Course Syllabus

Criminology (SOC-4233) Spring 2024

School: School of Arts and Sciences

Department: Social Sciences
Hours Credit: 3 credit hours
Course Number & Title: SOC-4233 Criminology

Instructor: Sarah V. Fry

Email: svfry@nwosu.edu
Phone: (580) 327-8523
Office: Jesse Dunn 321
Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri: 2–4pm
Tues, Thurs: 10am–12pm
During my office hours, I will also be available through
zoom (https://zoom.us/j/3885668851).
For alternative meeting times, please email me.

Time/Room: M/W/F 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Alva: Industrial Education, Room 128B (ITV-Broadcast)
Enid: Room 225 (ITV-Receive)
Woodward: Room 116 (ITV-Receive)
ULC-Ponca: PC (ITV-Receive)
Zoom link for class:
https://zoom.us/j/99170878744?pwd=aTFjQWc4d0lDSG9a
TS9yR1Z3dTRadz09

Textbook
No textbooks need to be purchased for this course. All readings for this course will be made
available through Blackboard. Please make sure to download and either save or print all readings
for your personal use. Make sure that you are able to access the readings in print or digital form
during class.

University Mission Statement

Northwestern Oklahoma State University provides quality educational and cultural opportunities
to learners with diverse needs by cultivating ethical leadership and service, critical thinking and
fiscal responsibility.

Social Science Department Mission Statement

To develop resourceful leaders who are prepared to accept the challenges and opportunities which
exist in a dynamic global environment by providing interactive and personalized educational and
professional opportunities within the classroom and in external learning environments. We prepare
for the future!
Course Description and Prerequisites:
Criminology is a multi-disciplinary field of study with close ties to sociology. Criminologists
focus on the meaning, causes, and consequences of crime. In this course we will discuss the idea
of crime as a social construct, ways of measuring how much crime exists and who commits
which crimes, theories about the causes of crime, theories about how and why we define certain
behaviors as crime, and the factors that are commonly thought to have a correlation with crime.
The prerequisites for this course are Introduction to Sociology (SOC-1113) and Sociological
Problems and Issues (SOC-2123). This course provides three credit hours towards the minimum
liberal arts and sciences credit hours requirement (see page 35 of the Student Handbook).

Departmental Competencies/Standards:
• Demonstrate specific programmatic content area knowledge in social science.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and independent problem solving skills.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills both in written and verbal form.
• Demonstrate the ability to formulate ethical decisions, exercise personal integrity, and
engage in professional leadership.

Student Learning Outcomes for Sociology Majors and Minors:

Content Area Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Recognize and apply significant concepts and principles in the discipline of sociology.
• Identify key elements in understanding human group life and behavior (i.e. social
theory, political and social figures and events, cultural differences etc.).
• Develop expertise in social theory and research methodologies.
Critical Thinking Skills
• Critically analyze and evaluate sociological scholarship.
• Evaluate and critically assess social research and data.
• Recognize and interpret societal events and trends to explain change over time.
• Produce plausible explanations about cause and effect of societal events.
• Identify influence of values/norms/social change/social context on people, places, and
things.
Communication Skills
• Create written papers based on relevant social and behavioral research.
• Discuss historical, social, economic and political issues and relationships in the United
States.
• Demonstrate competency in using APA documentation style.
• Effectively communicate in written and verbal form.
Ethics and Leadership Abilities
• Exercise academic and professional integrity in all forms.
• Analyze and evaluate ethical issues which confront sociologists and sociological practice.
• Demonstrate professional leadership in group contexts.

Student Learning Outcomes for Criminal Justice Majors and Minors:

Content Area Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Outline various structures and processes within the American Justice System.
 • Identify and discuss the rules, laws, procedures, and policies which are the basis of the
American Justice System.
• Identify and describe various criminological theories and theoretical applications.
• Identify and describe major types of crime in the United States.
• Identify the basic terms, concepts, and techniques used in criminal justice research.
Critical Thinking Skills
• Compare and contrast major theoretical explanations for criminal behavior.
• Evaluate and critically assess criminal justice research.
• Compare and contrast major sources of crime data.
• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the criminal justice system.
• Analyze the various U.S. Supreme Court decisions that impact personal freedoms and the
criminal justice system.
• Critique the advantages and disadvantages of criminal justice normative standards of
practice.
Communication Skills
• Create written papers based on relevant criminal justice theory and published research.
• Discuss contemporary and historical issues related to crime and justice issues.
• Demonstrate competency in using APA documentation style.
• Effectively communicate criminal justice research to inform public policy.
Ethics and Leadership Abilities
• Analyze and evaluate ethical issues which face Criminal Justice professionals.
• Analyze and evaluate ethical issues which confront the American Justice System.
• Demonstrate professional leadership in group contexts.

