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Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - CCJ7606
Tracking Number - 2735

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Current Status: Approved by SCNS - 2015-01-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: For PhD in Crim. Approved 3/4/14. To USF Sys 3/19. to SCNS 3/27/14. #7011 appd as 7606 eff 1/1/15


Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2012-02-02
  2. Department: Criminology
  3. College: BC
  4. Budget Account Number: 122100000
  5. Contact Person: Elizabeth Cass
  6. Phone: 8139746862
  7. Email: ecass@usf.edu
  8. Prefix: CCJ
  9. Number: 7606
  10. Full Title: Theories of Criminal Behavior II
  11. Credit Hours: 3
  12. Section Type: C - Class Lecture (Primarily)
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: N
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: N
  16. Is this course repeatable?: N
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Theories of Crime II
  19. Course Online?: C - Face-to-face (0% online)
  20. Percentage Online: 100
  21. Grading Option: R - Regular
  22. Prerequisites: CCJ 7010
  23. Corequisites:
  24. Course Description: Theoretical Approaches to Criminal Behavior II is an advanced course that builds upon the knowledge base of criminological theory attained in CCJ7010 (Theories of Criminal Behavior I). Permit required for non-criminology students.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed to compete with national trends
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? Justification: This course is being added in the context of a complete revision of the Department of Criminology graduate curriculum. The purposes of the revision are to ensure that the curriculum (a) is updated to reflect current themes/emphases in the discipline, (b) provides students with a well-rounded graduate education, (c) reflects the identity of the USF Department of Criminology and thereby the strengths/expertise of the faculty, and (d) improves outcomes on doctorate comprehensive exams. Adding this course will help us achieve these objectives. With the new curriculum, we seek to provide our students with a more in-depth coverage of the theories of criminal behavior. This course will build on the basic course, providing the graduate students with a more in depth education on this very important aspect of our field.
  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? No
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) Earned doctorate/terminal degree in Criminology or a related discipline.
  29. Objectives: • learn about the origins and development of a full range of criminological theories via primary source material;

    • demonstrate how to systematically examine, summarize, and critically appraise current theories and extant research testing these theories;

    • consider the implications of this body of theory and research for public policy.

  30. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, students will be able to:

    • trace the history of major schools of criminological theory;

    • demonstrate in-depth understanding of the major paradigms of criminological thought;

    • display advanced critical evaluation skills with respect to empirical research;

    • prepare a publication-quality manuscript;

    • refine writing and oral presentation skills in preparation for the thesis, comprehensive exams, and/or dissertation.

  31. Major Topics: Structural Strain Theory

    General Strain Theory

    Crime as a learned behavior

    Subcultural explanations of crime

    Labeling and societal reactions to crime

    Developmental and life course approaches to crime

    Marxist criminology

    Power-control theory

    Green criminology and corporate crime

    Gender and Crime

    Race and Crime

    Theory development, integration and elaboration

    Linkage to Policy

  32. Textbooks: Kurbrin, C., T. Stuckey, and M. Krohn (2009) Researching Theories of Crime and Deviance. Oxford University Press. Chapters 5-11.

    Lynch, M. and R. Michalowski (2006) The New Primer in Radical Criminology: Critical Perspectives of

    Crime, Power and Identity. 4th (ed.) Criminal Justice Press.

    Sampson, R.J., and Laub, J.H. (1993) Crime in the Making: Pathways and Turning Points Through Life. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: Agnew, R. (1992) “Foundation for a General Strain Theory of Crime and Delinquency” Criminology, 30: 47-87.

    Agnew, R. (2012) “Reflection on “A Revised Strain Theory of Delinquency” Social Forces 91(1) 33–38,

    Barnes, J.C. K. Beaver and B. Boutwell (2011) “Examining the genetic underpinnings to Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy: A behavioral genetic analysis.” Criminology, 49 (43) 67-88.

    Beckett, K., Nyrop, K., & Pfingst, L. (2006). Race, drugs, and policing: Understanding disparities in

    drug delivery arrests. Criminology, 44, 105-137.

    Chamlin, M. and J. Cochran (2007) “An Evaluation of the Assumptions that Underlie Anomie Theory” Theoretical Criminology, 11(1): 31-61.

    Farnworth, M. and M. Leiber (1989) “Merton Revisited: Economic Goals, Educational Means, and Delinquency” American Sociological Review 54(2): 263-274.

    Farnworth, M (1989) “Theory Integration versus Model Building” in Theoretical Integration in the Study of Deviance and Crime, Problems and Prospects. Eds. Messner, Krohn and Liska. Chapter 6.

    Hagan, J., J. Simpson, and R. Gillis (1987) “Class in the Household’ A Power-Control Theory of Gender and Delinquency” American Journal of Sociology 92: 788-816.

    Krohn, M. (1999) “Social Learning Theory: The Continuing Development of a Perspective.” Theoretical Criminology 3: 462-476.

    Meldrum, R. and C. Hay (2012) “Do Peers Matter in the Development of Self-Control? Evidence from a Longitudinal Study of Youth” J Youth Adolescence 41:691–703

    Merton, R. (1938) “Social Structure and Anomie” American Sociological Review 3: 672-682. Can also be found in Merton, R. (1957) Social Theory and Social Structure.

    Messner, S. and M. Krohn (1990) “Class, Compliance Structure and Delinquency: Assessing Integrated Structural – Marxist Theory” American Journal of Sociology 96 (2): 300-328.

    McGloin, J., C. Schreck, E. Stewart, and G. Ousey, (2011) “Predicting The Violent Offender: The Discriminant Validity of the Subculture of Violence” Criminology 49, 776.

