NCJ Number
58051
Date Published
1977
Length
125 pages
Annotation
THE SUBJECT OF THIS COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS IS GRADUATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES DURING THE PERIOD FROM 1970 TO 1977.
Abstract
THE STATUS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRADUATE EDUCATION WAS CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO SUCH PROGRAM ELEMENTS AS PURPOSE, TYPE OF DEGREE, DEGREE REQUIREMENTS, AND COURSES. MAJOR AREAS OF ANALYSIS INCLUDED WHAT CAMPUSES IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE (CSUC) SYSTEM OFFERED GRADUATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND HOW EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS COMPARED WITH OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. SEVEN CSUC INSTITUTIONS OFFERING GRADUATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS WERE INCLUDED IN THE ANALYSIS. DATA ABOUT GRADUATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES CAME FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRADUATE PROGRAMS CATALOG. THE ADMINISTRATION OF A QUESTIONNAIRE PROVIDED DATA ON THE NUMBER OF ENROLLED STUDENTS AND DEGREES AWARDED BETWEEN 1970 AND 1977. COURSES WERE OFFERED ON RESEARCH METHODS AND INDEPENDENT STUDY, CRIME AND CRIMINALS, MANAGEMENT, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, CORRECTIONS, BEHAVIOR, SURVEY CONCEPTS AND METHODS, AND CRIMINALISTICS. GRADUATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY RANGED FROM A FEW COURSES IN A PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT, OFFERING A PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE WITH A CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONCENTRATION, TO A JUSTICE CENTER PROVIDING SPECIALIZED EDUCATION IN ALL ASPECTS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THE MOST POPULAR CATEGORY OF COURSES WAS RESEARCH METHODS AND INDEPENDENT STUDY, FOLLOWED BY CRIME AND CRIMINALS, MANAGEMENT, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, CORRECTIONS, AND BEHAVIOR. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF MOST PROGRAMS WAS GRADUATE EDUCATION FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANAGERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PRACTITIONERS. PROGRAMS IN THE CSUC SYSTEM DIFFERED FROM NATIONAL PROGRAMS PRIMARILY IN TERMS OF THE UNIFORMITY OF NAME AND PURPOSE AND A GREATER EMPHASIS ON COURSES DEALING DIRECTLY WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE. PROSPECTIVE CSUC GRADUATE STUDENTS COULD CHOOSE BETWEEN A SPECIALIST PROGRAM IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, CORRECTIONS, OR CRIMINALISTICS AND A GENERALIZED PROGRAM IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. MOST CHANGES THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN 1970 AND 1977 INVOLVED COURSE REVISIONS AND ADDITIONS. SUPPORTING DATA AN A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN THE STUDY QUESTIONNAIRE AND FURTHER INFORMATION ON GRADUATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND COURSES. (DEP)