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CJA/314

Criminology

3 credits

Total credits

5 weeks

Course length

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Take this course on its own, or as part of a degree or certificate program.

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Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

Course level: Upper Division

Criminology is an introductory course in the study of crime and criminal behavior, focusing on the various theories of crime causation. This course highlights the causes of crime, criminal behavior systems, societal reaction to crime, and criminological methods of inquiry.

Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

What you'll learn

Course skills and outcomes

  • Explain the purpose of criminology and the functions of criminologists.
  • Determine how criminological research dictates social policy as it relates to crime control.
  • Identify the four primary definitional perspectives of crime according to criminological thought.
  • Review sources of crime data and their application in crime control.

  • Explain the major theoretical principles of classical versus neoclassical criminology.
  • Evaluate policy implications inherent with the classical and neoclassical schools of thought.
  • Identify causal factors of criminality according to biological theorists.
  • Identify the central principles of the psychological and psychiatric perspectives of crime.

  • Describe the primary theoretical principles associated with sociological perspectives of crime.
  • Examine a past or current event to assess policy implications according to a select sociological principle, social structure, and social process theories.

  • Distinguish between various types of contemporary criminal offenses, including any motivational factors of the offender.
  • Evaluate causal factors associated with contemporary criminal offenses.
  • Analyze social policy, budgetary, and political implications associated with contemporary criminal offenses.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of law enforcement in addressing contemporary criminal offenses.

  • Evaluate the correlation between evolving technologies and evolving criminal behaviors.
  • Analyze the social, political, legal issues with contemporary crimes.
  • Evaluate the role of globalization as it relates to international policy making.
  • Critique the projected crime control policies of the future, including potential implications as they relate to transnational crimes.

Why UOPX

Why take courses at University of Phoenix

Accreditation that matters

We’ve been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) for more than 40 years.

Real-world instructors

Learn from instructors who bring an average of 25 years of working experience to the classroom.

Affordable and potentially reimbursable

Our tuition and fees are competitive and fixed. Also, check to see if your employer will cover you for this course.

Next Steps

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Transfer Credits

Credit Transfer

Need to transfer credits to another college or university?

Before you enroll in a course, check with your school of choice to make sure they will accept our transfer credits and to understand any requirements or limitations. Then you can complete your course, and request your official transcript be sent to your school. That’s it!

How to request your transcripts

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. Although our continuing teacher education courses are accepted by some state agencies in the United States toward teacher certifications and endorsements, this may not be the case in all states or foreign jurisdictions. If you plan to use courses for certification or endorsement, please check with your own state agency and your school district for applicability. Continuing teacher education courses are not eligible to apply to degree programs at University of Phoenix. These courses are not eligible for federal financial aid. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.