.

CJU520 Research Methods in Criminal Justice (4 credits)
This course will enable students to learn the key elements of criminal justice research including research ethics, scientific theory, research terminology, and research design. It will further provide an understanding of the dynamics of problem-solving, paying special attention to finding creative and productive solutions.

CJU543 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice Leadership (4 credits)
This course examines stress from a leadership perspective by asking why and how employers should respond to mental health issues. Theory, research, and trends in employee assistance are discussed as students consider how employers can help prevent, mitigate, and respond to emotional issues impacting personnel on the job.

CJU545 Legal and Legislative Issues in Criminal Justice (4 credits)
Those in leadership positions find themselves with a greater duty to recognize and respond to legal issues. This course examines how law defines policy in areas impacting the business of criminal justice, including due process, civil rights, equal protection, employment law, civil liability, and criminal procedure. In addition to identifying emerging law, this class addresses the political science of public policy at jurisdictional levels, including the United States Supreme Court.

CJU570 Applied Ethics in Criminal Justice (4 credits)
Students will be introduced to models of ethical decision-making, including the vocational ethics of Christianity. This emphasis is on the interplay between the historical models of ethical decision-making and the problems criminal justice professionals face every day. This course will also examine relationships and responsibilities of criminal justice politics and the media, a critical review of tensions that exist and how effective relationships can be fostered.

CJU584 Accessing Criminal Justice Research (4 credits)
This course familiarizes students with online academic and professional criminal justice leadership periodical indexes. Students will employ secondary research techniques in a criminal justice topic area of their choice. Students will evaluate and ethically report the body of research and informational landscape related to the topic in APA style. Students will learn to integrate knowledge navigation into academic, professional, and personal application. Students will also reflect on program objectives and personal learning and identify a direct link between the new knowledge they have acquired and their career field. Students will also begin set up of their final project (E-folio) due at the end of the program.

CJU596 Criminal Justice Capstone (4 credits)
The Capstone course is the concluding event of the program. This course assists students in synthesizing previous coursework and research leading to greater self-reflection, application to their career field, and an assessment of their learning throughout the duration of the program. Students will explore their philosophy of Criminal Justice leadership in a culminating paper as the final E-folio component. Students will participate in group activities to provide closure to the program and will present and discuss the final M.A. Capstone E-folio.