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California State University, Dominguez Hills
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Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: April 30, 2009
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

CRMJ 490 Special Topics: Careers in Criminal Justice
(a.k.a. 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.

* * * * *

Our latest class photo with everyone (including Nick)!

Week 15: Week of April 26, 2009

Friday, May 1st at the beginning of class -- Final Career Portfolio due

Friday, May 8th - Last Day of Class

Topic: The CRMJ Profession in Theory, Policy, Practice

Preparatory Readings

• Susan Takata and Jeanne Curran. Theory, Policy, Practice of a Career. [online] --- Chapters 12 and Now what?
  
• 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]. entire book .
• Documentary: "---" (to be shown in class).

• 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:



• the Rule of Positive Choice
• relevance
• social context
• letter of recommendation
• the primary and recency effects
• the interview



Discussion Questions:

Note: You need to incorporate the documentary, "---" into your answers to these questions.

1. Describe a situation where you turned a big "negative" into a positive. Explain the situation and the results.

2. What is the difference between "advice" and "hype"?

3. What were your childhood dreams? What happened to them? Have you achieved any of them? Explain.

4. What wisdom would you choose to impart to the world if it was your last chance?



Elements for the Final Career Performance Portfolio:



• Final Portfolio is due at the beginninig of class on Friday, May 1st.
  
  
  1. Your Final Course Objectives Please add a discussion of how you have accomplished our objectives
  2. Your Final Resume
  3. Your Final Biography
  4. Second Half Elective Elements (3 to 5 new pieces with at least one being "visual")
  5. (Optional) Resubmit First Half Elective Elements (if they show improvements)
     

     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 since 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 career portfolio. Should relate to "the criminal justice profession." 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). No term papers! Allow time to dialogue (i.e. revise and resubmit)!
     
     

     • new Select a one week period. Record how you spend you time. Analyze your use of time. How efficient are you? Are there ways to improve?
     • new Put together a collage that would summarize what "success" means to you?
     • Develop a photographic presentation of the do's and don'ts when decorating one's office (or cubicle) .
     • Create a visual collage tracing your career path.
     • Select one or two "most dreaded interview questions," and develop your answer to them.
     • Take pictures of yourself (or have a friend photograph you):What you would wear to an interview? What you would not wear to an interview? Explain why for both situations.
     • Videotape yourself answering interview questions. Constructively critique your "performance."
     • Beyond the OOH, examine other forecasts in your career field. Compare and contrast the OOH with these other sources.
     • Map out where your career path will go after commencement at UWP.
     
     

     Recommended Readings:

     
     
     • Robin Ryan. 60 Seconds and You're Hired!
     • Matthew DeLuca. Best Answers to the 201 Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions. [Thank you Kylie for bringing this book to our attention!]
       
     • Harvey MacKay Sharkproof.
     • Harvey MacKay Swim with the Sharks
     • Malcolm Gladwell. Outliers: The Story of Success.
     • Dennis W. Bakke. Joy at Work.
     • Megan Hustad. How to be Useful.
     • Arlie Hochschild. Second Shift.
       

     • 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" (a.k.a. The Criminal Justice Profession)

takata@uwp.edu