4 critical thinking exercises 4 exams Required Text Senna, Joseph P., and Larry G. Siegel. Optional Text American Psychological Association Staff. American Psychological Association. This is a survey course that will introduce you to criminal justice as an academic discipline. While many of you may be familiar with criminal justice as portrayed through the media, the course will provide you with basic knowledge of the history, components, processes, functions, interrelationships, goals, issues, and controversies of the criminal justice system.
Criminal justice is a topic that affects everyone and everyone has an opinion about it.
Because this is a survey course we will not be able to look at every component of the criminal justice system in depth. This course will emphasize the areas of police, courts and corrections, which many consider the meat of the system. If you find a particular topic that interests you, you will find that the criminal justice program offers courses focusing on juvenile justice, criminal law, crime control policy, and criminal justice organizations. In addition to studying the basics of the criminal justice system, this course will also give you some of the central tools necessary for the study of criminal justice at Washington State University. These include research skills, writing skills, and the ability to think critically about a subject.