Fundamentals of Criminal Law Syllabus

 

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title:

Fundamental of Criminal Law

Course Prefix & Number: 

CRIJ1310

Section Number: 

400

Semester/Year:

FA19

Semester Credit Hours:

3

Lecture Hours:

3

Lab Hours:

0

Course Description (NCTC Catalog)     This course is the study of criminal law including application of definitions, statutory elements, defenses and penalties using Texas statutes, the Model Penal Code, and case law. The course also analyzes the philosophical and historical development of criminal law and criminal culpability.

Course Prerequisite(s):  None

Required or Recommended Course Materials:

Text:  Criminal Law

12th Edition

Samaha

 

             

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Cliff J. Downey

Campus/Office Location:

Gainesville / Room 2107 (Career and Technology Center)

Telephone Number:

940-668-3313

E-mail Address:

cdowney@nctc.edu

 

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

9 am – noon

 

9 am – noon

 

9 am - noon

1 pm – 3 pm

 

1 pm – 3 pm

 

 

. I will be available for in-person meetings during the office times listed above. You may also contact me by email or by phone. You must use your NCTC email account if you wish to use email. I will not respond to email sent from your personal email account.

 

 

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:

1.

Identify the elements of crimes and defenses under Texas statutes, Model Penal Code, and case law.

 

2.

Classify offenses and articulate penalties for various crimes

3.

Compare culpable mental states when assigning criminal responsibility.

4.

Assess the impact of history and philosophy on current criminal laws.

5.

Evaluate the application of criminal law to other areas of criminal justice such as law enforcement and corrections.

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

 

 

 

One or both per chapter

Quizzes / Homework Assignment

20 percent

1

Research Project

20 percent

1

Mid-Term Exam

30 percent

1

Comprehensive Final Exam

30 percent

 

 

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

Quizzes / Homework Assignment

One or both per chapter

Homework – typewritten assignment. Quizzes (short answer, true/false, multiple choice)

Week 8

Mid-Term Exam

Short answer, true/false, multiple choice

 

 

 

Week 12

Project Due

Rubric to be provided

Week 16

Comprehensive Final exam

Short answer, true/false, multiple choice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                 IMPORTANT  (Please read this section carefully.)

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.   I consider eight unauthorized absences to be a sufficient number of absences to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.

Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL) Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. If you are not present when the roll call is performed you will be considered absent.

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is November 1, 2019.

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

If you feel you have needs for services that the institution provides, please reach out to either Wayne Smith (940) 498-6207 or Yvonne Sandman (940) 668-4321.  Alternative students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)________     


o         Communication

o         Mathematics              

o         Life and Physical Science

o         Language, Philosophy & Culture

o         Creative Arts

o         American History

 

o         Government/Political Science

o         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

 


REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)


o            Critical Thinking

o           Communication

o           Empirical and Quantitative

 

o           Teamwork

o           Personal Responsibility

o           Social Responsibility


COURSE TYPE

x              Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

o        Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o        WECM Course

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

 

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

  1. First offense you will receive a written warning.
  2. Second offense you will be dropped from the course.

 

 

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

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:

 

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

Dr. Cherly Furdge

Office Location:

Suite 239, Office 234 Corinth Campus

Telephone Number:

940-498-6238

E-mail Address:

cfurdge@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean:

Debbie Huffman

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 2106

Telephone Number:

940-668-3357

E-mail Address:

dhuffman@nctc.edu

 

 

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