Spring 2021  |  SOC 4135H Section 001: Honors: Sociology of White-Collar Crime (65535)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
Student Option No Audit
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
Completely Online
Class Attributes:
Honors
Online Course
Enrollment Requirements:
honors student
Meets With:
SOC 4135 Section 001
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
01/19/2021 - 05/03/2021
Mon, Wed 01:00PM - 02:15PM
Off Campus
UMN REMOTE
Enrollment Status:
Open (4 of 5 seats filled)
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
This course deals with diverse types of white-collar crime (high status, occupational, organizational crimes), their causation, the damage they cause, and their control. We will read some of the outstanding literature on these issues and explore well-known cases in depth. There will be lectures and discussion in the classroom. We will explore what white-collar crime teaches us about the nature and explanation of crime and about the nature of criminal justice and other government social control. Additional special assignments will be discussed with honors participants who seek to earn honors credit toward the end of our first class session. Examples of additional requirements may include: · Honors students will be expected to interview a current Sociology graduate student working on a LCD topic. Following this, each student will individually be expected to do an in-class power point presentation explaining how the interviewees? research relates with themes presented in the course. Students will also be expected to meet as a group and individually with the professor four times during the course semester. · Sign up and prepare 3-4 discussion questions in advance of at least one class session. · Work with professor and TA on other small leadership tasks (class discussion, paper exchange, tour). · Write two brief (1-page) reflection papers on current news, or a two-page critique of a class reading · Attend a presentation, workshop, or seminar on a related topic for this class and write a 2 page maximum reflective paper. prereq: Honors, [SOC 3101 or SOC 3102 or instr consent]
Class Notes:
This course is completely online in a synchronous format. The course will meet online at the scheduled times. Click this link for more detailed course information: http://classinfo.umn.edu/?savel001+SOC4135H+Spring2021
Class Description:
This course deals with different types of white-collar crime (sometimes referred to as "crimes of the powerful") and their control. We will learn from outstanding literature, videos, and guest speakers and explore cases in depth. The course is divided into two parts. Part I. distinguishes different types of white-collar crime (e.g., embezzlement, fraud, conflict of interest, and corruption). We also learn about differences between upper class, occupational, and organizational crimes in private and government sectors. We explore their causation and the damage they cause. We compare white-collar crime with street crime. Do we need special theories to explain white-collar crime? We also take a look at parallels between corporate crime and the involvement of white-collar workers in state organized crimes such as genocide. Part II. deals with the perception, legislation, and control of white-collar crime. How does the public view white-collar crime? What are the chances that legislatures will take steps against white-collar offending? Under what conditions are they likely to criminalize behavior of powerful and prestigous actors? We then follow the criminal justice process, based on a collection of articles and on concrete cases. We look at police and prosecution, the role of defense attorneys, the sentencing decisions of judges, and the way defendants experience the response of the criminal justice system. We finally learn about innovative and alternative strategies and responses to white-collar crime. Honors students are expected to demonstrate greater depth of discussion, depth and to a degree length of writing assignments, presentations, and leadership of the students.
Who Should Take This Class?:
Students with a special interest in issues of crime and response to crime, also in the political processes that result in the definition of actions as crimes (or not). This applies to all sociology students, especially--but not only--those with an LCD specialization.
Learning Objectives:
Appreciate the role of "organizations as weapons in crime." Appreciate the role of power in processes that result in the definition of actions as crime. Understande the regulatory state and the role criminal law (and related control mechanisms) play in its context.
Grading:
40% Midterm Exam (or, if taught remotely, four quizzes, each worth 10%)
35% Final Exam
20% Reports/Papers
5%
In-class Presentations --------
In addition, a 10-page paper of high quality to qualify for honors credit
Exam Format:
Combination of multiple choice and short-answer questions
Class Format:
60% Lecture
10% Film/Video
20% Discussion
10% Small Group Activities small group work
Workload:
40 Pages Reading Per Week
2 Exam(s) (one midterm, one final -- or, if taught remotely, four quizzes and one final exam)
2 Paper(s) ---- plus honors credit paper
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/65535/1213
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
19 September 2020

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