Registration for the Spring 2026 semester begins on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 and runs through Friday, November 14, 2025. Please check your PAWS account to determine your registration appointment. It is imperative that you register for classes at your designated time. If you need assistance enrolling, review the Step-by-step Guide to College Scheduler. The course lists for Winter, Spring and Summer 2026 are shown below. Classes marked with an asterisk have a topic and are listed below the course list.
Spring 2026 Course List
| Course | Course Name | Day | Time | Room | Professor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRI 100 01 | Introduction to Criminology | M | 5:30 PM - 8:20 PM | SOCI 328 | |
| CRI 100 02 | Introduction to Criminology | W | 5:30 PM - 8:20 PM | SOCI 328 | |
| CRI 170 01 | Topics in Criminology* (first quarter course, meets until 3/13/26) | M-TH | 11:00 AM - 12:20 PM | BLIS 153 | Ortiz,Jennifer |
| CRI 200 01 | Policing Civil Societies | T-F | 2:00 PM - 3:20 PM | SOCI 326 | Brey,Jesse |
| CRI 200 02 | Policing Civil Societies | T-F | 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM | SOCI 326 | Brey,Jesse |
| CRI 201 01 | Judicature | M-TH | 9:30 AM - 10:50 AM | SOCI 326 | Leigey,Margaret |
| CRI 201 02 | Judicature | M-TH | 11:00 AM - 12:20 PM | SOCI 326 | Leigey,Margaret |
| CRI 205 01 | Criminology | T-F | 9:30 AM - 10:50 AM | SOCI 328 | Brey,Jesse |
| CRI 205 02 | Criminology | T-F | 11:00 AM - 12:20 PM | SOCI 328 | Brey,Jesse |
| CRI 210 01 | Principles of Forensic Science | W | 5:30 PM - 8:20 PM | SOCI 323 | |
| CRI 301 01 | Criminal Law and Procedure | M-TH | 9:30 AM - 10:50 AM | SOCI 328 | Cain,Chelsey |
| CRI 301 02 | Criminal Law and Procedure | M-TH | 11:00 AM - 12:20 PM | SOCI 328 | Cain,Chelsey |
| CRI 306 01 | Research Methods (includes a required lab on Tuesdays, 12:30 PM to 1:50 PM) |
T-F | 9:30 AM - 10:50 AM | SOCI 326 | Holleran,David |
| CRI 306 02 | Research Methods (includes a required lab on Fridays, 12:30 PM to 1:50 PM) |
T-F | 11:00 AM - 12:20 PM | SOCI 326 | Holleran,David |
| CRI 307 01 | Substance Use, Addiction, & the Criminal Justice System | M-TH | 2:00 PM - 3:20 PM | SOCI 326 | Cain,Chelsey |
| CRI 307 02 | Substance Use, Addiction, & the Criminal Justice System | M-TH | 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM | SOCI 326 | Cain,Chelsey |
| CRI 317 01 | Introduction to Crime Mapping | T-F | 11:00 AM - 12:20 PM | SOCI 021 | Mazeika,David |
| CRI 370 01 | Special Topics in Criminology* | M-TH | 12:30 PM - 1:50 PM | SOCI 326 | Leigey,Margaret |
| CRI 370 02 | Special Topics in Criminology* | T-F | 2:00 PM - 3:20 PM | SOCI 328 | Mitchell,Michael |
| CRI 370 03 | Special Topics in Criminology* | T-F | 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM | SOCI 328 | Mitchell,Michael |
| CRI 499 01 | Senior Capstone Policy Analysis | M-TH | 2:00 PM - 3:20 PM | Ortiz,Jennifer | |
| CRI 499 02 | Senior Capstone Policy Analysis | M-TH | 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM | Ortiz,Jennifer | |
| CRI 499 03 | Senior Capstone Policy Analysis | T | 5:30 PM - 8:20 PM | Mitchell,Michael |
Spring 2026 Special Topics
CRI 170-01: Careers in Criminology
Dr. Jennifer Ortiz
CRI 370-01: Environmental Law and Justice
Dr. Margaret Leigey
This course provides an exploration of environmental law in the United States, including the historical, social, and political factors that shape it and its impacts. Key statues and regulations pertaining to air, water, land, toxic substances and materials, energy, and climate change will be analyzed, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. Together, we will explore the roles of courts, governmental agencies, and international treaties in the development and operation of environmental law. Additionally, we will examine questions of environmental justice to determine if existing laws protect individuals and groups most impacted by and vulnerable to environmental harms and offer recommendations to strengthen environmental protections.
CRI 370-02 & 03: Qualitative Research
Dr. Michael Mitchell
This course examines qualitative modes of inquiry in the social sciences. Qualitative research is a scientific method that seeks an in-depth understanding of social phenomena through a process that relies on the direct experiences of human beings as agents of meaning-making. Through course materials and hands-on experiences, students will become familiar with the foundational understandings, historical developments, and methodological designs of qualitative research. Students will gain an understanding of the essential skills and techniques necessary to critically design, implement, and analyze qualitative research projects.
