Skagit Valley College

Catalog Course Search Details

 Course Title:   Criminology

 Title Abbreviation:   CRIMINOLOGY

 Department:    CJ&

 Course #:    112

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5

 CIP:    430103

 EPC:    832

 REV:    2018


 Course Description  

Examines crime, criminal behavior patterns and the law. Explores crime, its context, and especially its causes. Designed to give students a theoretical, as well as practical, knowledge of criminology. Familiarizes students with the sociology of law, causes of crime and the control of crime. Covers basics in criminology theories, patterns and behaviors. Learn socioeconomic and sociocultural influences that have affected crime over the years.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: CJ& 101.

Additional Course Details

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 55

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0


Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Preparatory Required for ATA degree  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Other Institution Equivalencies Table
Institution Course # Remarks
N/A

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Understand the nature and causes of crime and the interactive nature of the criminal justice system.
  2. Understand the evolvement of criminal law. Understand research methods used in the field of criminology.
  3. Develop the ability to analyze statistical data and to read tables.
  4. Understand the relationship of the public and larger society to crime and justice.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

0. Application and Integration

Definition: Applying information from one or more disciplines and/or field experiences in new contexts (Outcome 0.1); developing integrated approaches or responses to personal, academic, professional, and social issues (Outcomes 0.2-0.5).

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
0.2 Identify the strengths and limitations of different fields of study.
0.3 Identify and evaluate the relationships among different perspectives within a field of study and among different fields of study.

1. Information Literacy

Definition: Recognizing when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
1.3 Evaluate information and its sources critically.
1.4 Evaluate issues (for example economic, legal, historic, social) surrounding the use of information.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.1 Identify and express concepts, terms, and facts related to a specific discipline.
2.2 Analyze issues and develop questions within a discipline.
2.6 Recognize how the value and biases in different disciplines can affect the ways in which data is analyzed.

3. Communication

Definition: Understanding and producing effective written, spoken, visual, and non-verbal communication.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
3.1 Recognize, read, and comprehend academic and/or professional writing.
3.4 Produce academic and/or professional writing and integrate it into written and spoken projects.

4. Community & Cultural Diversity

Definition: Recognizing the value of human communities and cultures from multiple perspectives through a critical understanding of their similarities and differences.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
4.3 Understand the historically and socially constructed nature of—and the meanings attributed to—human differences.

5. Global & Local Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding the complexity and interdependence of, and stewardship responsibilities to, local and global communities and environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
5.2 Identify diverse communities and their shared/competing interests and develop strategies for prevention and resolution of conflict.

Course Contents

  1. Introduction to Criminological Theory. Deterrence and Rational Choice Theories.
  2. Biological and Biosocial Theories. Psychological Theories.
  3. Social Learning Theory. Social Bonding and Control Theories.
  4. Labeling and Reintegrative Shaming Theory. Social Disorganization Theory.
  5. Anomie and Strain Theories. Conflict Theory.
  6. Marxist Theories. Radical and Critical Theories.
  7. Feminist Theories. Developmental and Life-Course Theories.
  8. Integrating Criminological Theories.