Criminal Justice Courses at Hamline University
Goals: To introduce students to the basic framework of the American criminal justice system.
Content: This course will focus upon the three main components of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, the criminal judicial process and correctional approaches used to deal with offenders and to maintain social order. This course is designed to introduce students to these broad topical areas and to explore the issues of equality of treatment and the professional decision-making processes that take place within the contemporary American criminal justice system.
Taught: Annually, fall and spring.
Prerequisite: None.
Credits: 4 credits
This lab must be taken concurrently with the CJFS 1130 lecture.
The lab itself has zero credit value.
Goals: To introduce non-science students to the practice of forensic science.
Content: The nature of physical evidence and its role in the legal system; expert testimony; disciplines such as crime scene investigation, fingerprints, questioned documents, firearms, DNA, drugs, toxicology, fire debris, and trace microanalysis (hairs, glass, fibers).
Taught: Fall and spring.
Corequisite: CJFS 1130 - LAB: Basics of Forensic Science
You may not take CJFS 1130 if you have already completed CJFS 3400: Survey of Forensic Sciences.
Credits: 4 credits
cjfs 3400 - Lab: survey of forensic science
This lab must be taken concurrently with the CJFS 3400 lecture.
The lab itself has zero credit value.
cjfs 3400 - survey of forensic science
Goals: The primary learning objectives of this course are to examine the roles and responsibilities of forensic scientists in the criminal justice and legal systems of the United States; understand the scope, scientific foundation, and techniques of a variety of the scientific disciplines practiced in crime laboratories; experience applying relevant analytical techniques to the examination of physical evidence, and practice oral and written communication through mock expert testimony and report writing.
Content: Course content will focus on defining “forensic science”; recognizing practices of legitimate, junk, and fraudulent science; examining the properties of physical evidence; discussing the scope, potential, and limitations of a variety of forensic sciences; practicing analytical techniques applied by forensic scientists; evaluating the criteria for admissibility of scientific evidence; and discussing the ethical responsibilities of forensic scientists.
Taught: Annually.
Prerequisites: BIOL 3050 and 3060, or CHEM 1130 and 1140.
Corequisite: CJFS 3400 - LAB: Survey of Forensic Science
Credits: 4 credits
cjfs 3410 - crime scene investigation and reconstruction
Goals: To develop skills in applying the techniques used by forensic scientists in investigating crime scenes, to evaluate evidence, and to understand the role of science in medico-legal and forensic contexts.
Content: Course content will focus on the role crime scene investigation in civil and criminal cases. Content specific to crime scene investigation will include properties of evidence, admissibility of evidence and expert testimony, evidence collection procedures, methods of evidence analyses, and interpretation and communication of results.
Taught: Annually
Prerequisites: CJFS 3400
Credits: 2 credits
cjfs 3420 - forensic biology
Goals: To develop skills in applying the techniques used by forensic scientists in analyzing and interpreting biological evidence, and to understand the role of science in medico-legal and forensic contexts.
Content: Course content will focus on the role forensic biology in civil and criminal cases. Content specific to forensic biology will include properties of evidence, admissibility of evidence and expert testimony, evidence collection procedures, methods of evidence analyses, and interpretation and communication of results.
Taught: Annually
Prerequisites: CJFS 3400 and BIOL 3060
Credits: 2 credits
cjfs 3430 - forensic document examination
Goals: To develop skills in applying the techniques used by forensic scientists in examining questioned documents, and to understand the role of science in medico-legal and forensic contexts.
Content: Course content will focus on the role forensic document examination in civil and criminal cases. Content specific to forensic document examination will include properties of evidence, admissibility of evidence and expert testimony, evidence collection procedures, methods of evidence analyses, and interpretation and communication of results.
Taught: Annually
Prerequisites: CJFS 3400
Credits: 2 credits
cjfs 3440 - forensic fingerprint examination
Goals: To develop skills in applying the techniques used by forensic scientists in examining fingerprints, and to understand the role of science in medico-legal and forensic contexts.
Content: Course content will focus on the role forensic fingerprint examination in civil and criminal cases. Content specific to forensic fingerprint examination will include properties of evidence, admissibility of evidence and expert testimony, evidence collection procedures, methods of evidence analyses, and interpretation and communication of results.
Taught: Annually
Prerequisites: CJFS 3400
Credits: 2 credits
cjfs 3450 - forensic firearm and toolmark examination
Goals: To develop skills in applying the techniques used by forensic scientists in examining firearms and toolmarks, and to understand the role of science in medico-legal and forensic contexts.
Content: Course content will focus on the role forensic firearm and tool mark examination in civil and criminal cases. Content specific to forensic firearm and toolmark examination will include properties of evidence, admissibility of evidence and expert testimony, evidence collection procedures, methods of evidence analyses, and interpretation and communication of results.
