CRJS 495: Sex Crimes is a three-credit, senior-level course offered by Athabasca University. The course covers a range of topics that are of mutual interest to professionals involved in the administration of justice, including the enforcement or evaluation/rehabilitation sectors.
Sexual crimes, more than any other type, incite a reaction in the general population that includes anguish, fear and anger. The image of a violent pedophile is rarely without commentary from other community members. However, such strong sentiments are not accompanied by objective knowledge of this area of crime.
In this course, we explore a range of sex crimes to understand types of offenders and ways in which their behaviours can be modified. Students involved practically in the justice system will find the course content to be of specific relevance. Additionally, it will be of interest to those studying abnormal behaviour and criminology.
Outline
CRJS 495 comprises the following 7 units.
Unit 1: Sex Behaviours, Crimes and Theories of Sexual Deviance (Chapters 1 and 2)
Unit 2: Sex in History and Nuisance Sex Behaviours (Chapters 3 and 4)
Unit 3: Incest and Pedophilia (Chapters 5 and 6)
Unit 4: Pornography (Chapters 7 and 8)
Unit 5: Sex, the Internet and Dangerous Sex Crimes (Chapters 9 and 10)
Unit 6: Sexually Motivated Homicides and Sexual Assault (Chapters 11 and 12)
Unit 7: Helping Victims and Rehabilitating Offenders (Chapters 13 and 14)
Evaluation
To receive credit for CRJS 495, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least a D (50 percent). You must achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on each assignment/examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Activity
Weight
7 Unit Quizzes (5% each)
35%
Research Paper
25%
Exam
40%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Note: Weighting in grouped-study offerings may be altered to accommodate a classwork component.
Materials
Holmes, S. T., & Holmes, R. M. (2009). Sex crimes: Patterns and behaviors (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage. (eText)
Most of the course materials for CRJS 495 are available online through the myAU portal, and these will be sent to you before your course start date.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for CRJS 495, you must complete all evaluation components for the course (i.e., the 7 unit quizzes, the research paper and the final exam). Your overall grade must be D (50 percent) or better and you must pass the final exam. The passing grade for the exam is D (50 percent).
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.