Student Learning Outcomes for this Class:

Students who have completed SOC-4233: Criminology should be able to:
• Identify ways in which crime can be viewed as a social construct.
• Apply social scientific perspectives to understanding the causes and consequences of
crime. [CEP]
• Describe common ways of measuring the prevalence of crime.
• Identify categories of crime and their impacts on society and individuals. [CEP]
• Demonstrate the impacts of social differences (e.g. gender, class, and race) on crime rates
and the justice system’s response. [CEP]

Performance Assessments:
Assignment Type: Percent of Total
Reflection Posts [15 worth 0.8% each] 12%
Unit Exams [3 worth 12% each] 36%
Response Papers [3 worth 14% each] 42%
Weekly Participation [15 worth 0.67% each] 10%
Total 100%

[CEP] These learning objectives are aligned with the OSRHE Course Equivalency Project SLOs for SS 033.
Reflection Posts 12% (0.8% each)
From Week 1 to Week 16 you will submit a Reflection Post to the corresponding
discussion board on Blackboard. Your Reflection Post should be submitted by Saturday
at 11:59pm each week and should 1) state the two most important things you learned
from the readings assigned that week and 2) pose any remaining questions you have
about the content that was covered that week. Each Reflection Post is worth 0.8% of the
final course grade. Students are allowed to comment on each other’s posts (which will
count towards participation credits as discussed below) and I will comment on posts
when it seems relevant.

Unit Exams 36% (12% each)

There are three Unit Exams that will be taken during class on the dates listed below. The
final Unit Exam will be taken during finals week. There is no cumulative exam in this
class. The Unit Exams are made up of multiple-choice questions and will cover material
from the unit that has just been completed.

Unit 1 Exam: Defining and Researching Crime Fri, Feb 9 12%

Unit 2 Exam: Special Topics Fri, Mar 29 12%
Unit 3 Exam: Criminological Theories Fri, May 3 12%

Response Papers 42% (14% each)

Students will submit three Response Papers. Each Response Paper will come with its own
rubric. All Response Papers are “take-home” assignments. Each of the main Response
Papers is worth 18% of the final course grade.

Response Paper 1: Crime Research Sat, Feb 17 14%

Response Paper 2: Special Topic Policy Paper Sat, Apr 13 14%
Response Paper 3: Film Analysis Wed, May 1 14%

Weekly Participation 10% (0.67% each)

I want you to be actively engaged in the content of this course. This participation grade is
a way to give you credit for the effort and work you are putting into the class both in and
out of the classroom. I understand people have different levels of comfort with speaking
in class. Speaking to the whole group during class, engaging in small group discussions,
completing in-class activities (including polls), and responding to other students’
Reflection Posts all count towards participation. In a given week, if you are fully engaged
in at least two of those four activities, you will earn full points for participation.
Participating in only one of those activities will earn you half credit. I will update your
participation grade every week. Missing class for part of the week will not impact your
participation grade as long as you are engaged in class while you are present and respond
to other students’ Reflection Posts. Contact me if you are going to miss class for a full
week and I will provide you with in-class activities that you can do at home.
Evaluation and Grading:
Minimum
Letter Grade Course Percentage
A 90%
B 80%
C 70%
D 60%
F 0%

This course uses a standard grading scale. At this time, I do not plan to offer any extra credit
opportunities. If I do decide to offer extra credit, it will be an opportunity made available to all
students in the course. I will not offer extra credit as a replacement for an individual’s missing or
late work. Expectations for each Response Paper will be posted on Blackboard with each
assignment.

COVID-19 Information:
The most up-to-date university policies related to COVID-19 may be found at
https://www.nwosu.edu/covid-19. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you should
immediately contact the Dean of Student Affairs, Calleb Mosburg, at (580) 327-8415 or
cnmosburg@nwosu.edu. Effective May 10, 2021, NWOSU has lifted its face covering mandate.
Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are no longer required to wear masks on campus. However,
NWOSU policy continues to encourage members of the Ranger Community to get vaccinated if
they have not already done so. This will help in ensuring the transition back to our traditional
classroom setting and a more normal continuation of extra-curricular activities. If you live in
Oklahoma and want to be vaccinated or receive a booster shot, you can find information about
how to set up an appointment using the following link: https://vaccinate.oklahoma.gov/en-US/.

