Houston Community College
CRIJ 1307: Crime in America
Spring 2015
Instructor Name and Contact Information:
Joe Wojcik
Joseph.Wojcik@HCCS.edu
Cell Phone
832-493-7337
Office Hours: By appointment only
Semester, Time of Class, Room Number: Spring 2015, meeting Tuesday and Thursday, from 11:00 am to
12:30 am, in room 219, on the Katy Campus
Student Teacher Conference: By appointment only, but I am generally available before and after class.
Course Description/ Prerequisites: American crime problem in a historical perspective; social and public
policy factors affecting crime impact and crime trends; social characteristics of specific crimes; prevention of
crimes.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Explain the methods of measuring crime and its impact on society.
2. Describe the theories of crime.
3. Describe the characteristics of major crimes.
Suggested Websites: www.aspu.edu/oconnort/linklist.htm
Required Material: Criminology Today, An Integrative Introduction, Frank Schmallenger, 6th edition,
Pearson, 2010
Optional text :
Schmalleger, Frank, Sandy Boyd and Kay Henriksen. 2010. Student Study Guide for Criminal Justice: A
Brief Introduction (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc.
Learning Activities:
Instruction will consist of a series of lectures, reading assignments, some internet research, video, guest
lecturers and of course, classroom discussion.
GRADE DETERMINATION:
Your grade will be determined
by the following
Details
Three (3) Examinations
Multiple choice and short answer
questions
One (1) Theory Analysis Paper
Total:
See “Assignment” section for directions
Points
(if applicable)
Percent of
Final
Average
300
75
100
25
400
100
LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT:
Letter Grade
Final Average in Percent
A
450-500
B
400-449
C
350-399
D
300-349
F
Below 299
Student Achievement
Attendance: Please be on time for class. Excessive unexcused absences may affect your final grade. If
you plan to miss, or are unable to attend class, please contact me via email or telephone (text, voicemail,
etc.). Students will be given one (1) point for every class attended. Points will not be given to students who
are tardy for class. It is to your benefit that you regularly attend class. Changes to the course syllabus and/or
schedule may occur during the semester. You are responsive for knowledge of these changes and the
effects of the changes.
Assignments: Only under extreme circumstances, as defined by the instructor will be accepted via
email. Assignments are due on the dates indicated on the date indicated on this syllabus. Late
assignments will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor. Late assignments will not receive full credit.
Late assignments will receive no more than eighty percent (80%) of its originally assigned value, and must
be received no later than the next time class meets. Assignments received later will receive no more than
fifty percent (50%) of its original value.
Details of Assignments (Can also be found on The Learning Web):
-Three (3) examinations will be given during the semester. These shall be scheduled per the syllabus. The
exams shall consist of multiple choice, and short answer questions. They shall be valued at one hundred
points each
-One (1) Crime Theory Analysis Paper will be submitted. This paper will follow the template found in the
Learning Web.
Make-up Exams: Rescheduling of examinations will be at the Instructor’s discretion. Students must
contact the instructor to reschedule any examinations not completed on the scheduled date. Make
up exams are taken at the Testing Center by appointment.
Cell phones and other electronic devices in the classroom: Cell phones and other electronic devices,
including laptops, are prohibited in the classroom. If you receive an emergency telephone call, please leave
the room to complete it. Cell phones should be on “vibrate” or silent mode during class, and should not be
used as an “entertainment device”.
Department/Division Contact:
Rudy Hardy-Department Chair
Phone: 713-718-5724
Email: hildreth.hardy@hccs.edu
Student Discipline: Students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately while on College property
or in an online environment. Students may receive disciplinary action up to and including suspension, if they
violate System or College rules, disrupt classes, or interfere with the opportunity of others to obtain an
education. Students who pose a threat to the safety of others will be subject to immediate withdrawal from
the classroom, campus environment, and may result in an administrative withdrawal without refund, as well
as face subsequent criminal charges, as appropriate.
Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the
Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized
to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
For questions, contact Donna Price at 713.718.5165 or the Disability Counselor at your college. The
Disability Counselor for HCC-Northwest is Mahnaz Kolaini, 713-718-5422. To visit the ADA Web site, log on
to www.hccs.edu, click Future Students, scroll down the page and click on the words Disability Information.
Withdrawal: Students who take a course for the third time or more must now pay
significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. At HCC it is an
additional $50 per credit hour. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning
passing grades, confer with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading
and writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or
other assistance that might be available. Also, the state of Texas has passed a new law limiting new
students (as of Fall 2007) to no more than six withdrawals throughout their academic career in obtaining a
baccalaureate degree.
Due to new HCC policies and state mandates, I will NOT withdraw students for low or no
attendance. If you wish to withdraw from this course, please contact a counselor in Student Services or me. I
recommend that you discuss this with me before you decide, but the decision is yours. The last day that you
can withdraw is 03/31/14, 4:30PM. If you do not withdraw by this date, you will NOT receive a 'W'.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
If you are caught cheating in any way, on a quiz, a test, a paper, or a project, you will receive an 'F' for the
course. I will follow school policy; I do not negotiate "second chances," period. Please--if you are having
trouble of any kind, discuss it with me. The tiny advantage you would get from cheating is vastly outweighed
by the risk you would be taking. I am willing to help in any way I can, but I will NOT excuse cheating, no
matter how much I like you or feel sorry for you.
The Houston Community College is committed to a high standard of academic integrity in the academic
community. In becoming a part of the academic community, students are responsible for honesty and
independent effort. Failure to uphold these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following:
plagiarizing written work or projects, cheating on exams, quizzes or assignments, collusion on an exam or
project, and misrepresentation of credentials or prerequisites when registering for a course. Cheating
includes looking at or copying from another student's exam, orally communicating or receiving answers
during an exam, having another person take an exam or complete a project or assignment, using
unauthorized notes, texts, or other materials for an exam, and obtaining or distributing an unauthorized copy
of an exam or any part of an exam. Plagiarism means passing off as his/her own the ideas or writings of
another (that is, without giving proper credit by documenting sources). Plagiarism includes submitting a
paper, report, or project that someone else has prepared, in whole or in part. Collusion is inappropriately
collaborating on assignments designed to be completed independently. These definitions are not
exhaustive.
SCANS Competencies
This course will promote reading comprehension, critical analysis and learning how to learn.
EGLS3 (Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System)
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve
teaching and learning. During a designated time near the end of the term, you will be asked to answer a
short online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey
will be made available to your professors and department chairs for continual improvement of instruction.
Go to www.hccs.edu/egls3 for more information.
Course Calendar with Due Dates for Reading, Assignments, and Testing (Please be aware that this is a
TENTATIVE calendar and may be subject to change at any time during the semester. Students will be
responsible for knowledge of any changes.)
Week Number/Date
1
Activities
Chapter 1
01/20-22
Discussion/Lecture
What is Criminology?
Expectations/Syllabus
2
01/27-29
Chapter 2
3
Chapter 3
Patterns of Crime
Where do Theories Come From?
02/03-05
4
Chapter 4
Classical and Neo-Classical Thought
5
02/17-19
Chapter 5
Biological Roots of Criminal Behavior
Examination #1 on 02/19
6
Chapter 6
Psychological and Psychiatric Roots of Criminal
Behavior
Chapter 7
Social Structure Theories
02/10-12
02/24-/26
7
03/03-05
8
Chapter 8
Theories of Social Process and Social Development
03/10-12
9
03/17-19
Spring Break
10
Chapter 10
Crimes Against Persons
Last day to Drop 03/24
Chapter 11
Crimes Against Property
03/24-26
11
03/31-04-02
12
No Class
Examination #2 on 04/02
Chapter 12
White Collar and Organized Crime
04/07-09
13
Chapter 13
Public Order and Drug Crimes
Chapter 14
Technology and Crime
04/14-16
14
04/21-23
15
Chapter 15
Globalization and Terrorism
04/28-30
16
Lecture
Victims and Victimization
05/05-07
17
05/12
Final Examination
05/12, Final assignment due