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Canyon College

online Psychology of Criminal Behavior course

COURSE SYLLABUS: Psychology of Criminal Behavior


Course Title:
Department:
Instructor:
Prerequisites: 		PY522 - Psychology of Criminal Behavior
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Jay Strike Carlin, DPsy, J.D., MBA, MS - E-Mail - Vita
None


Course Objective:

This course will provide the student with insights about crime from a psychological perspective. Specifically, the course will focus on how a criminal offender is influenced by multiple systems within the psychosocial environment. Contemporary research theory and practice concerning both the offender and the victim will be examined in this course.

Required Text: Online Bookstore

“Criminal Behavior, A Psychosocial Approach”, 6th edition, Bartol, C. Prentice Hall, Saddle River, N.J., 2002.
ISBN #: 0130918377

Course Requirements:

There will be two exams given in this course, one a Midterm exam and the other a Final Exam. Each exam will be essay and will focus on the material outlined in the textbook. The exams are expected to be completed no later than the last day of the week on week five and week 9 respectively.
There will also be written assignments required for this class and each of these written assignments are developed form material in the textbook. It is hoped by completing these written assignments, that the student will be provided additional insights into the course materials and will provide excellent study tools for both the Midterm and Final Examinations. Each written assignment should adequately demonstrate that the student has a solid understanding of the materials presented in the text. The written assignments must be emailed to the instructor by the end of the week in which the assignment was made. This will allow the instructor to review the assignments and provide guidance to the students when indicated.


Course Schedule:

Week One -
Chapter One - Introduction to Criminal Behavior
Chapter Two - Juvenile Delinquency: Developmental Factors

Written Assignment #1 - Covering Chapters 1 & 2
Week Two -
Chapter Three - Origins of Criminal Behavior: Biological Factors
Chapter Four - The Psychopath: A Focus on the Biopsychological Factors

Written Assignment #2 - Covering Chapters 3 & 4
Week Three -
Chapter Five - Origins of Criminal Behavior: Learning & Situational Factors
Chapter Six - The Mentally Disordered Offender

Written Assignment #3 - Covering Chapters 5 & 6
Week Four -
Chapter Seven - Human Aggression & Violence

No Written Assignment - Prepare for Midterm Examination
Week Five -
MidTerm Exam
Week Six -
Chapter Eight - Homicide, Assault, and Family Violence
Chapter Nine - Criminal Homicide : A Closer Look

Written Assignment #4 - Covering Chapters 8 & 9
Week Seven -
Chapter Ten - Sexual Offenses
Chapter Eleven - Economic Crimes, Public Order Crime & Other Crime

Written Assignment #5 - Covering Chapters 10 & 11
Week Eight -
Chapter Twelve - Drugs & Crime
Chapter Thirteen - Correctional Psychology

No written assignment - Prepare for Final Exam
Week Nine -
Final Examination


Written Assignments:

Written Assignment #1 - Chapters 1 & 2
- List and briefly discuss the 5 major categories of unlawful acts committed by juvenile delinquents.
Written Assignment #2 - Chapters 3 & 4
- What is psychoticism and how does it play a role in criminal behavior?
Written Assignment # 3 - Chapters 5 & 6
- What four categories are included in the term mentally disordered offender?
Written Assignment #4 - Chapters 8 & 9
- Compare and contrast the terms infanticide, neonaticide, and filicide.
Written Assignment # 5 - Chapters 10 & 11
- Compare and contrast the four different classifications of child offender patterns outlined in your text.

Grading Procedure:
MidTerm Exam - 40%

Final Exam - 40%

Written Assignments - 20%


90-100%
80-90%
70-80%
60-70%
Below 60%
A
B
C
D
F