Services for Students with Disabilities:

Any student needing academic accommodations for a physical, mental or learning disability
should contact the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities, or faculty member
personally, within the first two weeks of the semester so that appropriate accommodations may
be arranged. The location for ADA assistance is the Fine Arts building room 126 on the Alva
Campus and the contact is Calleb Mosburg. To request ADA assistance in Enid, Woodward, and
Ponca City please contact the following: Enid – Tiffany Misak; Woodward – Dr. Deena Fisher;
Ponca City – Adam Leaming. Online students can contact Calleb Mosburg for assistance with
ADA accommodations.
Student Complaint Protocol:
A student who feels he or she has serious grounds and evidence to demonstrate unfair treatment
by a faculty member may file a formal written complaint with the department chair. First,
however, the student is encouraged to visit with the faculty member on an informal basis to
discuss the situation. If, after that visit, the student still wishes to file a formal complaint, the
department chair will call a meeting between the student and the faculty member to discuss the
complaint and any further action.
Student Services
Northwestern has a variety of student services offices that can offer academic, financial, and
social support.
If you are a first-generation college student, have low-income, or have a disability, you may be
eligible for services provided by the TRIO SSS office (https://www.nwosu.edu/student-
services/student-support). You should contact Tosh Miller (Ryerson Hall 105,
tamiller@nwosu.edu) for more information about the program.

Attendance Policy
Please note that based on NWOSU policy, you must attend at least 75% of the course to receive
credit. You are therefore allowed a maximum of 11 absences, whether excused or unexcused. If
you are absent from class for 12 days or more, you are at risk of receiving a 0% in this class.

I will take attendance every day through roll call or in-class activities.
• If you know ahead of time that you are going to miss class (for instance, for university-
approved curricular and extracurricular activities), please notify me by email about the
days that you will be missing.
• If you are sick for any reason, you are not obligated to come to this class. Please notify
me of your absence due to illness as soon as you are able to.
• You should still submit a Reflection Post for the week even if you are going to be absent
from class.
• If you cannot be physically present for class, you may use the Zoom link (….) for the
class to attend virtually. If you attend virtually, you should keep your video feed on and
remain visible on screen. You are still expected to participate in discussions and
activities.

Drop Policy
The following is NWOSU’s policy regarding dropping a course during the Spring 2024 semester.
(See page 9 of the Student Handbook under the heading “Change of Schedule” for the general
policy.)
• Students who drop a class on or before January 22nd do not need instructor approval and do
not receive a grade mark on their transcripts.
• Students who drop a class from January 23rd to March 3rd will need approval from the
course instructor and their advisor and will receive a “W” for the class on their transcript.
• Students who drop a class from March 4th to April 19th will need approval from the course
instructor and their advisor and will receive either an “F” or “W” for the class on their
transcript.
That is, if you drop a class on or after March 4th, your instructor may choose to issue an “F” on
your transcript. It is therefore important that you contact your instructor if you are failing a class
and considering dropping late in the semester. You should know your instructor’s policy and get
their assessment of whether it is possible for you to pull your grade up so that you can make an
informed decision about whether to drop the class.
My own policy is that if you are failing the class (that is, if you are making 59% or lower in the
class), I will issue an “F” on your transcript if you decide to drop on or after March 6th, unless
we have met to discuss your prospects in the class and your potential for improving your grade.
Therefore, if you are considering dropping the class at any point after the first 10 days of the
semester (that is, on or after August 26th) you should contact me by email (svfry@nwosu.edu) so
that we can work together to help you improve.

Penalties for Late Assignments

• Response Papers should be submitted to Blackboard by 11:59pm on the day that they are
due. Response Papers are reduced by 10% for every day late, up to a maximum 50%
reduction. That is, you will always be able to turn in a Response Paper for at least up to half
credit.
• Exams cannot be made-up unless a legitimate excuse for your absence from class is
submitted to me. If you are going to be absent from class on the day that we will take a Unit
Exams, you must contact me ahead of time or as soon as you are able to do so that an
alternate time for the quiz can be arrange. If you require ADA accommodations for testing,
please notify me and the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities early in the
semester (i.e., within the first two weeks).
• Reflection Posts should be submitted every week between Monday and the following
Saturday at 11:59pm. After that, your grade for a Reflection Post is reduced by 10% for
every day late, up to a maximum 50% reduction. That is, you will always be able to turn in a
Reflection Post for at least up to half credit

Testing and Proctoring

At this time, I am planning to offer Unit Quizzes during our regular class time on the days listed
in the Performance Assessments section above. I will proctor the quizzes in Alva while staff at
the Woodward site will proctor quizzes there. I will inform you by email and in class if I decide
to use alternative proctoring options.

