NCJ Number
44619
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 456-464
Date Published
1977
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE DIVERSITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE CURRICULUMS IS EXAMINED, AND CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARE ALSO KNOWN AS ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, SOCIAL JUSTICE, PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE SCIENCE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. AT THE TIME THE ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN, THERE WERE 803 ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 376 BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS, 121 MASTERS PROGRAMS, AND 19 DOCTORAL PROGRAMS. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE VARIATION AMONG THE PROGRAMS IN ORIENTATION, CURRICULUM, FACULTY, AND STUDENT POPULATION. THE PROGRAMS MAY BE DIVIDED INTO THREE CURRICULUM CATEGORIES: TRAINING; PROFESSIONAL; AND SOCIAL SCIENCE. THE HISTORY OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD IS TRACED, WITH REFERENCE TO FACTORS LEADING TO THE DIVERSITY IN CURRICULUMS. THE DISCUSSION OF CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONS RESTS IN PART ON THE VIEW THAT PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FUNCTION IS BOTH DESIRABLE AND INEVITABLE. A SECOND CONSIDERATION IS THE FUNCTIONAL NATURE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. OTHER FACTORS GOVERNING CURRICULUM CONTENT ARE ASPECTS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE METHODOLOGY AND STUDENT CLIENTELE. A SOUND UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAM IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS VIEWED AS A SYNTHESIZED CURRICULUM ENCOMPASSING PROFESSIONAL AND LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL AND LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION CAN BE REDUCED TO FOUR LINKS: THE SOCIAL OR BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES; THE PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; THE HISTORY AND COMPARATIVE STUDY AREAS OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES; AND ETHICS. ADVANTAGES OF THE PROPOSED CURRICULUM FOUNDATION ARE NOTED.