Program Website: Crime, Law, and Justice – Hiram College

Introduction

The crime, law, and justice program strives to prepare students for a variety of careers within the legal system or in services related to criminal justice. Embedded within the context of the liberal arts, students at Hiram will gain skills in oral and written communication, critical thinking, and problem solving. Students will learn the foundations of the legal system in the United States and how social, economic, political, and cultural factors influence our understanding of crime and justice through both theoretical and applied courses.

Examples of careers that crime, law and justice majors may pursue include corrections, juvenile justice, FBI, CIA, probation, parole, investigation, justice and human relations, rehabilitation, victim assistance, court reporting, legal assistance, crisis intervention, policing, public policy, and security.

Some students may choose to combine this major with a pre-law program. Some may choose to use this major as part of the 3+3 BA/JD program. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with a faculty member in the program in order to plan their curriculum accordingly.

Hiram CONNECT 

Hiram CONNECT is satisfied in this major by completing either an Internship through the Career Center, an independent research project, or by taking a Study Abroad course. Students must consult with their program advisor when choosing their connect experience. 

Capstone

In their final year, students will first take a 1-credit hour CRLJ 47900 CAPSTONE PREPARATION class in the fall. There they explore research ethics and different possibilities for engaging in social research. The major then culminates in the spring with CRLJ 48000 SENIOR SEMINAR-CAPSTONE in which they will demonstrate advanced empirical and analytical skills in crime, law, and justice by completing and presenting original research. Crime, Law, and Justice majors must earn a minimum grade of "C" in both courses.

Program Honors

Graduating seniors may receive program honors if they meet all of the following criteria:

  • An overall grade-point average of at least 3.0
  • A program grade-point average of at least 3.5
  • In addition, the student must be recommended by faculty within the crime, law, and justice program for these honors.

Faculty

Laci A Fiala, (2021) Associate Professor of Crime, Law, and Justice; Associate Professor of Sociology
B.S., NW Missouri State University;
M.A., Ph.D., University of Nebraska - Lincoln
fialala@hiram.edu

