CJU 405   Minnesota State Criminal Law and Traffic Codes 4 credits

This course will provide the opportunity for developing a basic working knowledge and strengthening individual understanding of the Minnesota Criminal Code by covering procedural law, crimes against persons and property, juvenile offenses, and rights of peace officers. Students will also examine Minnesota Traffic Laws to include driving rules, licensing, specialty vehicles, equipment requirements along with alcohol and controlled substance violations. Additionally, the exploration and discussion will cover key elements of crime, levels of offense, applicable case law, common defenses, and sentencing guidelines. (The course is required for students who intend to take the POST Exam for Minnesota Law Enforcement Officers).

CJU 442   Foundations of the Criminal Justice System 4 credits

This course will offer a robust overview and more profound understanding of criminology designed to provide an extensive emphasis on personal development, by examining career roles, responsibilities, policies/procedures, and administration of various public and private agencies and organizations, involving multiple federal, state, county, local, tribal, and international components, that constitute modern-day Criminal Justice System. Students will explore critical issues affecting multi-cultural populations, administration of justice and develop deeper awareness involving domestic violence intervention, interpersonal communication, and trauma-informed approaches. Students will also explore the evolution of technology approaches, proactive intervention efforts, and community-based treatment programs as well as implications of vicarious/secondary trauma experienced and explore a variety of strategies for practitioner survival mindset.

CJU 446   Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice 4 credits

This course will provide a forum for students to gain an understanding of how academic writers use the writing process to shape initial ideas and effectively communicate in the Criminal Justice System as a whole and develop an understanding and link between criminological theory, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and literature review research analysis and comparison. Students will utilize this course to further their individual reflection while developing and practicing the necessary skills to be successful in accessing criminal justice-related research and statistics that will assist them in balancing this academic program and realizing how these skill sets transition into their Criminal Justice environment. (Prerequisite: CJU 442)

CJU 456   Building an Integrated Criminal Justice System 4 credits

This course is designed to understand the roles of various federal, state, county, local, tribal, and international components of the Criminal Justice System and how these systems work collaboratively. Students will further explore career insights, trajectory, professional networks, and internship opportunities. Students will identify and apply concepts and principles from a system perspective lens through current challenges within the systems and further explore these interlocking systems as change agents, exercising creative problem-solving processes. Through this course exploration, students will develop skill sets to bridge communication and strengthen collaboration between systems. Students will promote a deeper awareness of vicarious/secondary trauma experienced and explore a variety of approaches for practitioner survival mindset. (Prerequisites: CJU 442 and CJU 446)

CJU 461   Constitutional and Criminal Law and Justice 4 credits

This course is designed to explore and develop the understanding and working knowledge of broad and specific variations of federal, state, county, local, tribal, and international components that influence constitutional, criminal, and criminal justice process civil law and how it affects the Criminal Justice System in the modern day. Students will review foundational history, basic concepts, and key participants in the courtroom/trial to understand interpretations of the Constitution by the United States Supreme Court impacting criminal justice. Moreover, students will learn and apply practical research strategies to find relevant case law. This course will use an assortment of case studies, individual research, and in-depth group discussions.

CJU 472   Cultural Considerations in Criminal Justice Systems 4 credits

The course is designed to conceptualize the balance between community and Criminal Justice Systems, within the framework of cross-culture and diverse populations albeit related to critical social problems and Criminal Justice System responses to manage and influence them. This course prepares students to explore various vocational fields such as law enforcement, security, courts, corrections, probation/parole, social services, community reintegration, and treatment services by building skill sets to professionally and effectively manage challenging and diverse situations, employing deeper understanding and appreciation for culture uniqueness by acknowledging individual awareness, system-oriented bias, and refining effective communication skill sets.

CJU 475   Ethical Dilemmas and Fundamental Leadership in the Criminal Justice System 4 credits

The course is designed to expose students to ethical decisions and useful leadership traits within the Criminal Justice System by examining the power in discretionary decisions influenced by individual attitudes, values, and beliefs. Further exploration involving concepts such as public service, authority, control, discretion, law, individual liberty and punishment, bias, and cynicism will evaluate alternatives within the multi-systemic Criminal Justice System when solving dilemmas. This course prepares students to acquire skills in moral sensibility and fundamental leadership principles to effectively resolve individual issues in discretionary decision making as it applies to professional codes of ethics and within the boundaries of the law.

CJU 478   Contemporary Issues in the Criminal Justice System 4 credits

The course is designed to afford students deeper focus on current and relevant topics and patterns in today’s Criminal Justice System while drawing upon constitutional and criminal law, spirituality, values, and ethics further building innovative problem-solving skill sets to address emerging public safety issues. Further exploration involving concepts such as individual and community behavior, multi-cultural aspects, use of force, suicide by cop, mental illness, body cameras, and the interworking of the multi-systemic Criminal Justice System. Additionally, students will further explore the evolution of the multi-systemic Criminal Justice System brought on by the war on terrorism, rapid technological changes, police accountability, accusations of racial profiling, and the redesign of community policing in the 21st century.

CJU 483   Exploring the Criminal Mind and Identifying Suspect Behavior 4 credits

The course explores the theories and research that define logical components and causes to the criminal mind, including mental health, brain structure and function, and environmental factors associated with identifying suspect behavior and exploring preventative and intervention strategies, and treatment modalities. Students will identify general theoretical frameworks to include Choice Theories, Psychological Theories, Sociological Theories, Life Course Theories, Criminology Theories as well as further examine how past and present understanding of the criminal’s behaviors has determined the contemporary responses in our society as well as the final treatment of offenders within the Criminal Justice System.