Winter 2026 Course List (12/22/2025 to 1/25/2026)
| Course | Title | Mode | Professor |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRI 100 01 | INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY | ASYNCHRONOUS | Becker,Patricia |
| CRI 205 01 | CRIMINOLOGY | ASYNCHRONOUS | Mazeika,David |
| CRI 351 01 | COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY | ASYNCHRONOUS | Leigey,Margaret |
| CRI 352 01 | ADVANCED CRIMINOLOGY: RACE AND CRIME | ASYNCHRONOUS | Mitchell,Michael |
| CRI 370 01 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN CRIMINOLOGY* | ASYNCHRONOUS | Ortiz,Jennifer |
* INEQUALITY IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM: This course will explore how structural inequality within the criminal legal system affects how people are treated when processed through the system. We will analyze structural inequality through an intersectional lens that explores the combined impact of class, race, indigeneity, gender, sexuality, and disability within the criminal legal system and society.
Summer 2026 Course List
| Course | Title | Mode | Start Date | End Date | Summer Session | Professor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRI 201 101 | JUDICATURE | ASYNCHRONOUS | 5/26/2026 | 6/12/2026 | MIN | Leigey,Margaret |
| CRI 205 101 | CRIMINOLOGY | ASYNCHRONOUS | 5/26/2026 | 6/12/2026 | MIN | Mazeika,David |
| CRI 256 301 | GENDER & THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM | ASYNCHRONOUS | 7/20/2026 | 8/20/2026 | B | Becker,Patricia |
| CRI 302 201 | WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS | ASYNCHRONOUS | 6/15/2026 | 7/16/2026 | A | Ortiz,Jennifer |
| CRI 352 101 | ADVANCED CRIMINOLOGY: RACE AND CRIME | ASYNCHRONOUS | 5/26/2026 | 6/12/2026 | MIN | Mitchell,Michael |
Course Descriptions
Spring 2026 Courses
CRI 100/Introduction to Criminology
Students will explore the historic need in societies to shape and control the behavior of their members so that they conform to established group norms. The course will examine the complex interaction between factors such as culture, law, power and equity that contribute to the maintenance of social order. It will address the development of legal systems from the social science perspectives; investigate the nature of normative social control (sociological theory relative to conformity, conflict and power); and explore, in both a historical and contemporary vein, the development and maturation of formal justice systems (enforcement, adjudication and corrections) which act coercively against rule violators.
CRI 200/Policing Civil Societies
Traces the development of modern-day policing in civil societies from the 18th century through modern times. At the core of this course is the study of the interplay between citizens and the police. It is at this juncture, where citizens and the police interact, that misunderstandings develop, relationships are formed, problems are solved and future plans are designed. This course also considers the problems that police face due to misunderstandings of their role including corruption and other forms of deviance. Moreover, the course considers theories of modern police practice and reform efforts as well as the development and construction of police ethics.
CRI 201/Judicature
This course will explore the history of American jurisprudence by critically examining the history of courts, the rule of law and the social contract. Court systems at the federal, state, and local levels will be examined. Indeterminate and determinate sentencing models will be examined. Students will learn how a case progresses through the court system and how the courtroom workgroup operates. Finally, students will learn how to research seminal United States Supreme Court cases.
CRI 205/Criminology
This course provides a general introduction to the study of criminal behavior from an interdisciplinary perspective. The history of criminology as a discipline will be examined. Criminological theories of crime and criminality from classical theories to modern developmental theories will be carefully examined. Students will learn to review and interpret various data sources from the Uniform Crime Reports, the National Crime Victimization Survey, and self-reports.
CRI 210/Principles of Forensic Science
An overview of the process of criminal investigations and the scientific and technical methods used to analyze evidence. The focus is on recognition, collection, preservation and analysis of physical evidence. Students will be presented with various criminalistic techniques utilized in the analysis of evidence from a non-science major perspective with the presumption that students do not have technical backgrounds (i.e., chemistry, biology and/or physics).
CRI 301/Criminal Law and Procedure
This course examines the nature, purpose, and function, and substance of criminal law and criminal procedure in the United States. Specific focus is placed on the constitutional limits of the criminal sanction, the principles and scope of criminal responsibility, and elements of an offense. Attention will also be paid to the rights of the accused and the application of protections afforded to individuals under the United States Constitution.
CRI 306/Research Methods
This course focuses on principles of research methodology in the social sciences. Elements of research design including unit(s) of analysis, measurement, sampling, survey construction, survey methodology, and data collection will be covered. Pre-experimental, quasi-experimental, and experimental designs are evaluated with respect to structure, implementation, and threats to validity. Finally, students will be expected to critically evaluate published social science research in peer-reviewed journals.
