Victimology
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Office Hours:
Required Texts:
Douglas B. Fuller, Ph.D.
TBD
TBD
douglas.fuller@howard.edu
Scheduled on request
Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology, 8th Edition Karmen, A.
Course Description: This course is designed to introduce students to the study of
victimology and the typologies of victimization. The course will address the following
types of victimization:
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Intimate partner violence;
Violence against children;
Sexual assault; and,
Special populations.
The first stage of the course will review development of concepts and theories of
victimization and the implications of these developments. This aspect of the course will
also discuss the criminal justice system's response to victims. The second stage of the
course will delve into the different types of victimization, the various types of victims,
as well as explanations for their victimization. Lastly, we will examine the conditions
under which individuals are victimized and the impact of victimization on
interpersonal and intrapersonal relations.
Course Objectives: Students will be able to describe: (1) the key theories associated
with victimology; (2) the fundamental concepts related to victimization; (3) how the
criminal justice system attempts to protect the rights of victims; and (4) how
victimization impacts interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships.
Additional Articles: Additional articles will be provided to students in support of the
primary text and to further investigate issues in victimology
Requirements
 Students are expected to attend all classes, participate in all online discussions,
and complete all assignments. On scheduled cyber-days, students will be
required to log into http://blackboard.howard.edu to complete the listed course
assignment. The assignment must be completed and submitted by midnight on
the day of the assignment. Late submissions will be penalized a letter grade for
each day it is late.
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Each student will be required to actively engage in classroom discussions on
topics related to the assigned readings.
Each student is expected to complete a research project related to victimology.
The paper should be typed 1.5 spaces, follow APA style format, and be ten pages
in length.
House Rules
 Always be respectful of your fellow students
 Be on time for class
 Turn of cell phones
 Allow others to express themselves
Grading Scheme
Participation (e.g., calls attendance, participation in discussions, preparedness,
completion of ad hoc assignments)
1 Exam
1 Research proposal
50%
25%
25%
100%
90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; 60-69 = D; 0-59 = F
Modification of the Syllabus and Missed Classes
On occasions, the syllabus might be changed to accommodate coverage of new or
different information. Announcements will be made far enough in advance that there
will be minimal impact on students. Students who miss a class are expected to check-in
with the instructor and/or their colleagues to see what was missed in class.
Academic Fraud
Cheating involves sharing and/or copying answers from another student and using
information from sources without citing the information properly. This is called
plagiarism and will not be tolerated. Students who are caught cheating or participating
in any act of fraud will fail this course. Please also note that the Chair of the
department will be notified of the incident, and the University's official policy will be
enforced.
Part 1 - The Study of Victims
Week 1: August 24th – August 28th
Orientation
1. Syllabus Release
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2. Class Scheduling
3. Book Assignment: Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology, Andrew
Karmen – 8th Edition (available on Amazon)
Week 2: August 31 – September 4th: Virtual Class
Course Introduction: Overview of Class, Assignments, Expectations
Reading assignment for next class
1. “What is Victimology” Chapter 1 in Crime Victims
2. “Re-Discovery of Crime Victims” Chapter 2 in Crime Victims
3. “Victimization in the United States: An Overview” Chapter 3 in Crime Victims
Week 3: September 7th – September 11th: Remote Assignment
Summarize the Chapters 1 – 3 from Crime Victims. The summary of each chapter should
not exceed two pages per chapter (for a total of no more than 6 pages).
Additional assignment: Select an article from the news to share with the class. The
article and be about anything relevant to the class. Be prepared to discuss why you
think this article is important, how were the victims portrayed, and identify any gaps in
reporting.
Week 4: September 14th – September 18th: Virtual Class
Discussion: Chapters 1 – 3 from Crime Victims
Reading assignment for next class:
1. “Violent Crimes: Murders and Robberies” Chapter 4 in Crime Victims
2. “Victims’ Contribution to the Crime Problem” Chapter 5 in Crime Victims
Additional Assignment:
1. Select topic for research proposal (any subject related to Victimology)
Week 5: September 21st – September 25th: Remote Class
Assignment: Based on the reading assignment from last week. Summarize the main
points of the readings. The summary should be no more than five pages in length.
In addition, please provide to me the topic you wish to cover in your research proposal.
Please provide to me in writing (email is acceptable) the topic selected, why this is of
interest to you, what you the research you propose contributes to the body of
knowledge, and if your preliminary investigation reveals enough information/data
exists for you to pursue the proposal.
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Reading Assignment for next class:
1. “Violence and sex in the media” Chapter in From Victims to Victimizer (article to be
provided to class)
2. “Understanding Theories of Criminal Victimization” (article to be provided to class)
Week 6: September 28th – October 2nd: Virtual Class
Discussion: Chapters 4 and 5 from Crime Victims, “Violence and sex in the media,” and,
“Understanding Theories of Criminal Victimization.”
Reading Assignment for next class:
1. “Victims and the Criminal Justice System” Chapters 6 and 7 in Crime Victims
2. Begin drafting outline for research proposal
Week 7: October 5th – October 9th: Remote Class
Assignment:
1. Complete outline for research proposal and submit for review
Reading assignment for next class:
1. “Repaying Crime Victims” Chapter 12 in Crime Victims
2. “Victimized Children” Chapter 8 in Crime Victims
3. Find one article to share with the class that discusses anything relevant to
victimology. Be prepared to share the article with the class, describe why the
topic is important, how they portrayed the victim(s), and any “gaps” in
knowledge the article may have in its reporting.
Week 8: October 12th – October 18th: Virtual Class
Discussion: Readings from prior weeks and article sharing.
Reading assignment for next class:
1. “Child Maltreatment a Global Issue” (article to be provide to the class)
2. “Child Sexual Abuse Myths” (article to be provide to the class)
3. “Violence and abuse in Families” (article to be provide to the class)
4. Begin drafting your proposal
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Week 9: October 19th – October 23rd: Remote Class
Assignment: Continue working on your proposal
Reading Assignment for next class:
1. “Sexual Coercion in American Life” (article to be provided to class)
2. “Raped: A Male Survivor Breaks His Silence” (article to be provided to class)
3. “The Anti-Rape Movement and the Turn to Law” (article to be provided to class)
4. “Rape Work: Victims, Gender, and Emotions in Organization” (article to be provided
to class)
Week 10: October 26th – October 30th: Virtual Class
Discussion: Reading from prior two weeks. Proposal questions/answers.
Assignment for next class:
1. Submit first draft of proposal for review
Week 11: November 2nd – November 6th: Remote Class
Assignment: Continue working on proposals. Will hold office hours during the week to
discuss proposals with students as needed.
Reading Assignment: None
Week 12: November 9th – November 13th: Virtual Class
1. Exam Preparation (Exam will be on Friday December 4th)
Assignment for next class:
1. Complete proposal for submission on November 20th)
Week 13: November 16th – November 20th: Remote Class
Assignment: Complete proposals and prepare for exams.
Week 14: November 23rd – November 27th: No Class
Week 15: November 30th – December 4th: Exam on Friday December 4th.
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