This course is not being offered on the internet during the spring semesters

I am not teaching this this course for the summer semester, but I have left up the welcome page so students who
might be interested in taking the course in future can review its structure.

Criminology 125
Internet Welcome Page

The instructor for your course is Dr. Wes Abercrombie. You can speak to him by telephone at (803) 822-3227 or contact him using email using abercrombiew@midlandstech.edu. Below is a brief statement about the course orientation, required texts and the course syllabus for your review.

This course is divided into 3 components. Each component consists of a series of discussion questions about your reading assignments and other tasks. You must complete each set of tasks, achieving a satisfactory grade, and then take the corresponding exam before the component's completion deadline. You cannot take any exams until you have satisfactorily completed the appropriate tasks. You will also have to complete a series of article reviews, each with their own deadline for completion. Finally, there is a cumulative final required at the end of the course. Since there is no formal classroom in this course, the burden for staying on schedule falls upon the student.

Attending the orientation is very important. You need to arrive on time, with pen and paper. The course setup will be reviewed in detail: how your grade is determined, due dates for the course materials, studying strategies, internet student organization methods, and productive approaches to the course tasks. Your password to access the course material online will also be given. I understand that some students will have already taken some Internet courses. However, Internet course formats vary widely and experiences from one do not necessarily apply to another- complicating matters the subject matter for this course is a highly specialized and involves a unique way of looking at social phenomena. Attending the orientation is mandatory- if you do not attend you will be dropped from the course for failing to meet minimum participation requirements.

IMPORTANT
INFORMATION!

Orientations will be given at the Airport Campus, at the Lexington Building in room 178 August 16th, 2007. There are two times, you are required to attend only one,
the first time is at 10:00AM and the second meeting will be at 3:00PM. The orientation should last no more than one hour. If you cannot attend one of the posted times and have a proper excuse, you must make an appointment with the instructor during his office hours the first week of class or you will be dropped from the course. Do not call the instructor and leave a message telling him what time you will show up expecting an orientation - you must speak with him and make an appointment.
This appointment be scheduled to occur before August 23rd. If you do not attend the orienation or schedule an appointment
within the required time frames, you will be dropped from the course as a no-show.

Online college courses places different challenges and pressures on the student than traditional classrooms. They also require additional skills. You should also review Midlands Technical College's Orientation to Online Learning site to learn more about those issues. The MTC's online learning site will provide an overview of online learning and review the skills you will need to complete most online college courses.

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE:     	CRJ 125 						
TITLE: 		Introduction to Criminology
PREREQUISTES:   	RDG 100/ENG 065, CRJ 101	
CREDIT HOURS: 	03
INSTRUCTOR:     	Dr. Wes Abercrombie       
PHONE NUMBER:        (803) 822-3227                              
EMAIL:           	abercrombiew@midlandstech.edu  
FACULTY WEBSITE: 	www.midlandstech.com/sbs/abercrombiew
OFFICE:         	Robinson BLDG, RM 223 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  		
This course is a study of the various theories of criminal causation and control, the identification of criminal typologies, and the reaction of society to crime 
and criminals.

COURSE OBJECTIVE:  	
To introduce the student to the study of crime as a social phenomenon by identifying the various criminological theories and their relationship to the identification and 
treatment of offenders.  Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Define the study of Criminology and identify the six sub-areas.
2. Discuss the consensus, conflict, and interactionist views of crime.
3. Understand the development and function of criminal law.
4. Describe the methods of gathering crime information and identify the major sources of crime statistics.
5. Explain trends and patterns of crime and victimization.
6. Discuss the concept of Classical Criminology.
7. Define modern classical theories of crime causation.
8. Explain the concept of Positivism and its impact on the study of criminology.
9. Identify Biological and Psychological Theories of crime.
10. Discuss Social Structure Theories of crime and identify Cultural Deviance, Strain, and  Sub-cultural Theories.
11. Explain Social Process Theories and define Social Learning, Control,  and Labeling Theories. 
12. Discuss Social Conflict Theories.
13. Understand the incidences and patterns of violent crime and common characteristics of violent offenders.
14. Describe the incidence and patterns of economic street crime.
15. Identify characteristics of the professional and career criminal.
16. Discuss the concept of white-collar crime and identify the general types of white-collar crime.
17. Explain the characteristics and activities of organized crime.
18. Discuss the concept of public order or victimless crimes.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:     
Students needing special accommodations should contact the Counseling Services Office for assistance.   

NOTE: Criminal Justices Majors must achieve a grade of "C" or better.

TEST POLICY:	
All exams must be completed by the deadline dates.   Everyone will be required to take a cumulative final exam.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:	
Grades will be based on 3 written exams, research paper, Class participation (task work and discussion board) and a final exam.  Grade computation is 
addressed in the grading Format section below.

GRADING FORMAT:
Average of 3 exams	= 70%		A = 90 - 100
Paper:		= 10%		B = 80 - 89
Class participation:       = 10		C = 79 - 70
Final Exam:	= 10%		D = 69 - 60
				F = Below 60

For students who need special accommodations for tests, documentation regarding a specific disability from the Counseling Service is required for accommodation 
arrangements.  When informed, the instructor will make necessary accommodation arrangements for students. Confidentiality for the information received will be 
maintained.

NOTE: IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO DELIVER ALL COURSE MATERIALS TO THE INSTRUCTOR BEFORE THE DEADLINE DATES. IT IS NOT THE INSTRUCTORS RESPONSIBILITY TO GATHER THE MATERIALS FROM THE STUDENT. IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR EMAIL SYSTEM THEN YOU NEED TO CALL THE INSTRUCTOR DURING HIS OFFICE HOURS.   IF YOU CANNOT CALL DURING OFFICE HOURS OR THE INSTRUCTOR IS USING THE TELEPHONE WHEN YOU CALL YOU SHOULD LEAVE A MESSAGE. THE MESSAGE SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

1. YOUR NAME
2. A TELEPHONE NUMBER YOU CAN BE REACHED AT (SPEAK SLOWLY WHEN GIVING YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER)
3. SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE DAY YOU COULD BE CALLED
4. SEVERAL DAYS DURING THE WEEK THE INSTRUCTOR MAY CALL
5. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM YOU ARE HAVING

DO NOT DO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. LEAVE ANY COURSE ASSIGNMENTS OR MATERIALS WITH A THIRD PARTY
2. LEAVE ANY COURSE ASSIGNMENTS OR MATERIALS IN THE INSTRUCTOR'S MAIL BOX
3. SLIDE ANY COURSE ASSIGNMENTS OR MATERIALS UNDER THE INSTRUCTOR'S DOOR
4. SLIDE ANY COURSE ASSIGNMENTS OR MATERIALS UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER OF THE INSTRUCTOR'S CAR

*Calendars, course format, test format, discussion board usage and schedules may be altered at the discretion of the instructor based upon his perception of the needs of the class as a whole.