Issues with Blackboard

If you are ever having issues accessing or submitting content through Blackboard, please email
me at svfry@nwosu.edu. This is especially important if you are having trouble submitting an
assignment. Note that you can also email me an assignment directly if you’re afraid that you will
not be able to solve the Blackboard issue before the time that the assignment is due.

Emailing
I try to be prompt with replying to emails. Feel free to email me at any time of the day or night,
but note that the turn-around on my responses will be faster during regular work hours on
weekdays. Please do not be concerned if it takes me longer to email you back if you sent me a
message in the evening or during the weekend. In addition, when emailing me, please tell me
what class you’re taking with me either in the email heading or in the body of the email. This
will make it easier for me to assist you with any issues or questions you’re having.
Your assignments should be uploaded directly to Blackboard unless the assignment instructions
state otherwise. If you have issues uploading your paper to Blackboard, email me with your
assignment attached as a Word Document (.doc or .docx), PDF, or text document (.txt). Do not
email me a link to your paper on Microsoft Office online, Google Docs, or any other online word
processing software.

In-Class Policies
Regardless of the mode in which you attend class, I expect you to do the following.
 Expectations for Class Behavior:
My expectations of you are that you will:
• Read and take notes on the assigned readings before coming to class so that you
can actively engage in discussions and be able to answer questions pertaining to
the subject,
• Show respect for other students even if you do not agree with them,
• Refrain from using technology (computers, phones, iPods, etc.) in a way that is
distracting for yourself or other students.
Note on the Readings
All readings in this class will be available through Blackboard. You should download
these readings and take notes on them. You can do this in one of the following ways.
• Print out the readings and take written notes directly on them.
• Save the readings to your personal computer and use a pdf reader/editor, like
Adobe Acrobat (https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/acrobat/pdf-reader.html), Foxit
(https://www.foxitsoftware.com/), or Mendeley (https://www.mendeley.com/), to
take notes directly on the pdfs.
• Save the readings to your personal computer and hand-write or type your notes
separately while you read.
Regardless of the method that you choose, you should bring both your readings and your
notes to every class.
An Environment of Respect
In this class we will discuss sensitive topics that many people hold firm beliefs and
opinions about. Please feel comfortable to express your own thoughts; to challenge me,
your classmates, and even yourself; and to ask questions when you want more
clarification or explanation. At the same time, be respectful of others in this space even
when this may be difficult for you.
I endeavor to make my classroom a space in which generalities, assumptions, and
stereotypes are identified, challenged, and interrogated. My interest is not in changing
your opinions. It is in helping you to ask more and better questions about the world.
Use of Laptops and Other Devices
At this point in time I am allowing the use of laptops and phones in class, as long as these
items are used to read course material or to take notes. Note that using your laptop or
phone for other activities (such as, checking social media, writing papers for other
classes, playing games, or shopping online) is distracting for you and those around you.
Refrain from using any technology (computers, phones, iPods, etc.) in a way that is
distracting to yourself, me, or other students. If your use of technology is disruptive, you
will be asked not to bring those items to the class again. If this becomes a class-wide
problem, students will no longer be allowed to bring such items to class.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy

In cases where I discover an act of cheating or plagiarism has occurred, I will take all of the
following steps.
• I will inform the student that I detected the act of cheating or plagiarism, explain the
issues with the student’s work, and attempt to have a conversation with the student about
the incident of academic dishonesty.
 • I will fill out an Academic Dishonesty Report Form, which is sent to university
administration and the Social Sciences Department Head and includes the name of the
student involved in the act of cheating or plagiarism.
• I will assign one of the following sanctions based on my judgement of the seriousness of
the act of cheating or plagiarism and the student’s intention behind the act.
o Student must re-do the assignment,
o Student loses points on the assignment,
o Student receives a “0” on the assignment, or
o Student receives a reduced or failing grade in the course.

The following lists detail some acts of cheating or plagiarism that are specific to the assignments
in this course and provides advice for how to properly avoid breaches of academic integrity.

What counts as academic dishonesty on the Response Papers?

