COURSE SYLLABUS
ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY
CRIMINAL JUSTICE 3130: HATE CRIMES & ORDERED LIBERTY
Spring, 2008
Section: 1 (T-TH 1:00 - 2:15 p.m.)
INSTRUCTOR: BECKY KOHLER da CRUZ, J.D.
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice & Law
OFFICE: UH 219
OFFICE HOURS:
PHONE: 921-7407 E-MAIL: Becky.daCruz@Armstrong.edu
11:00 am -12:30 pm Monday through Thursday or by Appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious strife and the tension between freedom and equality in
democratic societies. Focus on the governmental definition of hate and the historical, economic,
and political roots of such crimes.
COURSE RATIONALE:
The purpose of this course is challenge individuals to analyze their own opinions, assumptions
and actions. This course will encourage the acceptance of new ideas and opinions of others and
to examine the effectiveness of recent hate crime laws. We will examine recent case law
challenging hate crimes and hate groups. This course aims to address causes, penalties and
constitutional issues revolving around such crimes and resulting laws.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon the successful completion of this course, the STUDENT should be able to:
 Explain what a hate crime is and the targets of hate crime;
 Describe hate crime laws and the enforcement of them;
 Identify the social and political issues that are impacted by hate crimes;
 Differentiate hate speech from hate crimes.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
Gerstenfeld, P. B (2004). Hate Crimes: Causes, Controls, and Controversies. Sage
Publications. ISBN # 0-7619-2814-6
Rothenberg, P. S. (2008). White Privilege: Essential Readings on the Other Side of
Racism. Worth Publishers. ISBN # 1-4292-0660-8.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Week #1
Introduction to the Course
Week #2
Chapter 1
Week #3
Chapter 2
Week #4
Chapter 3
Week #5
Chapter 4
Week #6
Review
Week #7
Exam 1
Week #8
Chapter 5
Critical Thinking Paper Due
Week #9
Chapter 6
Week #10
Chapter 7
Week #11
Chapter 8
Week #12
Chapter 9
State Law Comparison Paper Due
Week #13
Review
Week #14
Exam 2
Week #15
Book Summary Due
Discuss Rothenberg text
**Additional readings and handouts will also be assigned and current events will be
discussed in class.
EVALUATION METHODS:
1. Critical Thinking Papers: Each student will be required to prepare a 5 page research
paper on a topic directly related to hate crimes. A focus on the social policy is the best
approach for this paper. A more detailed explanation of the paper will follow. Due Week
#8.
2. Topical Papers: There will be 5 short papers assigned intermittently by the professor
throughout the semester based on the topic discussed at the time. They will be due the
within 1 week of the assignment.
3. Class Presentation: Each student will present a case on hate crimes to the class. The
presentation should include the facts, legal disposition of the case, likely social impacts,
how it relates to class materials, etc.
4. Comparison of State Law on Hate Crime: Each student will be required to locate the
state statute, case law, and any other regulations enforcing hate crime. The comparison
will be made between Georgia, a state assigned by the professor, and a state of student’s
choosing. Due Week #12.
5. Book Summary: A 7 page typed comprehensive book summary of White Privilege:
Essential Readings on the Other Side of Racism by Paula S. Rothenberg is required. Due
Week #15
6. Examinations: Each student will be required to complete two non-cumulative essay
examinations. Weeks #7 & #14.
FINAL GRADE STANDARDS:
Critical Thinking Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 points
Topical Papers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 points (5 at 10 points each)
State Law Comparison Paper . . . . . . . . . . 100 points
Book Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 points
Class Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 points
Exam #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 points
Exam #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 points
500 points
You can earn a maximum of five hundred (500) points in this course. The approximate letter and
numerical equivalents are as follows:
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Points
500-450
450-400
400-350
350-300
300-0
Percent
90-100%
80-90%
70-80%
60-70%
below 60%
CLASS FORMAT:
This course will be conducted as a seminar, with emphasis on student preparation and
participation. Your participation in this course will be drawn out in the form of question and
answer dialogs between the instructor and the students.
PAPERS:
The papers should be presented in the following manner:
1. A title page providing the title of the topic chosen, your name, the course name, section
number and the date.
2. At least two (2) pages for Topical papers, five (5) pages for the Critical Thinking paper,
seven (7) pages for the book review and ten (10) pages for the Comparison of State Law
paper of text typed and double-spaced. Use one-inch margins and type only in 10 or 12
inch Times New Roman or Courier font.
3. A separate page for bibliography. Minimum of four (4) outside resources is required for
the Critical Thinking paper.
4. Edit your paper. Make sure it is free of spelling, mechanical and grammatical errors. All
information should be presented in paragraphs that logically connect. I advise using the
Writing Center* for assistance.
5. Staple your paper in the upper left-hand corner. Do not use folders, plastic covers or
paper clips.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students are expected to be present for all scheduled classes – in body and mind. This is an
upper-level course and you are expected to rise to the occasion. You are responsible for all
information not only in the textbook but also what is presented in class. Notify the instructor of
your absence only on exam days. If you miss a class, get the lecture notes from a classmate.
CLASS CONDUCT:
Students are expected to treat others with respect and dignity at all times. Any behavior
disruptive to the learning environment is strictly prohibited. Beepers and cell phones disrupt the
class, YOU MUST HAVE THEM IN SILENT MODE OR TURNED OFF. If you are disrupting
the lecture for any reason, you will be removed from the classroom.
MAKE-UP POLICY:
Students are expected to take exams and turn in their assignments on their assigned dates. A late
assignment WILL NOT be accepted for any reason. If you fail to take an exam on the
designated date, your grade on the make-up exam will be reduced by 10 percent (1 letter grade).
A make-up exam will ONLY be given when advance notice is provided to the instructor by the
student who has good reason for not taking the exam on the dedicated date or if the student has
an extreme emergency. In no event will a make-up exam be given 1 week after the date in which
it was given or upon the student’s return from the emergency.
STANDARDS OF HONESTY:
The college experience is founded on the concepts of honesty and integrity. Dishonesty,
cheating, and plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. Plagiarism is representing
someone else’s work as your own. It includes quoting or paraphrasing a secondary source
without citing that source, or copying, buying, or stealing written work from another person or
another source. All class writings must be a student’s own original work, created this semester
for this particular course. Remember, plagiarism is not only immoral- it is illegal. Students who
commit plagiarism or who cheat on an examination will receive a zero (0) for that work. If
cheating and plagiarism continue, the student will receive a failing grade in the course and I
reserve the right to submit student plagiarism to the Student Honor Court as provided for the
Student Handbook. Such an offense can be referred to the university’s honor court and become a
matter of your academic record.
EXTRA CREDIT POLICY:
Do not count on any extra credit in this course. You are expected to learn the core material as
assigned. IF any extra credit is offered during the semester, it must be completed on or before the
last day of class - it will not be accepted during exam week.