This course explores crime’s nature, extent, and causes while reflecting on their alignment with God’s mission. Students examine criminological theories—biological, psychological, sociological, and environmental—and analyze social factors like poverty and inequality, connecting them to biblical principles of justice, compassion, and redemption. Unlike skill-focused courses, it provides a holistic understanding of crime’s social construction and systemic influences like poverty and inequality. Students develop critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills, connecting individual actions to broader societal dynamics. Through case studies and discussions, the course emphasizes justice and restoration, preparing students to enforce laws, prevent crime, and enhance community well-being.
This course equips Christian believers pursuing law enforcement careers with a deep understanding of crime’s causes through biological, psychological, sociological, and environmental lenses, integrated with God’s mission. It fosters empathy and discernment, rooted in Christian values of justice and compassion. By examining social institutions and issues like poverty, students learn to address systemic challenges, promoting healing and restoration. Through case studies, data analysis, and discussions, students develop critical thinking and practical skills to navigate real-world scenarios, enabling them to serve communities effectively while upholding ethical and spiritual principles in law enforcement.
This course is essential for criminal justice students, providing a deep understanding of crime’s root causes through biological, psychological, sociological, and environmental perspectives. It offers a holistic view, enabling proactive and compassionate crime addressing. By exploring the social construction of crime and systemic issues like poverty, students connect individual actions to societal dynamics, which enables them to better understand motivations behind crimes. Through case studies and discussions on justice and restoration, students are prepared to enforce laws, prevent crime, and enhance community well-being, making this course a cornerstone for any criminal justice career.
This course integrates the “Biblically-based” core value, grounding criminology in the missio Dei, emphasizing justice (Micah 6:8), compassion (Matthew 25:35-40), and restoration (Isaiah 61:1-2). It examines crime’s biological, psychological, sociological, and environmental causes through a lens of spiritual healing and reconciliation. Students explore social issues like poverty, connecting them to God’s call for shalom. Through case studies and discussions, students develop skills for culturally appropriate community transformation, blending academic rigor with evangelical values. This approach equips students to address crime as incarnational mission, preparing them for criminal justice careers rooted in God’s redemptive work.
The core value of being “Missionally-driven” shapes this course, equipping students to join God’s redemptive mission through a contextual understanding of crime’s biological, psychological, sociological, and environmental causes. Aligned with the missio Dei, students address societal brokenness with compassion and justice. Case studies and discussions connect issues like poverty and inequality to God’s call for shalom, preparing students as transformative agents in criminal justice. By fostering culturally relevant, biblically informed approaches to crime prevention and community restoration, the course empowers students to embody the university’s mission-driven ethos, contributing to God’s reconciliation and healing in diverse contexts.
The core value of being “Contextually-informed” is woven into this course, equipping students to address crime within diverse cultural, social, and environmental contexts, aligning with the university’s commitment to culturally relevant engagement in God’s mission. By examining crime’s biological, psychological, sociological, and environmental causes, students explore how poverty, inequality, and cultural dynamics shape behavior. Through case studies, data analysis, and discussions, they apply criminological theories to real-world scenarios, developing compassionate, effective responses. This prepares students for criminal justice roles, promoting justice and restoration with cultural sensitivity, in alignment with God’s redemptive purposes across diverse settings.
This course integrates the “Interculturally-focused” core value, preparing students to address crime with cultural sensitivity, aligning with God’s mission. Emphasizing service among diverse ethnic and international groups, it examines crime’s biological, psychological, sociological, and environmental causes, highlighting how cultural contexts, poverty, and inequality influence behavior. Through global and multicultural case studies and discussions, students apply criminological theories to foster equitable justice and restoration. This approach equips criminal justice professionals with skills to build inclusive, healing responses, bridging cultural divides and advancing shalom in diverse settings, reflecting evangelical Christian values.
This course integrates the “Practically-minded” core value, equipping students with actionable skills to address crime in real-world settings, aligning with God’s mission. Exploring biological, psychological, sociological, and environmental factors, students use case studies, data analysis, and discussions to translate theory into effective crime prevention and community restoration strategies. They develop competencies like analyzing crime patterns and designing culturally relevant interventions, preparing for criminal justice roles. By connecting academics with hands-on applications, the course empowers students to serve as transformative agents, promoting justice, compassion, and shalom in alignment with evangelical Christian values.
The core value of being “Experientially-transformed” shapes this course, fostering transformative learning to deepen students’ understanding of crime, aligning with God’s mission. Through immersive case studies, data analysis, and reflective discussions, students explore crime’s biological, psychological, sociological, and environmental causes, addressing societal challenges like poverty and inequality. This hands-on approach internalizes biblical principles of justice and compassion, equipping students for criminal justice roles as agents of restoration. By engaging diverse contexts and applying theoretical knowledge practically, students undergo personal transformation, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to God’s redemptive work with renewed vision and purpose.
