Psychology & Law Emphasis

So you're interested in psychology and law?

You may be interested for one or more of several reasons:

1) It sounds fun

2) You're interested in going on to law school

3) You're interested in going on to grad school in this area

4) You're interested in going into law enforcement

5) You're interested in entering a Social Service Profession that intersects with law

These are all good reasons, and you should tailor your coursework around these interests.

Some Courses to Consider

650:172. Society, Politics, and the Person -- 3 hrs.
Critical investigation of contexts of engagement and responsibility of persons as members of social institutions and as participants in public discourse on policy and law. (Variable)

942:136(g). Administrative Law -- 3 hrs.
Judicially-enforceable requirements upon administrative agencies which affect private interests by making rules and orders, adjudicating cases, investigating, prosecuting, publicizing, and advising. Legislative and executive controls over the agencies. Prerequisite: junior standing. (Formerly 940:136g.) (Variable)

942:141(g). Constitutional Law -- 3 hrs.
Analysis of U.S. Supreme Court decisions and changes in doctrine over time and the political forces affecting these changes. Emphasis on the powers and constraints of the federal government, separation of powers, and federalism. Prerequisites: 942:014 or 942:146 or 942:147; junior standing. (Formerly 940:141g.) (Offered Fall)

942:142(g). Problems in Juvenile and Family Law -- 3 hrs.
Aspects of juvenile and family law; how legislature and courts have developed juvenile and family law, including marriage and divorce, adoption, and competency of minors. Prerequisite: junior standing. (Formerly 940:142g.) (Offered Fall and Spring)

942:146. Judicial Process I -- 3 hrs.
Study of courts in America today with emphasis on Appellate court procedures, decision making, and politics. (Formerly 940:146.) (Offered Fall)

942:147. Judicial Process II -- 3 hrs.
Study of courts in America today with emphasis on trial courts and criminal rights. Prerequisite: 942:146. (Formerly 940:147.) (Offered even Springs)

943:143(g). International Law -- 3 hrs.
Survey of international law from its development to contemporary issues. Prerequisite: junior standing. (Formerly 940:143g.) (Offered Fall)

400:070. Psychology and Law -- 3 hrs.
Addresses social psychological issues which deal specifically with the legal system. Topics covered include role of the psychologist as expert witness, eyewitness identification, repressed and false memories, the insanity defense, jury decision-making and lie detection and confessions. Prerequisite: 400:008. (Same as 980:070.) (Offered Fall and Spring)

980:022. Criminal Justice System -- 3 hrs.
Genesis, transformation, and day-to-day operation of criminal justice within our society; emphasis on interrelationships between specific stages in the crime-control process and the differences between U.S. and other criminal justice systems. Prerequisites: 980:058; sophomore standing. (Offered Fall and Spring)

 980:112. White Collar Crime -- 3 hrs.
Examination of theoretical definition, social impact, and changing relationship between current technological advancements and society's ability to both detect and punish white collar criminals. (Offered Fall)

 980:116(g). Correctional Treatment: Theory and Practice -- 3 hrs.
Examination of evolution and development of correctional treatment in United States, with special attention to description and evaluation of programs in juvenile and adult corrections. Alternatives to rehabilitative ideal; students are expected to develop other treatment models. Prerequisites: 980:126; 980:127; junior standing. (Offered Fall and Spring)

980:117. Community Corrections — 3 hrs.
Overview of sanctioning alternatives to imprisonment, including traditional probation and parole practices, as well as intermediate sanctions such as boot camps, electronic monitoring, fines, and intensive supervision. Sentencing will be discussed, as it influences probation/parole populations, as will the duties and responsibilities of probation and parole officers. Prerequisites: 980:022; 980:058; 980:126. (Variable)

980:119(g). Victimology -- 3 hrs.
Sociological investigation of institutional, economic, family, and personal victimization in American society with special attention to causes and processes of exploitation. Prerequisites: 980:058; junior standing. (Offered Fall)

980:121(g). Mental Deviance and Mental Health Institutions -- 3 hrs.
Study of social factors associated with mental illness; its onset, the organizational context of its care and treatment, and its effects on various societal institutions. Prerequisites: 980:060; junior standing. (Same as 450:121g.) (Offered Fall and Spring)

980:122(g). Youth Gangs -- 3 hrs.
Origins and development of youth gangs in United States. Topics include recent emergence of gangs, especially in Iowa, relationship between drugs and violence and gang activity, and creation of social policy to prevent and control gang activity. Prerequisites: 980:058; junior standing. (Offered Spring)

980:123(g). Social Deviance and Control -- 3 hrs.
Causes and consequences of socially-disapproved behavior; role of social control agencies in recruitment of deviant identities, management of and reaction to deviance; dynamics of labeling processes, and examination of social meaning of non-normative behavior. Prerequisites: 980:058; junior standing. (Offered Fall)

980:124(g). The Sociology of Policing -- 3 hrs.
Sociological investigation of evolution and structure of policing in United States society, with special attention to conflicts and imperatives which define police officers' roles and character of police work. Prerequisites: 980:022; junior standing.

