Online Criminal/Social Justice Courses

The 36-credit-hour online program includes the choice of two powerful tracks to maximize your career potential. A track in Homeland Security is ideal for students seeking career opportunities in city, state and federal public safety agencies, while the Custom Criminal/Social Justice track allows you to customize your master's degree with a selection of elective courses tailored to your specific interests and career goals.

To earn the MS in Criminal/Social Justice online, a student must successfully complete 21 credit hours in the core and 15 credit hours in their chosen track for a total of 36 credit hours in the program.

Core Courses (21 credit hours)

81-504 Criminal Justice Administration and Management (3)

In this course, students will explore the responsibilities of managers and supervisors in criminal/social justice agencies. Students will combine theories of management and administration with study of real-world application in various criminal/social justice organizations.

81-511 Fiscal Management - Criminal Justice Agencies (3)

The effective planning, management and control of budgets in public sector agencies is the focus of this course. Students will examine the current trends and forces impacting public revenue sources and areas of expenditure while evaluating various budgeting systems and creating fiscal plans.

81-514 Fair Practices: Labor Relations in the Public Sector (3)

This course reviews the emergence of the labor movement and collective bargaining in the United States with emphasis on the public sector. Students will explore issues related to securing and executing a labor contract while discussing major issues affecting federal, state and municipal labor relations.

81-517 Applied Research Methods (3)

Learning the research and analytical skills needed for effective upper management is the focus of this course, with emphasis on problem selection, hypothesis development, statistical measurement, data analysis and more.

81-536 Criminal Procedure (3)

Through a review of recent case law and Supreme Court decisions governing law enforcement procedures, students in this course will analyze their own personal values concerning the rights of those accused of a crime. Students will then examine those values in the context of criminal procedures before, during and after trial.

81-555 Criminal Law (3)

Students in this course will engage in a comprehensive review of recent changes in criminal law and the administration of justice. Special emphasis is placed on changes in the social, economic and moral views of the legal community.

81-569 Criminology (3)

This course examines the methods of operation most common in criminal populations. The likes, dislikes, lifestyles and basic profiles of typical criminals will be explored so that law enforcement managers can effectively train subordinates to seek out and identify potentially criminal behavior.

Homeland Security Track (15 credit hours)

Homeland Security Specialization (9 credit hours)

81-523 Homeland Security/Defense (3)

This course focuses on the detection and prevention of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) events. The roles and capabilities of a variety of public agencies will be explored. Protective countermeasures, consequence management and coordination under the National Response Framework are also covered.

81-531 Continuity/Contingency Operations, Strategies and Plans (3)

This course explores advanced continuity/contingency operations planning and uses emergency management tools and business assessment strategies to help mitigate potential disasters. The roles and capabilities of federal agencies in contingency operations will be discussed and evaluated.

81-534 Role of Law Enforcement in Homeland Security/Defense (3)

In the context of the 9/11 Commission Report and the new Information Sharing Environment (ISE) requirement affecting law enforcement and intelligence agencies, this course explores how government bodies can most effectively work together within legal boundaries to safeguard citizens without infringing on privacy and other human rights.

Electives (6 credit hours)

A student can select two courses from the Electives list below.

Custom Criminal/Social Justice Track (15 credit hours)

A student can select five courses from the Electives list below.

Electives

81-507 Family Violence (3)

Students will learn about the individual and familial pathologies and violence dynamics in this course. The operation of shelter networks and multi-professional crisis intervention, drug abuse centers and delinquency prevention organizations is also explored.

81-521 White Collar Crime (3)

This course studies the problem of corruption and other financial-related crime in business and government. Students will examine the socio-historic aspect of the origin, growth and ramifications of white collar crime including organized crime.

81-523 Homeland Security/Defense (3)

This course focuses on the detection and prevention of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) events. The roles and capabilities of a variety of public agencies will be explored. Protective countermeasures, consequence management and coordination under the National Response Framework are also covered.

81-524 Correctional Counseling and Rehabilitation (3)

In this course, students will examine the rehabilitation treatment for correctional settings in treating inmates and parolees. Public safety implications, policy development and evaluating outcomes and costs benefits will also be covered.

81-531 Continuity/Contingency Operations, Strategies and Plans (3)

This course explores advanced continuity/contingency operations planning and uses emergency management tools and business assessment strategies to help mitigate potential disasters. The roles and capabilities of federal agencies in contingency operations will be discussed and evaluated.

81-533 Ethics and Integrity (3)

The focus of this course is how personal values, morality and ethical perspectives shape the administration of justice and public safety. Students will explore how values determine the moral obligations of administrators and their subordinates and how values shape organizational policy and vision.

81-534 Role of Law Enforcement in Homeland Security/Defense (3)

In the context of the 9/11 Commission Report and the new Information Sharing Environment (ISE) requirement affecting law enforcement and intelligence agencies, this course explores how government bodies can most effectively work together within legal boundaries to safeguard citizens without infringing on privacy and other human rights.

81-550 Comparative Justice Systems (3)

Domestic and foreign criminal justice systems will be compared and contrasted. Topics such as structures, criminal law and international jurisdiction are examined.

81-559 Police Civil Liability (3)

This course explores civil liability and how it affects law enforcement officials. Some of the police responsibility topics covered include: use of excessive force, high-risk drug enforcement operations, negligence at traffic accident scenes, and failure to prevent detainee suicide.

81-584 Issues of Juvenile Crime (3)

Students will learn the theories, programs and policies related to juvenile delinquency and crime. Juvenile laws, court procedures and the future of juvenile justice system will also be studied.

To learn more about the online Criminal/Social Justice master's program at Lewis University, request more information or call (866) 967-7046 to speak with an Admissions Advisor right away.