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California State University, Dominguez Hills
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Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: February 19, 2009
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

CRMJ 490 Special Topics: Careers in Criminal Justice
(aka The Criminal Justice Profession)

You will be held accountable for the readings and discussion questions listed here. There will be no "testing." That means that you will not have to live in anxious anticipation of what we will ask and how much you will have to know. Instead, we will provide weekly discussion questions, lectures, essays, and concepts we feel that you should know as a result of having taken this course. You will assure us of that learning and receive your grade for the questions and concepts about which you choose to write and talk with us. In addition you will find detailed explanations and examples on our grading policies in the first week's reading.

* * * * *

Week 6: Week of February 22, 2009

Wednesday, February 25th - Midterm meetings begin. If you don't have a meeting scheduled, see me ASAP.

Friday, March 6th - Midterm Career Performance Portfolios are due. Late portfolios will not be accepted.

Topic: The CRMJ Hierarchy, Bureaucracy and Division of Labor

Preparatory Readings

• Susan Takata and Jeanne Curran. Theory, Policy, Practice of a Career. [online] --- Chapters 6 & 7.
  
• J. Scott Harrs & Karen Hess. Careers in Criminal Justice and Other Related Fields, [bundled with free access to the Cengage Learning's Career in Criminal Justice website]. --- .
  
  

• Mark Jones. Criminal Justice Pioneers in U.S. History. entire book .
• Spencer Johnson. Who Moved My Cheese? --- entire book

• Dr. Seuss' Oh, the Places You'll Go -- [Thank you, Jeni for suggesting this Seuss book for this class. Unfortunately, there is no video or DVD on this book yet!] .
  
  
• Randy Pausch. The Last Lecture. (optional)
• Richard Bolles. What Color is Your Parachute 2009? (optional)

Lecture related links:



• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
• Those Infamous Grades and Letters of Recommendation
  
  

Concepts to be covered:



• achieved status v. ascribed status
• red badge of power
• division of labor
• hierarchy
• social class
• bureaucracy
• difference
• marginal man
• gatekeeping isms
• equal opportunity
• affirmative action
• re-entry worker



Discussion Questions:

Note: You need to complete the readings in order to answer these questions.

1. Now that we have read Criminal Justice Pioneers... in its entirety, can you list at least three individuals who should be included? Explain why.

2. Select a social setting, (i.e., work, school, home), and describe the division of labor. Who does what? Why.

3. Based on you and your experiences, list at least two examples of ascribed status and two examples of achieved status.

4. Provide an example when you have power or are in power. Next, describe a situation when you are "marginalized." Why.

5. In examining your career path, which gatekeeping ism will be the most troublesome? Why.

6. Explain affirmative action in theory, as a policy and in practice.



Self-Assessment Questions for Career Performance Portfolio:




1. Explain in depth, how your career performance portfolio specifically connects to the readings, class discussions, and major concepts discussed in class. Demonstrate how your portfolio relates to "theory, policy, practice". What have you learned at midterm?
2. Assess how the 6Cs apply to your career performance portfolio, with special attention on competence and creativity. What is your career performance portfolio self-assessment (provide a letter grade) ___ ? Explain why this particular grade.

Suggestions for your Career Portfolio:

Note: Start thinking about ideas for your creative measures. Must relate to "the criminal justice profession." Must be approved before starting your creative measure. Cannot be something that you are doing or have done for another course. Research cannot be 100% online (i.e., google, askjeeves). Must conduct library research using scholarly works, (not the popular press -- Time Magazine, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated). You will need to submit a bibliography with each project. No term papers! Allow time to dialogue and present your creative measure in class. Email me your ideas ASAP!



• new Write one to two pages discussing role models and mentors who have helped you along the way.
• new Map out or illustrate your career path to date.
• Go to the latest edition of The Occupational Outlook Handbook, and look up your career goal. What does it say about your future career? Based on the OOH, what didn't you know about your career goal? Why.
• Read a biography or autobiography about a prominent CRMJ professional.

Recommended Readings:

• Arlie Hochschild. Second Shift.
  
• Richard Bolles. What Color is Your Parachute?
• Malcolm Gladwell. Outliers: The Story of Success.
• Dennis W. Bakke. Joy at Work.
• Megan Hustad. How to be Useful.
  

• Jurgen Habermas. Between Facts and Norms.
  
• Martha Minow. Making All the Difference: Exclusion, Inclusion and American Law. Check out this link Martha Minow on the Dear Habermas site.
  
  
  

Course Syllabus for CRMJ 490 "Special Topics: Careers in Criminal Justice" (aka The Criminal Justice Profession)

takata@uwp.edu