980:126(g). Corrections and Punishment -- 3 hrs.
Punishment and correction in modern society, changing relationship between organization of society and handling of criminal offenders; emphasis on character and functions of contemporary conditions, and alternative response to crime. Prerequisites: 980:022; junior standing. (Offered Fall and Spring)

980:127. Juvenile Delinquency -- 3 hrs.
Types of juvenile delinquents, causes of delinquent behavior, social institutions and their effect upon delinquency, prevention, and control of delinquent behavior. Prerequisite: 980:022 or 980:060. (Offered Fall and Spring)

980:128(g). The Sociology of Law -- 3 hrs.
Sociological analysis of judicial and jury decision making, legal structures, legislation, power, beliefs, conflict, and social change. Examination of criminal, civil, and public law. Prerequisites: 980:058; junior standing. (Variable

980:129(g). Comparative Criminology -- 3 hrs.
Examination of criminology theory and practice in cross-cultural perspective. Prerequisites: 980:080; 980:123 or 980:127; junior standing. (Variable)

 980:131(g). Women and the Criminal Justice System -- 3 hrs.
Sociological analysis of women as victims, offenders, practitioners, and professionals in the criminal justice system. Examination of changing perceptions and behaviors of women in United States and other countries in relation to role expectations of women in criminal justice system. Prerequisites: 980:022; junior standing. (Offered Fall)

980:132(g). Juvenile Justice -- 3 hrs.
Examination of history, philosophies, and structure of juvenile justice system. Discussion of issues confronting legislators, the judiciary, and juvenile justice personnel in context of the need to provide treatment and protection of individual rights and liberty. Prerequisites: 980:022; 980:127; or consent of instructor; junior standing. (Offered Fall)

980:151(g). Crime and Social Inequality -- 3 hrs.
Introduction and review of major issues and concepts in the study of crime; classical and positivist; discussion of psychological and sociological theories of criminal behavior, and recent empirical research on crime, in relationship to social inequality, particularly issues of social class, and racial/ethnic relations. Prerequisites: 980:058; junior standing. (Offered Fall)

980:152. Crime and Community — 3 hrs.
Exploration of the connection between community characteristics and crime. Students are presented with theories that address why some neighborhoods have concentrated crime and learn about what scholars, organizers, police, and politicians can do to reduce crime. Prerequisite: 980:127. (Variable)

980:162(g). Politics, Law and Culture: Cross-Cultural Perspectives -- 3 hrs.
Comparative approach to study of politics and law in socio-cultural contexts. Consideration of political and legal institutions, systems, and processes based on case studies from selected cultures. Focus on traditional cultures. Prerequisites: 980:058 or 990:011; junior standing. (Same as 990:162g.) (Variable)

 980:175(g). Theory and Criminal Justice -- 3 hrs.
Analysis of crime and its effect upon society; examination of theoretical models undergirding prevention and control of criminal behavior; and model-building exercises on justice system. Prerequisites: 980:127; senior standing or consent of instructor. (Offered Fall and Spring)

 980:181(g). Seminar in Criminology -- 3 hrs.
Selected topics; opportunity to focus previous course work and knowledge on a special issue in criminology. Topic indicated in Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisites: 15 hours in criminology; junior standing. (Offered Fall and Spring)

990:155. Forensic Anthropology and Criminalistics — 3 hrs.
Scientific evaluation of crime scene evidence: forensic osteology; crime scene search methodology; evidence collections. Analysis of evidence including hair, fibers, saliva, blood splatter, fingerprints, and bullet wounds. Prerequisites: 990:010; junior standing; consent of instructor. (Offered Spring)

 990:162(g). Politics, Law and Culture: Cross-Cultural Perspectives -- 3 hrs.
Comparative approach to study of politics and law in socio-cultural contexts. Consideration of political and legal institutions, systems, and processes based on case studies from selected cultures. Focus on traditional cultures. Prerequisites: 980:058 or 990:011; junior standing. (Same as 980:162g.) (Variable)