NCJ Number
124347
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Education Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1990) Pages: 87-98
Date Published
1990
Length
12 pages
Annotation
In keeping with other colleges and universities that have been reexamining their educational missions and core curricula in recent years, Memphis State University (MSU) has implemented a new general education curriculum that includes courses offered in criminal justice.
Abstract
Rather than focusing solely on disciplinary content, these two courses, offered by the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, develop basic academic competencies while exposing students to social science methodology used in the study of crime and criminal justice. While most introductory criminal justice courses are taught from a systems perspective, the two MSU courses focus more directly on general education objectives by analyzing the criminal justice process and challenging its traditional assumptions. Thus, the MSU program also serves as a possible prototype for similar programs nationwide. Initial reaction to the new curriculum has been favorable, but four ingredients have been identified as necessary to ensure the program's success: (1) faculty must have a solid understanding of the liberal arts, social science methodologies, and the interactions between society and its institutions; (2) classes must show a willingness to experiment with new teaching modalities and approach the study of crime and justice from new perspectives; (3) there must be an institutional commitment to support pedagogical experimentation; and (4) faculty must recognize that they can no longer plumb the esoteric depths of the criminal justice process if they expect to keep introductory students' interest. 26 references. (Author abstract modified)