Explore online education in Tennessee

CJA 3230 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

CJA 3230 - Police Organization and Administration

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course provides the foundation for understanding the American law enforcement system by introducing essential elements of American law enforcement organization and practices. The main focus of the course is to examine the development of early policing and modern law enforcement systems; recruitment and training process; the structure and function of the police; legal issues that affect policing; and current issues and problems in the field of law enforcement.

Course Outcomes:
  • Understand the history and development of law enforcement - How formal law enforcement was created
  • Identify the process of recruitment, selection, and training in law enforcement
  • Understand issues and problems in law enforcement
  • Identify the structure and operation of American police organization
  • Examine methods of problem solving and decision making
  • Understand the Constitution and laws that influence policing
  • Assess the types of police behavior, subculture, and stressors
  • Understand police-community relations 
Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

Students majoring in Criminal Justice administration must complete and receive a passing grade in CJA 1100. For other students, this course does not require introductory knowledge of law enforcement. However, some familiarity with the law enforcement system including concepts, organization and functions will help achieve the objectives of this course.

Course Topics:
Specific Course Requirements:
  • You should be familiar with browsing through the internet because you need to search for additional information related to this course and assignments.
  • This course requires essay writing to complete assignments. Therefore you need to be able to use word processor software such as Word or WordPerfect - being able to use word processor implies that you know most of the basic functions.
  • You also need to learn how to navigate inside RODP course site. For example, how to download assignment documents from this course site to your computer and upload finished assignment documents from your computer to this course site.

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

No purchase of supplementary material is needed. However, the following lists can be helpful as additional materials.

  • Darl H. Champion, Sr. and Michael K. Hooper, Introduction to American Policing. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill.
  • Heath Grant and Karen J. Terry, Law Enforcement in the 21st Century. Pearson Education, Inc.
  • Henry M. Wrobleski and Karen M. Hess, An Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. Wadsworth.
  • John M. Scheb & John M. Scheb, II, Criminal Law and Procedure. Wadsworth Thomson Learning.
  • William G. Doerner, Introduction to Law Enforcement: An Insider's View. Butterworth-Heinemann. 
Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:

None.

Grading Procedures:
  • Your grade will consist with assignments, quizzes, discussion, and class participation.
  • Each student will have an opportunity to accumulate 3010 points. The accumulated scores will be divided by 3010 and the corresponding letter grade will be posted as your final grade.
  • 13 assignments: 100 points each
  • 13 quizzes: 100 points each
  • 13 discussion sessions: 30 points each
GradesPoint ValueTotal
13 Assignments100 points each1300 points
13 Quizzes100 points each1300 points
13 Discussion Boards30 points each390 points
  TOTAL POINTS: 2990
Grading Scale:

A 2990 - 2691 points
B 2690 - 2392 points
C 2391 - 2093 points
D 2092 - 1794 points
F 1793 - 0 points

Assignments and Projects:
  • There are 13 assignments throughout the course and students are expected to submit completed assignments by due dates which are posted in the course calendar.
  • Unless noted otherwise noted in the course calendar or instructor reminder notes, weekly assignments are available from Thursdays 12:01am to Wednesdays 11:59pm.
    • SUMMER SEMESTER: All due dates for course requirements for the summer semester differ from spring and fall semesters. Due dates for summer semester course requirements will be addressed in the course calendar and the instructor reminder notes. 
  • When an emergency (such as medical emergency) occurs, please contact the instructor as soon as possible.
  • Each assignment has 7-10 essay questions.
  • A sample format for the assignment is available in the Course Modules - check Assessments & Evaluation.
  • Multiple or late submission will not be accepted.
  • Don't miss any work because each missing work will receive 5 point deduction in participation score.
  • College students are expected to write with proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, and organization. Failing to do so will result in additional points being deducted from your course work. Read the syllabus carefully to become knowledgeable of course requirements, to find out how to complete and submit your assignments, and to determine how written replies or answers should be composed and formatted. Everything you write (assignments, discussions, e-mails) will be graded on how well you write and how well you present the information.

Make sure your computer time is synchronized with the university’s time. The university's computer time is the only correct time as far as this program is concerned.

DO NOT wait until 11:59 PM to attempt a submission. Always make sure your assignment is delivered successfully. It is the student's responsibility to learn the basic structure and mechanics for accessing the courses materials, communicating with the instructor and other members of the course, and completing assignments.

All assignments MUST be sent through the DROPBOX. They will not be accepted through personal email. ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN “.doc”, “.docx”, or “htm” configuration. All other formats cannot be opened and will not be accepted. Make sure you have a word processing program that allows you to submit your assignments in the proper configuration. Students are responsible for the purchase of all required hardware, software, and materials necessary for RODP courses.

You must follow the instructions in the course syllabus on how to properly format assignments. Failure to follow the instructions on how to compose and submit assignments will result in a deduction of one letter grade which is the equivalent of 10 points. Incomplete and/or incorrect answers will result in additional points being deducted from your grade. Multiple submissions or late submission of assignments will not be accepted.

