MS in Criminal Justice, Strategic Management Concentration

Why do people commit crime, and how should those explanations shape public policy and practice? Explore crime through a range of criminological perspectives and examine how different ways of understanding crime lead to different responses from the justice system and society. You will study major theories from across the social sciences and consider what they suggest about the causes of crime, the development of law, and the design of effective policies and programs. Along the way, you will connect theory and research to contemporary crime problems and evaluate how well current justice practices reflect the evidence. By the end of the course, you will be better prepared to use criminological theory and research to assess competing ideas about crime and to inform decisions about law, policy, and practice.  [ 4 cr. ]

How should justice organizations be led and managed within the legal and ethical constraints that govern their work? Explore the practical challenges of administering policing, court, and correctional institutions in ways that comply with law, policy, and professional standards. You will examine how justice organizations operate and how leadership, organizational culture, and management practices shape decision-making. The course introduces key ideas from organizational theory and applies them to real-world justice settings, including employee motivation, professional socialization, stress and burnout, and organizational deviance. Through case analysis and discussion, you will examine how laws, policies, and legal and professional obligations guide professional judgment and shape how justice leaders translate policy into practice.  [ 4 cr. ]

How do justice leaders know whether a policy or program is actually working? In many criminal justice and community organizations, professionals are expected to use research and data to guide decisions, evaluate programs, and improve outcomes. Develop practical research and evaluation skills used in justice administration and related fields. You will learn how to move through the research and evaluation process—from developing questions to collecting, analyzing, and communicating evidence. The course emphasizes applied research settings, particularly the evaluation of justice policies and programs. You will examine common research designs and the strengths and limitations of different approaches. Topics include sampling, survey design, interviews, participant observation, case studies, and process evaluations. By the end of the course, you will be better prepared to interpret research and use evaluation methods to assess and improve real-world programs and policies.  [ 4 cr. ]

Evidence-based and data-informed approaches are now central to modern criminal justice practice. How can data help you understand crime problems, evaluate programs, and support better policy decisions? Develop practical skills for analyzing and interpreting quantitative data used in justice policy and administration. You will learn how to frame research questions, summarize patterns in data, and draw meaningful conclusions from statistical evidence. The course introduces key analytical tools—including descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and measures of association—and demonstrates how they are used to analyze crime and justice data. Working with real datasets and justice-system contexts, you will build experience conducting analyses and communicating findings clearly to diverse audiences. By the end of the course, you will be able to interpret statistical evidence and “tell the story” behind the numbers.  [ 4 cr. ]

How can justice organizations use data to strengthen performance, accountability, and public trust? Explore how analytical tools support modern management and decision-making across policing, courts, corrections, and community-based organizations. You will examine contemporary performance management approaches and learn how data can be used to assess effectiveness, fairness, transparency, and responsiveness within justice systems. Working with real-world data sources, you will develop skills in identifying meaningful performance measures, organizing and analyzing datasets, and interpreting findings in organizational contexts. By the end of the course, you will be prepared to translate data into clear analytical products—such as reports and dashboards—that inform management decisions and support accountability to both agency leadership and community stakeholders.  [ 4 cr. ]

How do justice leaders turn ideas and policies into real-world initiatives? Explore how criminal justice agencies and community organizations plan, launch, and manage programs designed to address complex public safety problems. You will learn how to conduct structured problem analysis, develop clear goals and objectives, and translate policy ideas into actionable implementation plans. The course focuses on the practical realities of planned change, including organizational resistance, political constraints, and operational challenges that shape whether initiatives succeed or fail. You will also examine strategies for monitoring and assessing new initiatives using performance and evaluation frameworks. By the end of the course, you will be better prepared to design and implement effective policies and programs in justice-system settings.  [ 4 cr. ]

This course examines emergency management from national, state, local, and family perspectives of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. The course encompasses knowledge of the specific agencies, organizations, and individual behaviors in emergency management as well as the interlinking partnerships between/among these groups. Areas of discussion include: responsibilities at federal, state, community and individual levels; guidelines and procedures for operations and compliance such as the National response Plan; Incident Command Systems (ICS); exercises; plan development, command, and control; communication; partnership development and maintenance; leadership; and numerous other elements related to effective emergency management. The unique and critical roles of private and public partnerships are reviewed and particular attention is paid to the interplay and interdependency among national, state, community, business (public and private), and the individual.  [ 4 cr. ]

