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Course Syllabus

CJ 1390 Introduction to Policing

  • Division: Social and Behavioral Science
  • Department: Behavioral Science
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
  • Prerequisites: None
  • Corequisites: None
  • Semesters Offered: TBA
  • Semester Approved: Fall 2022
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2027
  • End Semester: Summer 2028
  • Optimum Class Size: 40
  • Maximum Class Size: 40

Course Description

This course will explore the history, structure, and function of law enforcement in America. The student will learn who the police are, what they do, and how they do it. The course is designed to help those considering a career in law enforcement to decide if they want to continue the traditions of American law enforcement.

Justification

This course is part of the Criminal Justice curriculum and similar courses exist a USHE institutions. CJ 1390 is part of the lower division course compliment for a bachelor degree in Criminal Justice.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to evaluate contemporary and/or historical problems using appropriate discipline specific research methodology.
  2. Students will analytically compare different social political, economic, cultural, geographical, or historical settings and processes.
  3. Develop and communicate hypothetical explanations for individual human behavior within the large scale historical or social context.
  4. Write and/or demonstrate effectively within the (appropriate) social science discipline using correct disciplinary guidelines to analyze, interpret, and communicate about social science phenomena.

Course Content

Throughout this course the student will be able to examine the historical perspectives of policing in America, learn the broad framework of the criminal justice system, and become familiar with the law as it applies to policing in America. The student will be able to differentiate between the separate authorities, departments, and operations in American policing. The student will be able to explain the growth and related problems of the American policing system including issues that relate to the interaction of law enforcement with the range of various people, personalities, and cultural practices that can impact police-community trust levels and cooperation. Finally, the student will gain perspective on potential careers in the American system of policing.