Criminal Justice

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the criminal justice system in the United States. It examines the historical development, current operations, and future trends of criminal justice agencies, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections. The course explores the nature of crime, criminal law, constitutional issues, and the roles and responsibilities of various professionals in the field. Students will gain a foundational understanding of the criminal justice process, ethical considerations, and contemporary challenges facing the system.

This course provides a theoretical, philosophical, and theological introduction to criminology as an academic discipline. It examines the social-scientific study of crime, causes of criminal behavior, and societal responses to crime. It also examines the role of churches and Christian parachurch organizations in prevention of crime, rehabilitation of convicted criminals, and victim care.

This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the American judicial system, including its historical development, structure, components, participants, and processes. It will also examine the biblical and sociological underpinnings of the current judicial system.

This course equips students with the essential skills and knowledge required to conduct empirical research within the field of criminal justice. This course emphasizes the scientific methods used to investigate crime, criminal behavior, and the effectiveness of criminal justice policies and practices.

This course provides students with a solid foundation in the principles, practices, and biblical underpinnings of criminal law and criminal procedure in the United States legal system. Through a combination of theoretical study and practical application, students will gain a thorough understanding of the criminal justice process from investigation to sentencing.

This undergraduate course is a comprehensive introduction to the principles, practices, and techniques of criminal investigation. Students will explore the fundamental aspects of investigative processes used by law enforcement agencies to solve crimes and bring offenders to justice while protecting the civil and legal rights of all participants.

This course provides a comprehensive examination of civil rights and civil liberties in the United States, focusing on their biblical origins, historical development, legal foundations, and contemporary applications. Students will explore the complex interplay between individual freedoms and societal interests, analyzing key Supreme Court decisions and their impact on American society.

This course provides students with an in-depth examination of the American correctional system and its role within the broader criminal justice framework. Students will explore the historical development, current practices, and future challenges of corrections in the United States. Students will also examine biblical, theological, and ethical implications related to punishment, rehabilitation, restitution, and restoration.

This course explores the complex ethical issues and dilemmas that professionals in the criminal justice system encounter. It provides a comprehensive examination of the moral principles, biblical teachings, and ethical standards that guide decision-making processes within various components of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, the judiciary, corrections, and policy-making. It also addresses the need for self-care, counseling, and spiritual formation to manage the stress of these occupations.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the juvenile justice system in the United States. It examines the historical development, philosophical foundations, and contemporary practices of juvenile justice, including the foster care system. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal and procedural aspects of handling juvenile offenders, as well as the social, psychological, and environmental factors influencing juvenile delinquency.

This course allows students to apply lessons learned in the classroom to real-world criminal justice contexts under the guidance of an experienced professional in the field. Students will serve at least 112.5 clock hours in practical experiences related to criminal justice.

This course examines the complex roles of religion in the American story of “race” and race relations. Participants analyze the interconnections of race and religion in American history from the colonial Atlantic slave trade to the twenty-first century by covering select topics in depth. The course focuses on reading diverse primary sources which could include letters, journals, literature, speeches, sermons, autobiographies, movies, etc. Analysis of the scholarly and primary sources provides the foundation from which participants draw historical and theological insight for today.

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Introduction to Psychology

This course introduces the field of psychology—the scientific study of human behavior and experience. Students are acquainted with the major concepts and terminology of the discipline, providing a broader understanding of self and others. The course includes brief studies of the history and systems of psychology, human neuroanatomy, sensation, perception, learning and thinking, human development, personality, social interaction, health psychology, and abnormal psychology. There is also an emphasis on applied psychology so that students are prepared for advanced courses in social science and other professional studies.

Introduction to Sociology

This course provides a foundational understanding of sociological concepts. It focuses on the systematic understanding of social interaction, social organization, social institutions, and social and cultural change. It is taught within the context of Christian responsibility and biblical teachings on justice, service, and social action.