What does it really take to rebuild a life after prison? For millions of people leaving correctional facilities each year, successful reentry depends on more than serving a sentence—it requires opportunity, support, and systems designed to help people change. Examine the ideas and policies that shape rehabilitation in modern corrections. You will explore competing philosophies of punishment and reform and see how those ideas play out inside prisons and in community programs. Discussions focus on the realities of delivering education, treatment, and other services in correctional settings, the influence of prison culture on personal change, and the tension between security and rehabilitation. Gain insight into how justice systems can better support successful reintegration.  [ 4 cr. ]

How do we understand sexual offending, support survivors, and develop effective responses to sexual harm? Examine sexual deviance and sexual trauma through multiple perspectives, including psychology, sociology, criminal justice, public health, and social justice perspectives. You will explore how laws, cultural norms, and historical activism have shaped society’s responses to sexual violence. The course also examines the treatment of sexual offending, survivor experiences, and the roles played by institutions such as the media, mental health systems, and the criminal justice system. Collaborative group work encourages critical inquiry and practical problem-solving as you apply theory and research to develop informed responses to issues of sexual violence and trauma.  [ 4 cr. ]

Why do some young people engage in delinquency, and how should the justice system respond? Explore the latest research on juvenile delinquency and the complex challenges facing justice-involved youth. Students will critically examine the developmental factors that contribute to youth involvement in risky and delinquent behavior and explore evidence-based strategies to help youth navigate these challenges successfully. We will investigate the unique needs and capacities of justice-involved youth and evaluate how these needs are addressed within the justice system. Students will learn how developmental research has shaped U.S. Supreme Court decisions and influenced legal policies affecting young offenders, and will identify gaps where policy and practice lag behind scientific understanding.  [ 4 cr. ]

Why do individuals and groups commit crimes in digital environments? In this course, you will explore how criminological theory helps explain cybercrime and how these insights inform modern criminal justice responses. Drawing on both micro-level and macro-level theories of crime, you will examine how traditional criminological frameworks are adapted to understand offenses such as online fraud, hacking, and other forms of cyber-enabled crime. Through case studies of real cybercrime incidents, the course explores patterns of offending, victimization, legal responses, and the broader social costs of cybercrime. By the end of the course, you will understand how theory, law, and policy shape strategies for preventing and responding to cybercrime within contemporary justice systems.  [ 4 cr. ]

How do crime analysts turn complex data into insights that guide investigations and crime prevention strategies? Explore the analytical techniques used by contemporary law enforcement and public safety organizations to identify crime patterns, assess emerging problems, and inform operational decisions. You will examine the principles and practices of crime and intelligence analysis, including how analysts collect, interpret, and communicate information that supports investigative, tactical, and strategic decision-making. The course also considers the role of analysts within justice organizations and the legal and policy frameworks that shape their work. Through applied exercises and case-based simulations using real-world data sources, you will develop practical analytical skills used to address common crime problems and support effective public safety strategies.  [ 4 cr. ]

How can cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure be identified, analyzed, and prevented? In this course, you will examine the evolving nature of cyberterrorism and the risks posed to national security, public safety, and critical systems. Drawing on cyber intelligence methods and real-world case studies, the course explores how malicious actors conduct information attacks, target infrastructure systems, and exploit digital technologies to advance extremist or criminal objectives. Working in a laboratory environment, you will analyze cyber incidents, examine attack strategies, and develop defensive and policy responses. By the end of the course, you will understand how cyber intelligence, digital investigation, and security strategies are used to detect, assess, and counter cyber-enabled threats to critical infrastructure.  [ 4 cr. ]

Why do financial crimes continue to evolve as technology advances? Examine economic and corporate crime in today’s digital world, where fraud, corporate misconduct, fintech systems, and cryptocurrency reshape how financial offenses are committed and investigated. You will explore how organizational behavior, regulatory structures, and technological change influence fraud risks and enforcement challenges, while gaining practical insight into how investigators, regulators, and organizations detect, prevent, and respond to financial crime. By the end, you will better understand how financial crime operates in the digital age and how these insights apply to careers in investigation, compliance, and cybersecurity.  [ 4 cr. ]