CJU 487   Delinquent and Criminal Behaviors Across the Life Course 4 credits

This course focuses on issues related to juvenile delinquency and justice, biological and psychological development including the impact adverse childhood experiences, risk/protective factors, criminal exposure, and criminal behavioral perspectives toward adult and elderly criminal behavior response through the lifespan. This course will also examine delinquent and criminal behaviors comparing foundational history, policies, and practices of the juvenile justice and adult criminal systems from prevention, arrest to post-incarceration, and rehabilitation, within the context of federal, state, county, local, tribal, and international components. As well as further analyze elements involving adversity, cultural aspects, victimization, environmental, data statistics and patterns, legal requirements, and community and societal reactions and perceptions of law violations and correctional practices.

CJU 491   Forensic Exploration in the Criminal Justice System 4 credits

This course is designed as a systematic and comprehensive exploratory approach to the evolution of forensic science relative to crime scene management and various technology considerations in Criminal Justice Systems. Students will delve into practical application in a forensic investigation by utilizing foundational theoretical frameworks. Students will research and examine various technologies used in forensic investigation explore risks and vulnerabilities, and examine specialty cases, case law, and require record evaluations involving the evidentiary collection, preservation, analysis, as well as the admission of legal evidence in court. (The course maybe substituted for students who do not intend to take the POST Exam for Minnesota Law Enforcement Officers).

CJU 495   Criminal Justice Experiential Learning eFolio 4 credits

Experiential Learning eFolio is an integral component to enhance a student’s total academic experience through a "field apprentice" in a Criminal Justice System setting, receiving academic credit for their work. Designed as a capstone eFolio model used throughout their academic criminal justice program journey, students will institute a plan of observation, study, and participation in a Criminal Justice System setting linking theoretical, conceptual, and practical experiences to examine, challenge, question, and broaden their educational experience. This course will further expose students an opportunity to formalize their career goals. (Prerequisites: CJU 442, CJU 446, CJU 456, CJU 461, CJU 472, CJU 498, CJU 475, CJU 483, CJU 487, CJU 491 or CJU 405)

CJU 498   Criminal Justice Internship 1-16 credits

CJU 500   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 ever-changing, under intensive scrutiny by the public and media, and limited by legal and political constraints.

CJU 502   Correctional Design in a Changing World 4 credits

This course examines the philosophies, roles, and designs in evolving correctional practices being employed through the 21st century. This will entail exploring the challenge of instilling a cultural shift within the vocation from that of containment and surveillance to one of change agent. Students will be exposed to the most current research and trends while exploring the evolution of Correctional thinking from the now infamous 1974 proclamation that "Nothing Works" to the era of Evidence Based Practices. This will involve not only a thorough look at why individuals enter into and persist in a life of criminality and delinquency, but also why those individuals desist from the lifestyle. Students will address leadership, legal, political, and financial issues impacting the effectiveness of corrections in a society with increasing demands and expectations of the criminal justice system.

CJU 505   Reflective Adult Learner & 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 attitude and emotional intelligence and how they influence leadership effectiveness and results.

CJU 520   Research Methods in Criminal Justice 4 credits

This course is designed to familiarize students with the scope, function of information, and the research process within professional multi-systemic criminal justice leadership. Students will be provided with fundamental concepts and methods in the research literature, building skillsets in consuming literature by critically evaluating and reporting the body of research and statistics on issues related to multi-systemic criminal justice leadership. Critical problem-solving serves as a primary function in further shaping ideas, developing strategies, and effectively communicating solutions and change within the discipline. 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.

CJU 543   Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice Leadership 4 credits

This course is designed to help students identify their own beliefs about the people they work with or who work for them, as well as to focus on the importance of understanding self/others as an integral part of any organizational change. We will examine the needs of people, responses of managers, the importance of how to discipline, alternatives to discipline, and how to work with troubled employees. Furthermore, 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.

CJU 545   Legal and Legislative Issues 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.

CJU 570   Applied Ethics in Criminal Justice Leadership 4 credits

This course will review and analyze popular models and real-life examples of ethical decision making criminal justice professionals often encounter and how outcomes can impact entire organizations. Students will be exposed to research, trends, and case studies, providing opportunities to investigate current ethical issues facing criminal justice leaders and managers in organizational settings, as well as critically apply various ethical theories and decision-making frameworks. Discussions relative to Christian vocation, applied ethics, policy development and implementation, as well as value-centered leadership will be explored. A variety of practical application based assignments will demonstrate the integration of a personal and vocation ethic.

CJU 590   Criminal Justice Leadership: Essential Skills 4 credits

In this course, students will develop leadership vision and adaptive solutions, as well as build confidence as active change agents in the multi-systemic criminal justice system. The course will focus on the complex dynamics of criminal justice, including organizational, cultural, socioeconomic, and political influences. Students will explore such policies as financial forecasting, risk decisions under conditions of uncertainty, and vulnerability in managing exposure risks that further impact leadership decision-making. Students will engage in practical, scenario-based learning and develop the best-practice creative problem-solving tactics, techniques, and enhancing the skills needed to be effective leaders in criminal justice.

CJU 596   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. At the completion of their Capstone course students will be required to complete a comprehensive Capstone project. (Prerequisites: CJU 505, CJU 520, CJU 500, CJU 545, CJU 502, CJU 570, CJU 543, CJU 590, CJU 596)