Both criminal justice majors and other students who wish to concentrate in juvenile justice will benefit. Required Courses Juvenile Delinquency and the Juvenile Justice System includes analysis of delinquency types, theories of causation, and processing in the system with an emphasis on philosophical, legal, and procedural principles. A field laboratory allows students to make careful observations and critical analyses of the juvenile justice system Social Problems of Youth is a contemporary overview focusing on the influence of violence in schools and families, and analysis of gang behavior and culture. Youth Management, Community Organization and Advocacy is an introduction to the identification, prevention, and solution of individual, family, and community problems while managing and setting policies for youth service agencies. Advocacy skills, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution techniques are studied.
Field work involves active participation in community planning projects.
Multicultural Perspectives on Adolescence and Adolescent Development studies the impact of racism on adolescent development with emphasis on educational systems and alternative programs. Race, Class and Justice assesses the impact of races, classes, cultures, and gender on society, with intense focus on the role of racism and neoracism in the criminal justice system. Internship Placements first emphasize observation techniques, research skills, and writing, then counseling practices, special skills, and special education issues. Field Research Methods is particularly attentive to observation and interviewing techniques and critical analysis, and is designed to teach students how to collect, analyze, and interpret data, and evaluate various practices.