Graduate Studies Reports Access

Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - ANG6746
Tracking Number - 5067

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Current Status: Approved by SCNS - 2015-02-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: for csi cert - required. GC reviewed. Obj need revision. Emailed 12/12/14. Updated 12/15. Appd.; Cleared USF Sys Conc 12/23; to SCNS 1/6/15. Nmbr 6520 Apprd as 6746. Effective 2/1/15


Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2014-09-18
  2. Department: Anthropology
  3. College: AS
  4. Budget Account Number: N/A
  5. Contact Person: Erin Kimmerle
  6. Phone: 8139745139
  7. Email: kimmerle@usf.edu
  8. Prefix: ANG
  9. Number: 6746
  10. Full Title: Investigation of Violent Crimes Against Children
  11. Credit Hours: 3
  12. Section Type: O - Other
  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): Crimes Against Children
  19. Course Online?: O - Online (100% online)
  20. Percentage Online: 0
  21. Grading Option: R - Regular
  22. Prerequisites: N/A
  23. Corequisites: N/A
  24. Course Description: Advanced instruction for students to help them to understand the definitions of various forms and aspects of neglect, abuse, exploitation, abduction, and murder involving child victims.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed for new program/concentration/certificate
  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? This course is part of a new USF graduate certificate program, Crime Scene Investigations for Violation Crimes. The program is designed for advanced professional and graduate student development in the areas of crime scene reconstructions, investigations, and applied science methods and tools for violent crimes including human trafficking, criminal homicide and cold case investigations, exploited children, and missing and unidentified persons.

    The new tools and technological advancements through modern forensic science are changing investigations in practice. There is a strong need for in-depth focused programs that offer professional development and advanced technical training for a wide range of jobs within the medico-legal and security sectors. Moreover, many agencies are adopting a promotional model based on advanced training and education and therefore there is an increased need for leadership and command training in these areas. The topics in the certificate draw on the strengths of our existing program and the technical training and services offered through the USF Forensics Anthropology Laboratory and the USF forensics network.

  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.) A qualified instructor should have earned a doctorate or terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline, which for the forensic sciences is a M.A.; M.Sc.; J.D.; M.Pharm.; or M.B.A. Additionally, the ideal candidate will also have at least 5 years of experience with criminal investigations or violent crimes.
  29. Objectives: 1) Students will learn about current law enforcement investigative techniques, interview techniques, legal strategies, and forensic methods for investigations into violent crimes against children.

    2) Understand the different roles among Child Protective different and Law Enforcement Investigators and how forensic science is used by each.

    3) Analyze how collaboration among law enforcement, child protective investigators, academics, scientists, anthropologists, advocacy groups, medical professionals, and non-governmental organization workers at the local and state levels collaborate and synthesize their methods and outcomes.

    4) Analyze cases where media either hinders or assists in investigations of crimes against children.

    5) Examine how current research and innovative forensic tools integrate with investigations into child abuse, neglect, abduction and homicide.

  30. Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will have a sound basis of knowledge regarding crime scene investigations involving child victims. Students will be able to:

    • Define the different types of abuse, neglect, and exploitation involving children victims.

    • Summarize Law Enforcement procedures for crimes against children.

    • Describe the investigative process for violent crimes against children.

    • Describe how to interview children and parents.

    • Describe techniques for interviewing and confronting a suspect.

    • Describe how different organizations can collaborate on crimes against children investigations to create a multi-disciplinary approach.

    • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher

  31. Major Topics: * Exploitation of Children on the Internet

    * Interviewing Strategies

    * Domestic Violence and the Impact on Child Victims

    * Juvenile Sex Crimes, Prostitution and Human Trafficking

    * International Perspectives

  32. Textbooks: Poole D and Lamb ME. 1998. Investigative Interviews of Children / Edition 1. Published by the American Psychological Association.

    Winterdyk JA. 2014. Juvenile Justice: International Perspectives, Models and Trends. CRC Press.

    Hazelwood R and Burgess AW. 2008. Practical Aspects of Rape Investigation: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Fourth Edition. CRC Press.

    Dowd NE, Singer DG, and Wilson RF. 2007. Handbook of Children, Culture, and Violence.Sage Publications.

    Fantuzzo J, and Fusco R. 2007. Children’s direct exposure to Types of Domestic Violent Crime. GSE Publications.

  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: Sher J. 2011. Somebody’s Daughter: The Hidden Story of America’s Prostituted Children and the Battle to Save them. Chicago Press.

    NCMEC: Missing and Abducted Children: A Law-Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and Program Management, 2006 (online).

