Cj 410A Seminar:
Profiling Serial & Mass Murderers
Dr. Reynolds Fall ‘08
Office Location:
Building 4, Room Number 148
Office Hours:
Mondays & Wednesdays,
Thursdays, 11-12
Office Telephone:
973.618.3527
E-mail: mreynolds@caldwell.edu
If I am not in my
office please leave a message on my voice mail, and I will return your call as
soon as possible. I am not on campus on
Fridays.
Required Texts:
1. Fox, James Alan
and Jack Levin. 2005. Extreme Killing
Understanding Serial and
Mass Murder.
2. Hickey, Eric W.
2006. Serial Murderers and Their Victims.
4th ed.
Optional Text:
American
Sociological Association. 2002. American
Sociological
Association Style Guide.
3rd ed.
To purchase this
style guide you may contact the ASA via e-mail at publications@asanet.org, or through
their website, www.asanet.org, and click
on publications.
Course Description:
This
course examines theories of criminal behavior and applies them to well-known
cases of serial and mass murder. The
course also examines various motives for serial and mass murder. Lastly, this course examines the
characteristics of both serial and mass killers and their victims. The investigative process involved in
capturing a serial killer is also addressed.
Course Objectives:
¨
To
define and describe the nature and extent of serial and mass murder;
¨
To
examine the interest in serial and mass murder in popular culture;
¨
To debunk
myths surrounding serial and murder;
¨
To
explore theories of criminal behavior and apply them to cases of serial and
mass murder;
¨
To
uncover the characteristics and backgrounds of serial and mass murderers;
¨
To
examine the variety of serial and mass killings;
¨
To
delve into the nature of the victim-offender relationship; and
¨
To
understand the investigative process of serial and mass murder by law
enforcement agencies.
Course
Requirements:
A.
Exams: There will be
three exams spaced evenly throughout the course of the semester. Exams will be based on text readings, class
lectures, and class discussions.
Students are responsible for all information in their text chapters,
even if we do not go over the material in class. Exams will be a combination of objective
questions (fill-ins, completions, multiple choice, true/false), short answer
questions, and essay questions. Time
permitting, we will review for exams.
THERE
ARE NO MAKE-UPS FOR MISSED EXAMS! (Unless
there was a death in the student's immediate family, the student is an athlete
with a game scheduled, or the student is ill and has a note from their family
doctor). All of these aforementioned
scenarios require proof from the student as to why they missed an exam. In any of the aforementioned scenarios the
student must alert the professor of their situation at least one day prior to the exam. Do not just fail to show up for an exam
because you will get a zero for the exam and will not be able to make it
up. There
are no make-ups for the final exam. All
exams are of equal weight in determining the student's final grade.
The final exam is scheduled for
B. Paper: non-fiction
book choice on a Serial Killer (see attached assignment for details)
Ë
We will cover all chapters in the text Extreme Killing and select chapters in
the text Serial Murderers and Their
Victims. I will inform students of
the chapters to be read as the semester progresses. Students are responsible for reading their
textbooks in order to participate in classroom discussions and in preparation
for their exams.
Classroom
Policies: It is expected that students will attend all classes, will read text
material PRIOR to coming to class,
will take copious notes, and will participate in class discussions. Class attendance and class participation WILL be considered in determining the
student's final grade. It is also
expected that students will arrive for class on time, and will be
respectful of other students and me. Please
be sure to shut off all cell phones and pagers before entering the
classroom. The classroom is an
environment for learning, and any student that interferes with the learning
process will be asked to leave. Childish
behavior is not tolerated in my classes!
This includes socializing during class, passing notes, acting bored or
sending any other message that this class is the last place you want to be.
Students
with Documented Disabilities:
Any student who has a documented disability and is
in need of academic accommodations must contact the Office of Disability
Services (973-618-3645) and notify the professor of this course. Students are required to provide written
documentation of their disability in order to be eligible for
accommodations. Accommodations are
individualized and in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992.
If a student with a documented disability wishes
to take their tests in the
Academic
Integrity: Students are reminded of the college's academic integrity policy,
which is explained in the college catalog.
All violations, penalties, and procedures regarding academic integrity
are contained in the
ALL
STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COME TO MY OFFICE DURING THE COURSE OF THE SEMESTER
FOR HELP WITH COURSE CONTENT, STUDYING FOR EXAMS, NOTETAKING, WRITTEN
ASSIGNMENTS, OR JUST TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES!
DO NOT FEEL SHY ABOUT COMING TO SEE ME!
I WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU SO THAT YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS CLASS
AND OTHERS, AND I CAN ONLY DO THAT IF WE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER! IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS OF ANY KIND PLEASE
LET ME KNOW!
Note:
The syllabus is subject to revision at the discretion of the instructor. Students will be notified of all changes.