20 courses with the subject CJ, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
CJ 209Introduction to Justice Studies
This course provides an introduction to the Criminal Justice System, including its basic components: policing, the courts, and corrections. The primary goal is for students to develop a basic understanding of the justice system and its response to crime at the State and Federal levels. This class explores historical and emerging issues involved with the nature and measurement of crimes, patterns of offenders, and victimization. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
This course will provide an in-depth examination of the crimes and actions most encountered by the private industry and the public law enforcement officer. We will also examine recent court decisions. Students will become acquainted with concepts of search and seizure, individual restraint, and limitations of personal freedom and expression. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
This course examines the fundamentals of cybersecurity and various measures to avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime. Students will look at the current challenges of combating cybercrime and ways to avoid becoming a victim through real-world case studies and discussions of cybersecurity best practices. Students will learn key terms, concepts, and techniques to apply cybersecurity both at home and in work environments. Finally, the course delves into understanding the current cybercrime trends and threats posed to individuals and organizations in and through cyberspace. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
The United States Constitution is the operating manual of our government. This course examines how the criminal justice system is underpinned by that great document. Since the United States Constitution determines the processes and definitions of Criminal and Social Justice in our society, it is necessary to study the history and origins of applicable legal doctrines as they relate to the practices of today’s criminal justice system. We will utilize court cases involving the constitutionality of the administration of justice. We will examine these topics in a layered approach incorporating legal, empirical, and policy implementations. Ethical, procedural, and political issues will also be examined and debated. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
Specialty courts are defined as those courts that provide custom treatment to specific challenges, such as drugs, veterans, mental health, homeless, domestic abuse, etc. This course examines how specialty courts operate within the criminal justice system. Emphasis is placed on the definitions and processes of specialty courts within both the Commonwealth of MA and the United States. We will utilize court cases to explore specialty courts in depth and will provide experiential learning opportunities for students to immerse themselves within specialty courts. 3 Hours, 1 Semester Return to Table of Contents Nichols College 2026-2027 Catalog 128
American Corrections provides students with a fundamental understanding of corrections through historical development, modern engagement, and future implications. This course focuses on philosophies and theories of punishment, operational structure of the American Correctional Model, and experiences of incarcerated individuals and correctional staff. It further explores challenges facing corrections today, to include sentencing, offender management, legal concerns, special populations, and reentry. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
CJ 302 Security Investigations CJ 306 Women, Violence, & Conflict CJ 324 Forensic Analysis and Interpretation CJ 325 Criminology CJ 347 Emergency Planning and Disaster Management CJ 375 Research Methods in Criminal Justice CJ 417 Homeland Security/Terrorism CJ 493 Physical Security
CJ 302Security Investigations: Concepts, Principles & Practices
In this course, students will be introduced to the dynamic process of security investigations. We will explore the characteristics that investigators rely upon to be successful, the process that is followed during an investigation, and the legal requirements that guide how investigations must be conducted. Students will develop interview and interrogation skills and examine unsolved cases as part of their exploration of how investigations, both for law enforcement and in the private sector. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
This course will explore a gendered approach to violence, including violent extremism and terrorism. Preconceived notions will be challenged. Focus will be placed on the motivations for participation in violent crimes, including the relationship between conflict and violence both locally and globally. Exploration of the radicalization process of females and methods to combat this radicalization process will be analyzed. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
This course will focus on the development of the skills necessary to elicit information from victims, potential witnesses and/or offenders. Topics include the art of interviewing, deception detection, and the use of legal and ethical interrogation techniques to obtain factual information regarding a crime. You will learn critical listening and questioning skills and sharpen their application through practical exercises in class and field assignments. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
The forensic sciences have become a vital part of our criminal justice system over the past several decades. A rise in more sophisticated technology and several high-profile cases have helped to move forensic science out of the laboratory and into popular culture. This class will present the forensic sciences in a straightforward fashion. Basic scientific principles will be explained, and case examples used to understand how those principles are applied. An emphasis will be placed on the role of the crime scene investigator and how they preserve, record, and collect evidence at the crime scene. Specific areas of study will include how a crime scene is recorded and evidence collected, death investigations, crime scene reconstruction, fingerprints, blood spatter analysis, ballistics, fire and explosion investigations, trace evidence, and the use of DNA. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
Within the field of criminal justice, it is necessary to understand why some people commit crimes and others do not. Crime rates throughout the world are continuously monitored and everyone wants to know the profile of the typical offender; yet it is relevant that we explore the principles and theories that correlate with crime rates and its offenders. This course will explore historical and contemporary theories of the causes of crime; including theories derived from biological, psychological, sociological, geographic, economic, and political perspectives. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
This course will cover topics such as risk identification and assessment of multi-hazards whether natural and man-made, violence in the workplace, development of crisis and disaster incident management programs, and business/agency continuation planning. Students will understand that natural and man-made hazards represent a threat to the financial welfare of a corporation/agency and the safety of its employees and visitors. Students will have the opportunity to obtain FEMA certifications, along with a suicide prevention certificate. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
This course introduces students to scientific methodology as it relates to criminal justice in order for students to become researchers and understand the field of research as it relates to criminal justice. This course provides students with an understanding of the methods of research available to criminologists and the police. It also connects theory to data and emphasizes the ability to comprehend the logic behind statistical tests of significance. Understanding the development and testing of hypotheses, data collection, data analysis, and presentation of findings is the underlying theme of the course. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
Internships are among the most critical components of a student’s education. This closely supervised on-the-job training is designed to provide students with opportunities to apply their criminal justice course work in a professional setting. Internships are completed under the guidance of an on-site supervisor and a faculty sponsor. Students will enroll in a three-credit course which requires 120 hours of work at the internship site as well as additional academic requirements. Internships may be in both the public or private sector, and at state, local or federal levels. International internships will also be considered. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
Terrorism has become one of the defining security concerns of the 21st century. However, the definition of terrorism and how it should be confronted, is a complex, and often divisive topic. In this course we will conduct an in-depth examination of the historical foundations of terrorism and its modern form. Students will learn about terrorist ideology, organizational structure, and methods of operation. Students will discuss and understand the concepts of domestic terrorism and its implications within both public and private sectors, as well as political and social ramifications. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
This capstone course will examine state-of-the-art (best practice) methodologies, strategies and approaches relevant to the acquisition of skills, competencies and conceptual (big picture) expertise necessary for successful and effective security management, as well as research emerging in the field of criminal justice. This course will emphasize qualitative and quantitative (analytical) approaches relevant to the accurate forecasting, identification and assessment of security-related issues, and concerns in multi-national environments using problem-based learning as the primary instructional strategy. 3 Hours, 1 Semester
CJ 493Physical Security: System Design, Integration & Control
Physical security refers to the complex steps that are taken by security professionals to ensure the safety of facilities, resources, and personnel. This class will have two components. In the first, students will learn core concepts of physical security. In addition, they will learn methods to conduct risk and security assessments. For the second half of the class, students will work in teams and select a local business or organization. They will then consult with that business or organization to conduct a detailed risk and security assessment. Their findings will be concluded in a detailed report that will be sent to the manager of their organization and presented to the rest of the class. 3 Hours, 1 Semester Return to Table of Contents Nichols College 2026-2027 Catalog 130