  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: GRADES:

    There will be a possible 500 points that you can earn during the course of the semester. Final grades are based on the following:

    Exam 1 100 pts 20%

    Exam 2 100 pts 20%

    Research Paper 100 pts 20%

    5 Discussion Questions (20 points each) 100 pts 20%

    5 Reading Syntheses Papers (20 points each) 100 pts 20%

    Total 500 points 100%

    Final grades can be calculated by dividing total points accumulated by total points available. The letter grades are assigned based on the scale below:

    A+ (100%), A (99-95%), A- (90-94%), B+ (86-89%), B (85%), B- (80-84%), C+ (76-79%), C (75%), C- (70-74%), D+ (66-69%), D (65%), D- (60-64%), F (< 60%)

  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests: Exams:

    There will be two online exams throughout the semester. Each exam will consist of a combination of 50 multiple choice and true/false questions. Each question will be worth two points, for a maximum of 100 points for each exam. You will have 50 minutes to complete each exam. The exams will cover the required readings from the textbook, lectures, and discussion material. Exams will not be cumulative. Exam grades will be posted on Canvas as soon as they are available. Students who would like to review exam grades will have the opportunity to do so by appointment. You will be able to take the exams from Thursday at 5 pm until Saturday at 5 pm, the week of exams. No exceptions.

    Remember although you are completing exams electronically, these examinations are not designed to be open note or open book. You are expected to have full knowledge of the material as if you were sitting for a live exam. There will be a timer in place and you will have 50 minutes to complete the exam (1 minute per question). Exceeding the 50 minutes will result in the deduction of one point per minute or any portion thereof over the allotted time (e.g., if you go over by 1 minute 20 seconds, you will lose two points). A 30 second grace period will be provided to allow for slow submissions and high traffic on the system. Exams must be completed in one session; you must finish the exam 50 minutes from the time started.

    Being Locked Out of an Exam: During tests, please make sure you use a reliable connection, as the test will not be reset. You will not be able to backtrack your questions. Failure to use a computer with a high-speed connection is not an excuse for failure to complete an exam on time. If you experience technical problems taking the test and experience a system “lock out” you must notify the instructor immediately and the exam will be reset. If you fail to contact the instructor within the Thursday 5pm to Saturday 5pm window, no resets for exams will be given. Taking take the exam no later than the 12 hours from the due date will allow for ample time to contact the instructor if something happens.

    Please note, your grade in this course is largely based on your performance on timed, objective assessments. If you do not do well on these types of exams, it is suggested that you choose another course. No alternative assignments will be given for those that do not perform well on these types of assignments.

    Research Paper:

    This is a graduate level course. Original research is very important. The topics are wide open, but students must get prior topic approval from the instructor prior to beginning research. More details about the format and specific expectations for the paper will be available online. Students should plan for a 10-15 page paper, with full citations, using journal articles and book chapters relevant to their topic. Depending on the topic, other research methods may be used such as case study reviews, interviews, or retrospective analyses.

    Participation and Class Discussion:

    Five discussion questions will be distributed throughout the course. Discussion questions will require students to respond in at least 500 words, and also provide a follow up response to another student in at least 300 words. All students are expected to be critical consumers of information and add to the discussion boards. Issues related to juveniles and victimization can be controversial at times. Therefore, viewpoints MUST be discussed in a professional, academic, and non-judgmental manner. Disrespectful students will be addressed accordingly.

    Reading Synthesis Papers:

    A synthesis paper of the readings assigned for the week will be written and turned in as assigned. The paper should be 1-2 pages, single spaced, and should briefly summarize and relate all readings for the week. The papers should also provide some discussion of the topic and the student’s reaction to the information provided in the readings.

  36. Attendance Policy: Attendance:

    Attendance and participation will be evaluated by discussion forums and assignments posted on Canvas. No make ups will be permitted for missed assignments (except as dictated by documented circumstances or emergencies, prior arrangements cleared through the instructor or situations as outlined below). Assignments and projects are given as the schedule dictates. These assignments and projects count for participation points towards the overall grade for this course. Assignments will be posted by Monday of each week.

    Absences due to Religious Observances:

    Students are expected to notify their instructors at the beginning of each academic term if they intend to be absent for a scheduled class forum, examination, or announced assignment. Students absent for religious reasons, as noticed to the instructor at the beginning of each academic term, will be given reasonable opportunities to make up any work missed. For further information, please refer to:

    http://generalcounsel.usf.edu/policies-and-procedures/pdfs/policy-10-045.pdf

    Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). 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)

    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: Makeup Exams and Late Work:

    Any problem a student incurs must be brought to the attention of the instructor as soon as possible. Makeup exams will be given only if a student provides sufficient proof of a legitimate medical problem or other emergency. Late assignments will only be accepted if a student provides a legitimate, written excuse. In such cases, late work will be penalized one letter grade or the equivalent for each day that it is late.

    Extra Credit:

    There will be NO EXTRA CREDIT opportunities given. This policy is in the interest of fairness to all students and class members who dedicate their complete efforts to this course and attend class on a regular basis.

  38. Program This Course Supports: Crime Scene Investigations for Violent Crimes Graduate Certificate
  39. Course Concurrence Information: N/A


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