This course will include a general introduction to the overt as well as underlying ideology, history, reasons and causes of terrorism. Both domestic and international terrorism will be discussed. Domestic hate groups will also receive particular attention. The roles of politics and the media will be discussed. Students will be exposed to the philosophies of terrorists and terrorism. Counter terrorism will also be discussed at length. Students are expected to participate actively in the course. There will be written assignments, a midterm, a class presentation, and a final paper.  [ 4 cr. ]

This course examines the role of gender in both criminal behavior and the societal response to crime. Gender affects criminal behavior, structures our responses to crime, and presents unique challenges for the criminal justice system. While the course examines the role of gender in these ways for both men and women, the course focuses on the limitations of research, policy and practice that has focused traditionally on male offenders. The course also examines the role of gender in criminal justice organizations and processes.   [ 4 cr. ]

How can potential acts of violence be identified and prevented before they occur? Explore the principles and practices of behavioral threat assessment, a structured approach used to identify, evaluate, and manage individuals who may pose a risk of targeted violence. Drawing on insights from criminology, psychology, psychiatry, and law enforcement practice, you will examine how threat assessment teams analyze behavioral indicators, contextual factors, and warning signs associated with potential acts of violence. Through case studies and research on school shootings, targeted violence, domestic violence, and lone-actor terrorism, the course explores how professionals assess risk and develop prevention strategies. The course reflects contemporary practices used by multidisciplinary threat assessment teams working to prevent targeted violence in schools, workplaces, and communities.  [ 4 cr. ]

How is digital evidence recovered and analyzed during cybercrime investigations? In this course, you will develop practical skills for conducting forensic examinations of computers, digital devices, and networks. Working in the Virtual Security Lab, you will learn how investigators identify, preserve, analyze, and document digital evidence related to cybercrime incidents. The course introduces industry-standard digital forensic tools and methods used in criminal investigations and legal proceedings. Through hands-on exercises and case-based scenarios, you will examine digital artifacts, reconstruct events, and prepare forensic documentation suitable for investigative and legal contexts. By the end of the course, you will understand the principles of digital forensic investigation and how digital evidence supports cybercrime enforcement and prosecution.  [ 4 cr. ]

What happens when someone experiences trauma, and how can understanding those impacts help you make a difference in your community? In this course, you will explore the psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of trauma while developing practical trauma‑informed approaches for work in community, mental health, and criminal legal settings. You will examine the science of traumatic stress, the many forms trauma can take across the lifespan, and the ways individuals and communities adapt, cope, and heal. Through case studies, interdisciplinary readings, and real‑world examples, you will analyze crisis response, resilience, and the ethical complexities that arise when supporting people who have experienced harm. Throughout the semester, you will also learn from guests who are actively advancing this work. These voices bring field‑based insight, lived experience, and current practice directly into our conversations. This course equips you with skills for responding to crisis, supporting survivors, reducing vicarious trauma, and contributing to person‑centered trauma‑informed practice across diverse professional settings.  [ 4 cr. ]

What if you could better understand the “why” behind complex human behavior, especially when it brings people into contact with the justice system? Explore how insights from psychology and related behavioral sciences help justice professionals understand and respond to the diverse individuals who interact with policing, courts, corrections, and community-based programs. Examine how trauma, social context, neurodevelopment, and lived experience shape behavior and influence interactions with justice institutions. Through real-world examples, you’ll analyze topics such as risk assessment, victimization, trauma-informed practice, and the behavioral dynamics associated with serious violence. Learn how behavioral evidence and expert analyses inform investigations, court decisions, supervision strategies, and policy debates. The course prepares you to interpret behavioral information critically and apply behavioral science insights to justice-system decision-making and professional practice.  [ 4 cr. ]

How can policing remain effective, legitimate, and accountable within democratic societies? Explore the complex role of policing in democratic systems, where agencies must balance public safety, constitutional authority, community trust, and political accountability. You will examine how policing strategies, organizational practices, and leadership decisions are shaped by law, public expectations, and evidence about what works to reduce crime and improve public safety. Drawing on research, policy analysis, and real-world examples, the course considers contemporary approaches to crime prevention, problem-solving, and police accountability. By the end of the course, you will be better prepared to critically evaluate policing policies and practices and understand the leadership and governance challenges facing modern police organizations.  [ 4 cr. ]

Individual faculty supervision of an independent student project demonstrating application of previous program coursework to a selected topic, issue, or theme in criminal justice. Approval of program director required prior to registration.  [ Var cr. ]