Lincoln College Online

As you earn your Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice at Lincoln College Online, you will complete 15 core courses, six general education courses and three additional courses. Your Student Advisor will provide your personalized detailed course schedule at the time of your enrollment.

Criminal Justice, AS Core Courses ~ Titles and Descriptions

CJQ101	Introduction to Criminal Justice
CJQ102	Criminology
CJQ103	Essentials of Policing
CJQ104	Criminal Court Systems
CJQ110	Criminal Procedure
CJQ105	Essentials of Corrections
CJQ106	Probation and Parole
CJQ107	Interviewing and Interrogation
CJQ108	Crime Scene Investigation
CJQ109	Criminal Investigation
CJQ201	Criminal Law
CJQ202	Digital Crime and Digital Terrorism
CJQ203	Essentials of Juvenile Justice
CJQ204	Essentials of Security
CJQ240	Ethics in Criminal Justice

CJQ101 ~ Introduction to Criminal Justice
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
This course lays the foundation for a solid understanding of the components, processes, and functions of the criminal justice system in the United States. Topics include: history, structure, functions, and philosophy of the criminal justice system; relationship of the criminal justice system to the three branches of government; trials; sentencing; victims; the corrections system; the impact of substance abuse on crime; the use of technology to solve crimes; and the impact of multicultural and international crime.
Prerequisite(s): None

 

CJQ102 ~ Criminology
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
This course provides an overall introduction to the principles and theory of criminology. The student will learn the processes involved in identifying and recognizing the causes and patterns of criminal behavior. The course presents the standard approaches to criminology, and the research methods used in this field. Additional topics include the biological, psychological, social, or psychiatric roots of crime.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ103 ~ Essentials of Policing
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Focusing on the functions of contemporary law enforcement agencies, this course provides a comprehensive overview of law enforcement’s role in the criminal justice system. The course provides a highly practical yet comprehensive view of the world of policing. Topics include: history, important roles and functions, community policing, patrol, administration, organization, accountability, gangs, ethics, civil liability, trends in contemporary policing, DNA, crimes against children, cold cases, policing in Iraq, developing technologies, police subculture, and terrorism.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ104 ~ Criminal Court Systems
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
By illustrating the important work of judges, juries, prosecutors, and defense attorneys, this course offers a practical overview of the United States criminal court system. Topics include: processing of offenders, arrest, charging, and booking, the trial process, sentencing, the appeal process, and other important issues.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ110 ~ Criminal Procedure
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to criminal procedure, from the point where individuals first come into contact with the police, all the way through to appeal. Traditional criminal procedure topics, including search and seizure as well as interrogation and identification procedures are covered in this course. Recognizing that criminal procedure consists of much more than interactions between the police and criminal suspects, this course discusses the pretrial process; the roles of defense attorneys, prosecutors, and grand juries; plea bargaining and guilty pleas; rights of criminal defendants at trial; and appeals and habeas corpus. The material focuses on the constitutional rights of criminal suspects, as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ105 ~ Essentials of Corrections
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Providing a survey on the contemporary American Corrections system, this course focuses on crime, courts, corrections and law enforcement. Structure for the content presents three specific challenges facing the criminal justice community today: 1) the need for public order and safety contrasted with the constitutional and procedural rights of the individual; 2) diversity at all levels; and 3) the double-draw of technology in promoting faster detection and apprehension, while offering additional opportunities to criminals. Specific topics include: patterns of crime, crime causation, definition and description of Corrections; the rule and types of law; history and structure of policing history; management of policing organizations, and legal aspects of policing
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ106 ~ Probation and Parole
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
This course is an overview of the complex world of probation and parole. It explores the cutting-edge of both practice and theory with regard to adult and juvenile probation, institutions, and parole. Students will have an understanding of probation and parole as well as be able to negotiate the real world in which those aspects of the criminal justice system exist and be aware of the complex and often confusing issues with which today’s practitioners must grapple. This course will examine the changing role of probation and parole in community corrections, the role of probation and parole officers, preparing pre-sentence reports, learning the language and and terminology of the filed, and intermediate sanctions.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ107 ~ Interviewing and Interrogation
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
This course provides a practical interviewing guide for persons who work in the Criminal Justice system. Specific topics include: Interview preparation, nonverbal communication, types of interviewees, multicultural interviewing, the basic skills model for interviewing, communication of empathy, use of speed and pacing, and immediacy, concreteness, confrontation and assertion skills. Emphasis is on the practice of techniques that are taught in the course.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ108 ~ Crime Scene Investigation
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Presenting theories and fundamental techniques of the investigative process, this course provides a basis for understanding the careful handling of the crime scene. Topics include processing the crime scene, techniques of gathering information, techniques for collecting evidence, preserving evidence, accurate reporting, presenting evidence in court, and the processing of incidents.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ109 ~ Criminal Investigation
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
This course in criminal investigation is geared toward the practical application of investigative tools, concepts, and protocols. Students are introduced to the history, concepts, methods, and processes of standard criminal investigation. Topics covered in this course include: history of criminal investigation, basic concepts, methods of investigation, collecting evidence, interrogating witnesses and suspects, laboratory and technical services, ethical considerations, conducting the search of a crime scene, reporting, and effective methods of surveillance.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ201 ~ Criminal Law
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Beginning with the historical evolution of criminal law, this course discusses the nature of criminal offenses against persons, property, and the public. This course also analyses the types of criminal defenses, legal and social dimensions of crimes, and an in-depth view of offenses against public order and public morality. Topics include the purpose, nature and history of law, characteristics of the adversarial system, the elements of crime, and criminal defenses such as justifications, excuses, and insanity.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ202 ~ Digital Crime and Digital Terrorism
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
This course covers the etiology of the digital crime and digital terrorism problem, including the types of crimes and acts of terrorism that are committed using computers, networks and the internet. Students are introduced to the ways in which the computer revolution has altered the techniques used to commit some of the most common white-collar offenses, including embezzlement, corporate espionage, money laundering and fraud. Included is the emerging area of identity theft and computer viruses and malicious programming code. Students learn how law enforcement investigates digital crime and digital terrorism, collect evidence and prosecute digital crime.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ203 ~ Essentials of Juvenile Justice
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
This thorough overview of the juvenile justice system includes: an introduction to juvenile justice, delinquency theories, categories of offenders, intake, adjudication and processing, treatment, emerging trends, and juvenile correction alternatives. Attention will also be given to the elements and considerations involved in prosecutorial decision making.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ204 ~ Essentials of Security
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
This course will examine security-related concerns and concepts including: the history of private security, applying security principles in different settings, asset protection, information and computer security, security management, emergency planning, and integrated policing efforts.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101

CJQ240 ~ Ethics in Criminal Justice
4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
This course provides an introduction to the study of ethical issues in policing and corrections available in the U.S. today. It looks at the peculiar ethical demands of these professions, with particular emphasis on sub-cultural constraints, and how loyalty to colleagues can sometimes cause a sacrifice of individuality. Recent findings and events, real-life ethical dilemmas, and the application of moral theories to the field of justice give students a lively and relevant approach to sometimes difficult, sensitive, and controversial material.
Prerequisite(s): CJQ101