CRI 307/Substance Abuse, Addiction, and the Criminal Justice System
This course covers the span of substance use and the populations and communities it impacts on a micro and macro level. Profiles of individuals who struggle with addiction will be studied as well as the influence it has on loved ones. Individuals who struggle with substance use and addiction compile a large portion of the incarcerated population and these challenges will be explored. Subtopics will include how substance use and addiction intersect with mental health, vulnerable populations, and the treatments, new policies, and reforms that are being implemented.
CRI 317/ Introduction to Crime Mapping
Prerequisite: CRI 306
This course introduces students to the theoretical and practical aspects of the geospatial analysis of crime. Using a lab instructional setting, students will learn to manage, transform, analyze, and interpret geospatial data in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to guide juvenile and criminal justice decision-making. Geospatial data are used to identify and propose solutions to common problems facing the justice system such recidivism, truancy, and strained police-community relations.
CRI 499/Senior Capstone in Policy Analysis
Prerequisite: CRI 306
This course will provide the student with the ability to critically examine, assess and analyze criminal justice policy alternatives. Students will be expected to formulate policy options and craft policy proposals that present a thoughtful, cogent and reasoned rationale for the option being recommended. Students will learn the tools to persuasively present policy proposals. Various sentencing policy changes that have affected correctional populations in the United States such as drug policies will be explored. Finally, students will learn how to conduct cost-benefit analyses and return on investment calculations.
Winter 2026 Courses
CRI 100/Introduction to Criminology
Students will explore the historic need in societies to shape and control the behavior of their members so that they conform to established group norms. The course will examine the complex interaction between factors such as culture, law, power and equity that contribute to the maintenance of social order. It will address the development of legal systems from the social science perspectives; investigate the nature of normative social control (sociological theory relative to conformity, conflict and power); and explore, in both a historical and contemporary vein, the development and maturation of formal justice systems (enforcement, adjudication and corrections) which act coercively against rule violators.
CRI 205/Criminology
This course provides a general introduction to the study of criminal behavior from an interdisciplinary perspective. The history of criminology as a discipline will be examined. Criminological theories of crime and criminality from classical theories to modern developmental theories will be carefully examined. Students will learn to review and interpret various data sources from the Uniform Crime Reports, the National Crime Victimization Survey, and self-reports.
CRI 351/Comparative Criminology
The focus of this course is the comparative analysis of crime and justice throughout the world. Cross-national comparisons of crime, including definition, measurement, and theoretical explanation, and the structures, processes, and problems of justice systems will be examined. Special consideration will be given to the influences of colonialism, religion, and culture. Students will compare the United States system to those in other countries in an effort to increase the efficacy and equity of criminal justice.
CRI 352/Advanced Criminology: Race and Crime
This course is a critical examination of the linkage between race and crime in America. The course will focus on four major areas: race and the law, race and criminological theory, race and violent crime, and myths and facts about race and crime. Through critical examination of readings and official statistics, students will come to understand the complexity of the relationship between race and crime within the American Criminal Justice System and broader social context.
Summer 2026 Courses
CRI 201/Judicature
This course will explore the history of American jurisprudence by critically examining the history of courts, the rule of law and the social contract. Court systems at the federal, state, and local levels will be examined. Indeterminate and determinate sentencing models will be examined. Students will learn how a case progresses through the court system and how the courtroom workgroup operates. Finally, students will learn how to research seminal United States Supreme Court cases.
CRI 205/Criminology
This course provides a general introduction to the study of criminal behavior from an interdisciplinary perspective. The history of criminology as a discipline will be examined. Criminological theories of crime and criminality from classical theories to modern developmental theories will be carefully examined. Students will learn to review and interpret various data sources from the Uniform Crime Reports, the National Crime Victimization Survey, and self-reports.
CRI 256/Gender and the Criminal Legal System
This course offers an understanding of the treatment of women as professionals, litigants, victims, and offenders in the justice system. It examines what happens to women in the criminal justice system, how that is related to issues of social inequality, and what alternatives are available using a social justice framework. Because any discussion of women, crime, and justice must acknowledge both the diversity of women and the diversity of crimes and conditions under which they are made and enforced, the course will look at all issues through a constantly developing and changing/race/class/gender/sexual orientation perspectives.
CRI 302/Wrongful Convictions
The course will explore the consequences of the wrongful prosecution, conviction, and incarceration of innocent people in the criminal legal system. Students will learn about eyewitness misidentification, false confessions, official misconduct, flawed forensics, and other issues that contribute to wrongful convictions. The course will utilize an intersectional lens to explore how race, class, and disability status impact wrongful convictions. Students will review and analyze case studies of wrongfully convicted individuals who have been exonerated.
CRI 352/Advanced Criminology: Race and Crime
This course is a critical examination of the linkage between race and crime in America. The course will focus on four major areas: race and the law, race and criminological theory, race and violent crime, and myths and facts about race and crime. Through critical examination of readings and official statistics, students will come to understand the complexity of the relationship between race and crime within the American Criminal Justice System and broader social context.