Taught: Annually
Prerequisites: CJFS 3400
Credits: 4 credits
Goals: The primary goals of this course are to enable students to pursue an internship in a forensic science or related agency, to integrate this experience with their academic coursework, and provide a forum to discuss their experiences and present a research project.
Content: This course will be a discussion and presentation-based course set within the context of a forensic science-based internship. Throughout the semester students will reflect on and discuss their internship experience. Course projects include design, completion, and oral presentation of a research project.
Prerequisite: CJFS 3560, required co-registration in CJFS 3590 Current Issues in Forensic Science (exception: criminal justice majors).
Note 1: Forensic Science students majoring in Criminal Justice may take CJFS 5660 to complete this requirement.
Note 2: This is a required course for students pursuing the forensic sciences certificate who are not majoring in Criminal Justice; all FSC internships must be completed via this course and concurrent registration with CJFS 3590: Current Issues in Forensic Science.
Note 3: Students interested in pursuing a laboratory internship must have, at the time of registration, no less than a 2.7 GPA in the Natural Science courses and a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.0.
Credits: 2 credits
Goals: The professional responsibilities of forensic scientists are currently evolving. The primary goal of this course is to explore and discuss issues currently engaging the attention of forensic scientists. Students will gain an understanding of how these issues affect the practice of forensic science, the admissibility of scientific evidence and testimony, and education of students preparing to become forensic science professionals in the United States.
Content: Throughout the course, students will examine issues currently engaging the forensic sciences community including recent legal challenges to the scientific basis and reliability of various disciplines, the impact of key legal rulings on the admissibility of scientific evidence and expert testimony, the formation and impact of scientific and technical groups to develop standards of practice, laboratory accreditation, certification, and the ethical practices and responsibilities of forensic scientists.
Prerequisite: CJFS 3560; concurrent registration with CJFS 3580 Forensic Sciences Internship (Criminal Justice majors excepted) or CJFS 5660 (Criminal Justice majors only).
Credits: 2 credits
CJFS 3600 - forensic chemical microscopy
Goals: To develop a broad understanding of the principles and methods of handling, analyzing, and interpreting trace physical evidence.
Content: Forensic microscopy: using stereo, brightfield, and polarized light microscopy to examine and compare hairs, fibers, glass, drugs and other evidence using refractive index, birefringence, microcrystal morphology and other techniques. Forensic chemistry: the principles of and methods for the analysis of drugs, fire debris, inks and paints, glass, paper, fibers, polymers, and other evidence. Forensic toxicology: pharmacology and interpretation of drugs in human specimens. Ethics in the forensic sciences: quality in the forensic science laboratory; the responsibilities of forensic scientists; and the nature of expert testimony.
Taught: Annually, spring.
Prerequisites: CHEM 3460 and CJFS 3400
Corequisite: CJFS 3600 - LAB: Forensic Chemical Microscopy
Credits: 4 credits
cjfs 3600 - Lab: forensic chemical microscopy
This lab must be taken concurrently with the CJFS 3600 lecture.
The lab itself has zero credit value.
Goals: To provide students with an in-depth understanding of the issues and methods of punishment and social control within American correctional practice and to review the empirical research assessing the effectiveness of correctional practice.
Content: This course is designed for students who are interested in the approaches and models used in contemporary America to deal with criminal offenders. The primary focus of the course will include policies and strategies of intervention, decision-making in sentencing and supervised release of offenders and the treatment of offenders generally within the criminal justice process.
Taught: Annually.
Prerequisite: CJFS 1120.
Credits: 4 credits
Goals: To provide students with an in-depth understanding of issues which concern the law enforcement function in American society.
Content: This course is designed for students who are primarily interested in current issues that affect the law enforcement function in contemporary society. Issues that may be explored include professionalism within law enforcement, community policing and crime control, ethical concerns, community relations, and the police subculture.
Taught: Annually.
Prerequisite: LGST 1110 or CJFS 1120, or permission of the instructor.
Credits: 4 credits
Goals: To enable students to pursue internships and explore the connections between criminal justice knowledge and skills and experiences in professional workplace settings.
Content: An exploration of applied criminal justice and the application of criminal justice concepts to professional workplace practice; independent research projects and frequent on-campus seminars are designed to connect academic and workplace experiences.
Taught: Fall and spring.
Prerequisites: CJFS 3750, LGST 3810, LGST 3820, or SOC 3750; or co-registration in LGST 3810 or LGST 3820; or permission of the instructor.
Students should contact the instructor well in advance of the beginning of the semester to discuss their internship placement site to assure prompt commencement of the internship.
Credits: 4 credits