CJS/225 - Critical Thinking in Criminal Justice
Course Description
This course introduces the topics of critical and creative thinking. This overview course defines and differentiates the two topics, and helps students explore how personal beliefs are formed and evaluated. Special attention is placed on how critical and creative thinking are used to create solutions to problems encountered by criminal justice and security personnel.
This undergraduate course is 5 weeks.
This course has a prerequisite. Please see details in the Prerequisite section below.
PLEASE NOTE:
Attendance and participation are mandatory in all university courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.
Course Objectives
Week 1
- Describe thinking and critical thinking.
- Explain how personal and professional barriers can impede the use of critical thinking skills within a criminal justice agency.
- Illustrate how critical thinking skills are used.
Week 2
- Explain different approaches to problem solving.
- Analyze critical and creative thinking approaches in the problem-solving process.
Week 3
- Identify information gathering and analysis in decision making.
- Justify the decision-making process in problem solving.
- Describe your personal decision-making approach.
Week 4
- Describe a problem-solving scenario that confronts criminal justice personnel.
- Develop personal approaches to using both critical and creative thinking skills.
Week 5
- Describe how technological advances have enhanced the critical thinking skills of criminal justice agencies.
- Evaluate the benefits and risks of the use of technology in creative thinking in criminal justice in the 21st century.
Prerequisites
A prerequisite is required for this course. The purpose of a prerequisite is to ensure students have the knowledge and/or skills needed to be successful in the course. Students are required to provide proof of prerequisite during the enrollment/registration process. To meet to a course prerequisite requirement, a student must have successfully completed the prerequisite course at University of Phoenix, provide proof via transcript of completing a comparable course (at least 75% match) or higher level course with at least a grade of C at another institution or have a University of Phoenix approved Student Appeal on file with the University.
This course requires the prerequisite below. Click on the prerequisite course to review the course topics and objectives.
- CJS/201 – Introduction to Criminal Justice or equivalent
During the checkout process you will be prompted to provide proof of the requirement(s). If you completed the prerequisite at another institution, be prepared to upload an official/unofficial transcript. If you have questions about meeting the prerequisite requirements for this course, please contact an enrollment representative.
Disclaimers
The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses.
While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with an Enrollment Representative.
Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice.