NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Course title: Criminology
Course prefix, number, and section number: CJSA 1325 0310
Semester/Year of course: Fall 2025
Semester start and end dates: Aug 25 – Dec 15
Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous
Class meeting location, days, and times: Online Canvas
Lab meeting location, days, and times: Online Canvas
Semester credit hours: 3
Course description: Current theories and empirical research pertaining to crime and criminal behavior and its causes, methods of prevention, systems of punishment, and rehabilitation.
Course prerequisites: None
Required course materials: Siegal,L.(2017). Criminology: The Core. (7th edition). Cengage Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-337-55771-9. (MindTap Required).
Name of instructor: JoEllen Brown
Office location: By appointment only at Corinth campus.
Telephone number: Email only
E-mail address: jmbrown@nctc.edu
Office hours for students: Monday 6:00pm-8:00pm by Email
SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER
The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
List of graded assignments: Mindtap chapter video case assignments, Mindtap chapter you decide assignments (part I & II), Chapter exams, Midterm paper, Research methodology paper, Final exam, Discussion Forums, Final Review Sheet.
Final grade scale:
A= 960 - 1070
B= 855 - 959
C= 749 - 854
D= 640 – 748
F= 639 and below
Late work policy: Neither make-up exams nor assignments will be given nor will late work be accepted without documented reason and instructor permission. You have to keep in communication with the instructor if you are having an emergency/illness. You have a week to complete your assignments and it is important that you do so. If you have a problem uploading an assignment and choose to email it to me, it must still be on time. If something does not work for you in Canvas, email me. It is not my fault if you wait till the last minute and find out you are having difficulty. You have a week to complete assignments, give yourself time so that you can reach out if you need help.
All assignments are important so please do not discount them. A ten (10) point quiz could be the difference between an A or B or you passing or failing the class. I cannot stress how important it is for you to complete all assignments.
SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.
COURSE POLICIES
Artificial Intelligence Policy: Institution-Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt. When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of and personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college, and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the faculty. Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.
Course specific-The use of generative AI in this course is encouraged with certain tasks and with attribution. You can choose to use AI tools to help brainstorm assignments or projects or revise existing work you have written. It is NOT PERMITTED to let AI complete assignments for you or to copy and paste AI work as your own. When you submit your assignment, you must clearly attribute what text was generated by the AI tool. If you are ever unsure if you are within this policy, please reach out to me directly for clarification. If it is determined you submitted an assignment that is AI generated, you will receive a zero.
Academic Integrity Policy: Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.
Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty. See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.
Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:
1) First offense you will receive a written warning
2) Second offense you will be dropped from the
Withdrawal Policy
A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Nov 3 2025.
- Withdrawing from a Course: Students can learn more about the withdraw policy and procedure by http://www.nctc.edu/current-students/drop-withdraw- class.html (Links to an external site.).
Student Learning Outcomes: (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education
Course Manual/NCTC Catalog
At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Identify and explain the various theories of causation of criminal behavior
- Identify and appraise the avenue of prevention
- Outline the various research methods/methodology used in criminological research
- Identify the categories and sources of criminological data utilized and interpreting crime trends Core Objectives:
REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)
Critical Thinking
Communication
Empirical and Quantitative
Teamwork
Personal Responsibility
Social Responsibility
COLLEGE POLICIES
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.
ADA STATEMENT
NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations. See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.
STUDENT SERVICES
NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students. See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class. If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Teresa Laman
Office location: Corinth Campus, suite 170 & 172
Telephone number: 940-498-6263
E-mail address: tlaman@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Debbie Huffman
Office location: Gainesville Campus
Telephone number: 940-668-3357
E-mail address: dhuffman@nctc.edu