Violent Crime and Victimization

Catalog description

This course focuses on the enduring problem of criminal violence in the United States. Students will gain an understanding of how specific forms of violence have emerged as societal problems through a social construction process, one fraught with ethical challenges where the social construction of violence has alleviated disadvantage in certain cases, while perpetuating disadvantage in others. Students will further develop a critical appreciation for data sources measuring different forms of violence and the myths surrounding violence. The course will explore violence from multiple perspectives, to promote knowledge of theory, research, and policy about (1) the violent offender, (2) their targets, and (3) the context and settings in which violence often transpires. Students will also learn in-depth about specific forms of violence that have become notable societal problems, including serial and mass murder, drugs and violence, intimate partner violence, as well as the ethical dilemmas contained in precautionary behaviors against violence, such as the acquisition of firearms for personal protection, and their intersections with race and gender.