    Moffitt, T. (1993) “Life-Course-Persistent and Adolescence-Limited Antisocial Behavior: Developmental Taxonomy” Psychological Review 100: 674-701.

    Paternoster, R. and L. Iovanni (1989) “The Labeling Perspective and Delinquency: An Elaboration of the Theory and Assessment of the Evidence” Justice Quarterly 6: 359-394.

    Sampson, R. (2002) “Transcending Tradition: New Directions in Community Research, Chicago Style” Criminology, 40(2): 213-230.

    Sampson, R. and W. Wilson (1995) “Toward a Theory of Race, Crime and Urban Inequality” pgs. 37-54 in Crime and Inequality. Ed. J. Hagan and R. Peterson. Stanford University Press.

    Schaible, L. and L. Hughes (2011) “Crime, shame, reintegration, and cross-national homicide: A partial test of reintegrative shaming theory” The Sociological Quarterly 52 104–131.

    Smangs, M. (2010) “Delinquency, Social Skills and the Structure of Peer Relations: Assessing Criminological Theories by Social Network Theory” Social Forces: 89(2) 609–632.

    Steffemsmeir, S and E. Alan (1996) “GENDER AND CRIME: Toward a Gendered Theory of Female Offending” Annual. Rev. Sociol. . 22:459–87

    Stewart, Eric A. and Simons, Ronald L.(2006) 'Structure and Culture in African American Adolescent Violence: A Partial Test of the “Code of the Street” Thesis', Justice Quarterly, 23: 1, 1 — 33

    Wiley, S. and F. Esbensen (forthcoming) “The Effect of Police Contact: Does Official Intervention Result in Deviance Amplification?”Crime & Delinquency, doi:10.1177/0011128713492496.

  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: Summary of Grading:

    Two in-house exams = each worth 25% for a total of 50% of your final grade

    One paper and presentation = 30% = 20-25 pages in length

    Two Talk write ups = 20% (10% each)

    Grading Scale

    A 90-100

    A- 89-89.9

    B+ 88-88.9

    B 80-87.9

    B- 79-79.9

    C+ 78-78.9

    C 68-77.9

    C- 67-67.9

    D+ 66-66.9

    D 61-65.9

    D- 60-60.9

    F 59 or less

  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests: EXAMS (2@25%)

    There are two in-class exams. Tests will consist of an essay(s). You will receive essay questions one week before the exam date. The essay will be graded in terms of substance – the use of analytical/critical thinking, organization, and presentation (writing). No outside material, only the class discussion, readings and articles should be incorporated into the essay. Mores specifics on the exam will be given in class. For doctoral students, each exam is worth 25 percent of your final grade.

    During the administration of each examination, no late exams will be handed out after the first exam has been completed.

    PAPER (20%)

    Students will be responsible for a 20-25 page paper that centers on a theory. A minimum of 20 sources need to be used and not more than a reliance on 5 books. The paper should discuss origin and development of a criminological theory. Within the historical presentation there needs to be a critical evaluation of the perspective that includes strengths and weaknesses of the theoretical development and empirical research and links to policy. More specifics on the paper and other requirements will be given in a separate document. This exercise is worth 30 percent of your final grade. A theory to be covered must be chosen from topics discussed in class during the semester.

    PRESENTATION (10%)

    Students will be responsible for a presentation. The presentation will be based off your written paper. A grading rubric will be provided in class. The presentation is should last 15 minutes.

    ATTENDING TALKS (20%)

    A final requirement for students involves attending and reporting on two talks on campus (e.g., a masters or dissertation defense, faculty brown bag, faculty recruitment, guest speaker on campus, etc.). Each one should be 2-3 pages and contain what theory is applicable or discussed and what the talk was about. More specifics will be discussed in class. Each exercise is worth 10 percent for a total of 20 percent of your final grade.

  36. Attendance Policy: Attendance is encouraged.

    Course Attendance at First Class Meeting is mandatory. Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101, http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)

    Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)

    Students are expected to notify their instructors at the beginning of each academic term if they intend to be absent for a class or announced examination, in accordance with this policy.

    In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.

  37. Policy on Make-up Work: No make-up work is allowed. No incomplete grades will be given.

    The field of criminal justice is based upon the integrity of those people working in it. It is assumed that students taking this class will live up to the highest levels of academic honesty. If the instructor has reason to believe a student is cheating or being academically dishonest in any way, proceedings may be instituted to have the student dismissed from the program and/or the University. An F received as a result of academic dishonesty automatically eliminates you from the major. If you receive an F in a criminology course which was as a result of academic dishonesty you may not repeat this course.

    Any form of cheating on examinations or plagiarism on assigned papers constitutes unacceptable deceit and dishonesty. Disruption of the classroom or teaching environment is unacceptable. Selected examples from the USF policies and procedures regarding academic dishonesty or disruption of academic process are included in this syllabus. Students are responsible for adherence to all USF policies and procedures even if they are not specifically printed in this syllabus. The complete set of policies and procedures may be found at:

    * Procedures for Alleged Academic Integrity: http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/1213/pdf/AcademicIntegrityOfStudents.pdf

    * Procedures for Disruption of the Academic Process: http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/1213/pdf/DisruptionOfAcademicProcess.pdf

    * Student Academic Grievance Procedures -- http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/1213/pdf/StudentAcademicGrievanceProcedures.pdf

  38. Program This Course Supports: CRIMINOLOGY PHD
  39. Course Concurrence Information: NONE


- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.