Failure to submit an assignment will result in a -5 grade.

Instruction to complete and submit assignment

  1. Download an assignment file to your computer.
  2. Open the assignment file and change the file name - your last name + assignment number (Jones 001).
  3. Write your answer under each question and save it by clicking on save icon. o See notes below for formatting instructions.
  4. Go back to the RODP course Dropbox site.
  5. Upload your finished assignment.
  6. The instructor is not responsible for the failed delivery of an assignment. Always make sure that your assignment is delivered successfully. The instructor will not accept the failed submission as an excuse.
  7. Revisit the Dropbox site to check comments from the instructor
  8. A graded assignment will be available by end of day Sunday. Notify the instructor if you don't have a grade posted by the end of day Monday.
  9. Follow the below listed guidelines when formatting your paper and the answers to the questions:
  • Include your name, course number, semester, and assignment number and title at the top left corner.
    • Example:
      • John Doe
      • CJA-3020
      • Fall 2012
      • Assignment #7 (Police Use of Force)
  • Include questions and points for each question in your assignment
  • Double space between the question and the first line of the answer
  • Double between the end of the answer and the next question.
  • Answers are required to be written in essay format - use complete sentences.
  • Answers should address parts of each question.
  • Most 10 points-questions require at least 7-10 sentences to answer adequately. Questions of a greater value will require more extensive answers.
  • Don't write an answer in one long paragraph. Begin a new paragraph when the topic of the answer changes.
  • Single-space the text.
  • Use 12 points and serif typeface such as Courier or Times Roman.
  • Leave 1" margins all around.
  • Left justification.
  • Don't copy the textbook or lecture note word by word. You need to answer questions in your own words to convince the instructor that you fully understand the issues and statements of the topic.
  • Clarity of your answer will be counted in your grade.
  • Check the spelling and the grammar before you submit your assignment.
  • There will be a significant penalty for not following these instructions.

Quizzes:

  • There is no mid-term or final exam.
  • Throughout the semester, there are 13 quizzes.
  • Each quiz is available for one week (Thursdays 12:01am to Wednesday 11:59pm).
  • Summer Semester: quizzes are available as noted in the course calendar and Assessments tool.
  • Each quiz has 25 questions - multiple choice and true/false.
  • The quizzes are closed-book test and have a 30 minute time limit.
  • Make sure your computer time is synchronized with the RODP computer.
  • Students have only one access to each test and need to allocate enough time to take a test without interruption.
  • Students need to study both textbook and lecture note before taking any test.
  • Students are expected to take and complete each test by due date.
  • Don't miss any work because each missing work will receive 5 point deduction in participation score.
  • Check the results of a quiz by visiting the site the following week. The score will be posted on the following Monday or Tuesday.
  • When an emergency (such as medical emergency) occurs, please contact the instructor as soon as possible.

Discussion

If we were in the classroom, class participation would be an integral part of the course work and would count toward your grade. Since we are not in a classroom, we as a class will participate in discussions. Weekly topics are listed for discussion and everyone is expected to participate in the discussion sessions. I have found that grades tend to go up depending upon the level of participation during discussions. Participation in discussions is a very easy way to improve your grade. Approximately 13% of your final grade is accrued through the discussion sessions. You are (1) required to provide your personal comments/position/opinion on each subject as well (2) why you agree or disagree with at least two other students' responses. Don't be the last one every week to post comments. That would seem to imply you are simply copying all the other students and it does not allow other students to comment on your postings. All comments are to have substance. Limiting your postings to "I agree or I disagree" will not suffice.

If another student or the instructor asks you a question about your postings, you must answer the question. Failure fail to answer the student/instructor will result in a deduction of points. Discussions mean that we discuss!!! That means you will have to review all comments. I am sure there will be differing opinions, but please be respectful with your comments. Your weekly comments regarding the topic of discussion must be entered prior to Wednesday at 11:59 PM. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a loss of discussion (participation) points.

Class Participation:
  • Since there is no on-campus meeting, your class attendance and participation will be graded by consistent class activities. For example, if a student misses an assignment, it is very logical to infer that the student has not studied the assigned chapter of the textbook.
    • Each missing work will receive 5 point deduction in participation score.
  • Visit website of this course every day to check any announcement or email. 
Late Policy:
  • Always check the course Calendar site for any assignment/quiz due.
  • Late submission will not be accepted. All assignments and quizzes have due dates so the sites will not allow you to have an access after due dates.
  • Don't depend on your own clock.
  • There are no excuses for late materials (assignments, quizzes, discussions) when we have digital dropboxes and a week to complete course work. Proactively manage your time. Back up all work on a flash drive, Cloud or Google Docs to prepare for computer crashes, lost flash drives, etc. Digital deaths, accidental erasing, loss, sending assignments in an ancient program or format I cannot open, etc. will not garner an excuse for a missed assignment.

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on July 12, 2021