SO 265 - Crime in Society

Description
This course is designed to acquaint students with the nature of crime in our society and includes an overview of the basic concepts, theories and research essentials for analysis of crime in society. Concepts of crime, law and criminology, theories of crime causation, crime typologies, and the criminal justice system are covered. This course provides the tools for understanding the impact of crime and the criminal justice system on one’s life from both interpersonal and global perspectives with regard to considerations such as race, gender, class religion, etc.

Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: None
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corequisite(s): None
Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: Yes
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
Programs Where This Course is a Requirement:
None

General Education Requirement:
None
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
NA
Course Learning Outcomes:

Understand the sociological imagination and demonstrate competency in manipulating data and social situations into this form.
Demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to use and apply theory to social data as it relates to crime and the criminal justice system.
Demonstrate competency using the basic elements of sociological research as it relates to crime and the criminal justice system.
Use sociological concepts to interpret crime and the criminal justice system.
Use high-quality, credible, relevant sources to support writing.
Create a written summary of the main ideas extracted from information gathered.
Identify quality sources for data and information pertinent to a problem or issue being examined.
Create and/or organize data and information into meaningful patterns in order to interpret and draw inferences from it.
Complete work accurately, with attention to detail.

Course Outline:
I. What is Criminology?

II. Where Do Theories Come From?

III. Classical and Neoclassical Thought

IV. Biological Roots of Criminal Behavior

V. Psychological and Psychiatric Foundations of Criminal Behavior

VI. Social Structure Theories

VII. Theories of Social Process and Social Development

VIII. Social Conflict Theories

IX. Crimes Against Persons

X. Crimes Against Property

XI. White-Collar and Organized Crime

XII. Public Order and Drug Crime

XIII. Technology and Crime

XIV. Globalization and Terrorism

Approved for Online and Hybrid Delivery?:
Yes
Instructional Strategies:
Lecture: 50-80%

Self-pace readings: 10-30%

Self-paced Assignments: 10-30%

Discussion Board: 0-30%

Critical thinking activities: 0-30%
Mandatory Course Components:
None
Equivalent Courses:
None

Accepted GRCC Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Credit: None
AP Min. Score: None
Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: None

Course prepares students to seek the following external certification:
No
Course-Specific Placement Test: None
Mandatory Department Assessment Measures:
None

Course Type:
Elective- Offering designed to expand learning opportunities for degree seeking students. May or may not be required for students in a specific GRCC program.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 3
People Soft Course ID Number: 101221
Course CIP Code: 45.11
Maximum Course Enrollment: 36
General Room Request: None

High School Articulation Agreements exist?: No
If yes, with which high schools?: None
Non-Credit GRCC Articulation Agreement With What Area: No
Identify the Non Credit Programs this Course is Accepted: NA

School: School of Liberal Arts
Department: Social Sciences
Discipline: SO
Faculty Credential Requirements:
18 graduate credit hours in discipline being taught (HLC Requirement), Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement), Other (list below)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details:
The Professor should possess a Master’s Degree/Ph.D. in Sociology. Also, the Professor should have some training and experience in Community College teaching and online/lecture course delivery.

Last Revision Date Effective: 2017-03-03 17:05:30
Course Review & Revision Year: 2025-2026