This course explores potential answers to complex and important questions about criminal behavior by drawing on the social science of criminology. The primary emphasis of this course will be discussing and evaluating major explanations or theories of crime. The course will include sociological, biological, political, psychological and economic explanations for crime. The course will include a focus on the historical development of the theories, their major assumptions and propositions, their relevance for public policy and practice. As we progress through each explanation for crime, we critically evaluate the validity of different explanations for crime as well as criminal justice policies and practices that they support.

Students completing this course will be able to:

• Explain and discuss the fundamental and modern criminological theories
• Describe the social, economic, and political contexts in which ideas about crime and punishment arise
• Develop refined analytical skills regarding the application of these theories to current crime policies