• Copying and pasting text from the textbook, another student's paper, or some other source
without making it clear that the words are not your own.
o You can make it clear that the words are a quote from a source by placing them in
quotation marks and providing the author, date of publication, and page number
for the source. For this class, use APA style.
• Copying text from the textbook, another student's paper, or some other source and
changing some words to synonyms.
o Even if you are changing some of the words, the idea you are stating did not come
directly from you. Either paraphrase the thoughts that you are citing (i.e., restate
them in your own words) or change them back to a direct quote and put them in
quotation marks. In either case (whether paraphrasing or using a direct quote),
you must still appropriately cite where the idea is coming from by including the
author and date of publication (and the page number if it is a direct quote). For
this class, use APA style.
• Paraphrasing (i.e., restating in your own words) without making it clear that the idea you
are discussing is coming from somewhere else.
o You can make it clear that the idea is from another source by providing the author
and date of publication for the source at the end of the sentence. For this class, use
APA style.

What counts as academic dishonesty on the Unit Exams?

• Having a friend or someone else take the test for you.
• Bringing hidden notes to the test or otherwise attempting to use the textbook or your
notes to give you the answers during the test.
o The Unit Exams are “closed note” and based on your memory and your ability to
study. I will provide study guides ahead of time that should help you prepare for
the quizzes.

Generative AI Policy
Generative AI tools are computer programs that can generate text, images, and other media.
These tools include but are not limited to programs like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and
Midjourney. In the future, the machine learning processes used by these programs may be used
in a variety of fields of work.

It remains important to acknowledge whether you are presenting a reading with your own work
or someone else’s. Inappropriate use of AI tools is a form of plagiarism and will be dealt with
using the same rules in the Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy listed above. If you use an
AI tool to complete an assignment for this class, include an “AI Usage Statement” at the end of
your assignment that describes in one to two sentences what tool you used and how you used it.
For instance, below your references on your Works Cited page you could write:

AI Usage Statement: The author used ChatGPT to help edit the grammar, spelling, and
syntax of this paper.

Appropriate uses of generative AI for this class are:

• Allowing a program to edit work you have already written for grammar, spelling, and
syntax mistakes.
• Using a program to help you brainstorm ideas.
• Using a program to help you create an outline for a paper.
• Using a program to help you identify resources. For instance, Elicit (https://elicit.org/) is
an AI tool that can be used to identify academic research.
• Other uses that you have discussed with me and gotten my approval for.

Inappropriate uses of generative AI for this class are:

• Using a program to write your assignment for you in whole or in part.
• Copying a writing prompt or question I have given you into an AI tool without my
permission. (My assignments are my intellectual property. Most AI tools save user inputs
and I don’t want to have things I’ve written entered into a program without my
knowledge.)
• Any other use that I have not listed above as being appropriate or that you have not
discussed with me and gotten my approval for.

In addition, I have some general advice about using these tools.

• Please be careful about what you enter into a generative AI tool. Your information may
be saved and used for purposes you are unaware of. Never enter personal information
into a chatbot. This includes things like your name, address, or place of business and
demographic information like your gender and race.
• If you choose to use an AI tool for this class or for any other purpose, make sure that
you are aware of the limits of that tool. Generative AI can produce seemingly plausible
responses that are actually inaccurate. It can be difficult to identify errors if you are not
already familiar with the subject you are asking a chatbot to write about.
Course Outline:
Learning Unit Week Monday Wednesday Friday
Week 1 Jan 8 Jan 10 Jan 12

Week 2 Jan 15 MLK Day Jan 17 Jan 19

No class.
Defining and Week 3 Jan 22 Jan 24 Jan 26
Researching Crime
Week 4 Jan 29 Jan 31 Feb 2 Study Day
No class.
Week 5 Feb 5 Feb 7 Feb 9
Exam 1
Week 6 Feb 12 Feb 14 Feb 16
RP 1 (Due Sat)
Week 7 Feb 19 Feb 21 Feb 23

Week 8 Feb 26 Feb 28 Mar 1

Week 9 Mar 4 Mar 6 Mar 8

Special Topics
Week 10 Mar 11 Mar 13 Mar 15

Week 11 Mar 18 Spring Mar 20 Spring Mar 22 Spring

Break Break Break
Week 12 Mar 25 Mar 27 Mar 29
Exam 2
Week 13 Apr 1 Apr 3 Apr 5

Week 14 Apr 8 Study Day Apr 10 Apr 12

Criminological No class. RP 2 (Due Sat)
Theories Week 15 Apr 15 Apr 17 Apr 19

Week 16 Apr 22 Apr 24 Apr 26

Week 17 Apr 29 May 1 May 3

RP 3 Exam 3

Important Dates
Jan 17: Last day to ADD classes.
Jan 22: Last day to DROP with no grade required.
March 3: Last day to DROP with a "W" required.
April 19: Last day to DROP with a "W" or "F."

Final Exam: Friday, May 3 at 8:00 am