CRIMINAL JUSTICE,
ECONOMICS &
HISTORY 3318
UALR
HISTORY AND GLOBALIZATION OF THE DRUG TRADE
SYLLABUS
Professors: Julie Baldwin, Criminal Justice
Tusty ten Bensel, Criminal Justice
Kristin Mann, History
Sarah Quintanar, Economics
email: jmbaldwin@ualr.edu
email: ixzohra@ualr.edu
email: kdmann@ualr.edu
email: smquintanar@ualr.edu
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the global
drug trade. Specifically, this course utilizes economic models of trade, historical and
cultural perspectives on the global drug trade, and criminal justice theories to provide
students with a multi-dimensional understanding of the global drug trade. Further, this
course, with a focus on infusing historical perspectives, economic models, and criminal
correlates, explores how globalization of the drug trade affects metropolitan cities across
the United States.
Course Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Identify the basic economic concepts and models of the global drug trade.
2. Synthesize the historical and theoretical perspectives of the global drug trade.
3. Describe the effect of international drug policy using specific case studies.
4. Synthesize the link between the drug trade and other activities (e.g. terrorism).
5. Explain the economic effect of international drug policy.
6. Describe the evolution and enactment of current drug treaties and alliances.
Course Outline:
This course will be conducive to best practices in teaching pedagogies that focus on active
learning and problem solving in the classroom. It will synthesize interdisciplinary perspectives
from History, Economics and Criminal Justice. In addition, this course will include hands-on
learning opportunities through current event discussions and community guest lectures. These
activities will be utilized to encourage critical thinking and independent creativity. Each section
of the course will be taught with at least two faculty members from different disciples (Criminal
Justice, Economics, and History). We believe this will allow student open-access to multiple
perspectives throughout the course. The progression of the course and faculty involvement is
outlined below.
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1. Overview of Drugs, History, and Globalization: Julie Baldwin (CJ) and Kristin
Mann (His): 3 weeks
a. Introduction and media (All)
b. Theoretical Perspectives on Drug Use (JB)
c. Historical exploration cultivation, drug use, drug trades, and policy (JB & KM)
d. Global drug prohibition (KM)
2. Economics of the Drug Trade: Sarah Quintanar (Econ) and Julie Baldwin (CJ): 3
weeks
a. Intro to economic modeling and tools (SQ)
b. Importance of price (SQ)
c. Surplus from production transferred from US to other countries (SQ)
d. Costs of fighting criminal activity arising from drug trade (SQ & JB)
e. Other economic considerations (SQ)
3. Case Studies of Trade, Policies, and Consequences: Tusty ten Bensel (CJ) and
Kristin Mann (His): 7 weeks
a. Asia (KM)
b. Columbian Drug Trafficking Organizations and History (TB & KM)
1. Medellin
2. Ochoa Family
3. Cali Cartel
c. Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations and History (TB & KM)
1. Herrera Family
2. Gulf Cartel
3. Tijuana Cartel
4. Little Rock and the Global Drug Trade: All: 2 weeks
a. Guest Lectures from local law enforcement agents
b. Mapping Little Rock’s connections to the global drug trade
Course Activities:
1. Examinations (50%) = There are two examinations for this course that will constitute 50%
of the final grade. They will be given on the dates scheduled in this syllabus. Exams will
cover material assigned from the readings, presentations, and class activities. Examinations
will be in an essay format. There are no makeup exams without official documentation (e.g.,
a Doctor’s note) explaining your absence. In the event that a makeup is needed (with
documentation), the makeup exam will also be in the form of an essay(s).
2. Participation (25%) = Students will be expected to participate in class discussion and
critical thinking exercises that will make up 25% of the final grade. Throughout the semester,
there will be several guest lectures from the community, and students will be expected to ask
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questions and be active listeners throughout each presentation. If you miss class AND have
an excused absence in writing (doctors’ note), either a makeup assignment will be assigned
or the assignment will be negated to not count toward participation. If you know you will be
out of town (i.e., sports, military obligations), please inform us of your absence prior to the
class.
3. Paper (25%) = Media or book review in discipline area. Book or media source must be
approved by the instructor of the section in which the student is enrolled. Students must
compare the media or book with relevant primary and/or secondary academic literature or
data (depending on the section) on the topic.
Grading Scale
 Examinations:
 Class Participation:
 Paper:
50%
25%
25%
Total
100%
Grade Breakdown
A
B
=
=
90% to 100%
80% to 89%
C
D
F
=
=
=
70% to 79%
60% to 69%
59% or less
If you receive an assessment back and believe (after carefully reading the written
comments) we made a mistake, type up a grading memo with two or three sentences
explaining the error and present the graded assessment with your memo to us.
**Review the university policies and technical/student support provided in the
“orientation” link on the banner.
Plagiarism/Academic Dishonesty:
College and University regulations regarding academic dishonesty, as set forth in the
UALR student handbook and other University documents and publications, will be
strictly enforced in this class. Any student caught in the act of cheating will be assigned a
grade of zero points (F) for the assignment in question. If written work does not appear
to be your own, you will be questioned about it and appropriate action will be taken.
Further, if you are caught cheating or plagiarizing, you fail this class and the department
chair, graduate advisor and Dean will be notified. If there is any doubt that something
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should be cited then you need to cite! Do not risk your grade and the humiliating process
of having to explain your actions.
Please note: The University subscribes to a service called “Turn It In.” This service scans
students’ papers and determines the extent to which the paper is plagiarized. Plagiarized
papers will not be accepted under any circumstances. This includes copying from another
student or turning in a paper from a former student. Only original work from an
individual student will be accepted. Please be aware that failure to properly cite sources
is the same thing as Plagiarism.
What is Plagiarism?
o Having someone else write the paper for you
o Buying the paper on the internet
o Using any source sources without citing properly
o Writing a passage verbatim without using quotes/author citation and page number
o Copying/pasting passages from ANY source (including the books/articles from this
class) and changing a few words
o Turning in a paper you wrote for another class
o Using a paper someone else wrote for this class
We have a zero tolerance policy for plagiarism.
Students with Disabilities:
Your success in this class is important to me, and it is the policy and practice of the
University of Arkansas at Little Rock to create inclusive learning environments
consistent with federal and state law. If you have a documented disability (or need to
have a disability documented), and need an accommodation, please contact me privately
as soon as possible, so that we can discuss with the Disability Resource Center (DRC)
how to meet your specific needs and the requirements of the course. The DRC offers
resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.
Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process among you,
your instructor(s) and the DRC. Thus, if you have a disability, please contact me and/or
the DRC, at 501-569-3143 (V/TTY) or 501-683-7629 (VP). For more information, please
visit the DRC website at ualr.edu/disability.