Course Descriptions

CRLJ 10500:  LAW & SOCIETY:CA:  4 Hour(s)  
ISSUES IN LAW AND SOCIETY:CA ~ This course is an introduction to the American legal system (both civil and criminal law) and its relationship with social institutions. It provides students with knowledge about the connections between justice and society with particular emphasis on the law’s historical origins and its structure and function within society. Several topics such as types of crime, juveniles and criminality, minorities and criminality, and social control are discussed allowing for better understanding of the significant interaction between law and humanity. Crime, Law, and Justice majors must earn a "C" or higher. This course is also listed as SOCI 10500.
Core: Social/Cultural Analysis Meth
CRLJ 20100:  CRIMINOLOGY:  4 Hour(s)  
CRIMINOLOGY ~ This course explores how society defines crime, who gets labeled a “criminal,” and how we punish those who commit crimes. With an emphasis on the societal impact of crime and the many theories on why criminal behavior occurs; students will examine how criminality relates to the world around them. Several topics such as the multiple types of crime, measurement trends/patterns, hate crime, drugs, organized crime and more will be examined in relation to society at large. Crime, Law, and Justice majors must earn a "C" or higher.
CRLJ 20500:  VICTIMOLOGY:  4 Hour(s)  
VICTIMOLOGY ~ Victimology is the scientific study of crime victims and focuses on the physical, emotional, and financial harm victims suffer due to crime. The course emphasizes defining victimology as unique from criminology, applying crime theories to victims, exploring the many ways in which people experience victimization, and how victims interact with police and play a vital role in courts and corrections. Students will analyze both victim experiences and victimization data. The course can help to prepare students in many disciplines, from criminal justice to nursing, to work with victims and understand the complexity of victim issues. This course is also listed as SOCI 20510.
CRLJ 21000:  JUVENILE DELINQUENCY:  4 Hour(s)  
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ~ This course examines juvenile delinquency and the juvenile justice system in the United States. Students will be exposed to the theories that help professionals understand the development of delinquency and its causes as well as the preventative strategies that emanate from those explanations. It also provides an exploration of criminal justice careers and how juveniles interact with police and the law as well as the large variety of correctional and treatment options. With a basis in sociology, this course also looks at how major institutions and inequalities impact delinquency and the lives of youth, including the family, schools, media, class, gender, and race.
CRLJ 28000:  SEM:  4 Hour(s)  
SEMINAR ~
CRLJ 28100:  INDEPENDENT STUDY:  1-4 Hour(s)  
INDEPENDENT STUDY~
CRLJ 29800:  FIELD EXPERIENCE:  1-4 Hour(s)  
FIELD EXPERIENCE ~
CRLJ 36000:  SPORT SECURITY MANAGEMENT:  4 Hour(s)  
SPORT SECURITY MANAGEMENT~ This course will address the nature and scope of sport security and issues involved in securing sport venues and events from domestic and international threats. Motives, methods, and impact of terrorism activity, natural disasters, and crowd management issues in sport will be discussed. This course also includes an examination of the basic legislation and operations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, risk assessment process, security planning options, emergency response and recovery, and staff training and exercises. This course is also listed as SPMT 36000
CRLJ 36700:  DRUG USE AND ABUSE:  3 Hour(s)  
DRUG USE AND ABUSE ~ This course explores current drug issues through psychological, biological, medical, social, historical, and cultural perspectives. This course discusses individual classes of drugs and their effects from the level of the single neuron to the person as a member of society, as well as ethical and legal issues related to substance use and abuse. Students will critically examine primary and secondary literature in the field of neuropsychopharmacology and integrate this information for class discussions and individual and group research.
Prerequisite: PSYC 10100 or SOCI 15500 or CRLJ 10500 or SOCI 10500 or CRLJ 20100
CRLJ 38000:  SEM::  1-4 Hour(s)  
SEMINAR ~
CRLJ 38100:  SPC TPC:  1-4 Hour(s)  
SPECIAL TOPIC ~
CRLJ 45200:  SOCIAL THEORY:  4 Hour(s)  
SOCIAL THEORY ~ This course offers an in-depth exploration of themes that feature prominently within classical and contemporary social theory. Students will gain a reflexive, critical, and applicable understanding of how social theorists have addressed a range of core social scientific themes such as the self/identity, inequality, power, class, race, gender, sexuality, the family, crime and deviance, and social order. These themes are addressed through an engagement with key thinkers from across the globe with an emphasis on the different perspectives used to make sense of such issues and how such theories can be applied to the analysis of contemporary issues. Crime, Law, and Justice majors must earn a "C" or higher. Also listed as SOCI 45200.
Prerequisite: CRLJ 10500
CRLJ 45500:  RESEARCH METHODS:  4 Hour(s)  
RESEARCH METHODS ~ This course studies the multiple types of research and analysis methods used by social scientists to develop and investigate social and criminological issues. It covers the use of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods; exploring issues relating to topics such as research design, data, sampling, analysis, and ethics. Preparation for students’ senior capstone project will also take place in this course. Crime, Law, and Justice majors must earn a "C" or higher. Also listed as SOCI 45500.
Prerequisite: CRLJ 10500
CRLJ 47900:  CAPSTONE PREPARATION:  1 Hour(s)  
CAPSTONE PREPARATION ~ This course reviews core concepts from the Social Science Research Methods course and prepares students to complete their senior-level capstone research project. Students will identify their research topic, complete human subjects research training, if applicable, and initiate the research and planning necessary to complete a high-quality, original project the following semester. *Sociology and Crime, Law, & Justice majors must past this course with at least a C to move on to CRLJ/SOCI 48000 Senior Seminar- Capstone.
Prerequisite: CRLJ 10500 and CRLJ 20100 and SOSC 21000
CRLJ 48000:  SENIOR SEMINAR-CAPSTONE:  4 Hour(s)  
SENIOR SEMINAR - CAPSTONE ~ This course is the senior capstone for all Crime, Law, and Justice majors. Throughout the course, students will be required to pursue independent research, design, and implement their own interdisciplinary project, and present a written report and oral presentation. Frequent, focused meetings with a faculty advisor will help students explore inquiries and develop skills related to their investigation. Crime, Law, and Justice majors must earn a "C" or higher.
Prerequisite: CRLJ 10500 and CRLJ 20100 and CRLJ 45200 and CRLJ 45500
CRLJ 48100:  INDEPENDENT RESEARCH:  1-4 Hour(s)  
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ~
CRLJ 49800:  INTERNSHIP:  4 Hour(s)  
INTERNSHIP ~

Academic Offerings