WHITE COLLAR CRIME - Graduate Seminar

CCJ 6643 (#1208)
SPRING SEMESTER 2007

Credits: 3

DAY: Tuesday
TIME: Periods 8-10  (3:00 to approximately 5:30 p.m.)
ROOM: 201e Walker Hall
PROFESSOR: Dr. Richard C. Hollinger
OFFICE: 217 Walker Hall
OFFICE HOURS: M, W, F from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m.  (or by appointment)
TELEPHONE: 392-1025 (extension #217) (to leave messages on Voice Mail)
EMAIL: rhollin@crim.ufl.edu
WEB page: http://www.crim.ufl.edu/directory/rhollinger.html


PURPOSE:
This course is a comprehensive examination of the prevalence and impact of crime committed by those working in the "suites," as opposed to the "streets," of America. Expanding upon the 60 year-old concept of "white collar crime," the semester will be principally focused on an examination of both "occupational" and "organizational/corporate" criminality. The course will involve an analysis of the "socially injurious acts" of corporations and formal organizations against their employees, consumers, the public, or the environment. In addition, the course will also concentrate on the deviant and illegal acts of individuals in the course of their occupational activity.


REQUIRED TEXTS:
1) White-Collar Crime: Classic and Contemporary Views. (3rd edition).
Gilbert Geis, Robert F. Meier & Lawrence M. Salinger, (Eds.) New York: Free Press, 1995.  ISBN: 0-02-911601-5.

2) Corporate and Governmental Deviance: Problems of Organizational Behavior in Contemporary Society (6th edition).
M. David Ermann and Richard J. Lundman (Eds.). New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.  ISBN: 0-19-513529-6.

Course Outline and Schedule

Date:

#

Topic:

Reading Assignment:

January 9

1

Course Introduction and Overview

Syllabus, GM&S Introduction

January 16

2

Definitions of WCC

GM&S: 1,2,3

January 23

3

More Definitional Issues

E&L: 1,2,3,4,5

January 30

4

Organizational and Occupational WCC

Handout ;  GM&S: 4,5,6,7

February 6

5

Crimes Against Consumers and General Public

E&L: 6,7,12,15

February 13

6

Crimes Against Consumers and General Public (continued)

GM & S: 10,11

February 20

7

Crimes By Government and Public Officials

E&L: 14,16

February 27

8

Crimes Against Employees

GM&S: 9

March 6

9

Employee Theft

Hollinger chapter

March 13

 

Spring Break

(no class)

March 20

10

Hollinger is out of town

(no class)

March 27

11

Causes of Organizational/Corporate Crime

GM&S: 19,20,21,22

April 3

12

Societal Reaction to Organizational and Corporate Crime

GM&S: 16,17,18,23,24

April 10

13

Paper Abstracts Presented in class

Abstracts and outlines due

April 17

14

Paper Presentations (in class)

 

April 24

15

Paper Presentations (in class, if needed)

Research Paper Due

 


SEMINAR EXPECTATIONS:
Throughout my career I have been frustrated by the fact that my graduate seminars have ofter turned into mini-lectures, with me doing the talking and the students just taking notes.  This is not the students' fault, but mine.  This mini-lecture format is not at all what I had expected a graduate seminar to be.  As such, I would like to try something different this time to see if I can improve the results.  I would like to have you, the students, take primary responsibility for presenting the weekly readings and leading the discussions.  My role should be to facilitate, stimulate, provide focus, and help bring out the major points out in the discussion.  Each week students will voluntarily select specific readings from the above list and be primarily responsible for presenting and leading the discussion.  In addition, students are encouraged to find new WCC articles to share with the class (which will be posted on WEBCT).  My goal is to make this seminar a group learning experience that is dramatically different from the undergraduate classroom experience.  Each of you will be equally responsible for participation and discussion leadership.

Each week students will voluntarily select specific readings from the above list and be primarily responsible for presenting and leading the discussion.  My goal is to make this seminar a group learning experience that is dramatically different from the undergraduate classroom experience.  Each of you will be equally responsible for participation and discussion leadership. Note that each week those students presponsible for leading the discussion are expected to provide a short outline of the material for the other students and me to follow.

It is essential for the design of this class that all students do the assigned reading and engage in active discussion of the material.  To aid in this discourse a discussant will be chosen for each class period.  The discussant should familiarize themselves with the readings and submit to the class approximately 5-10 critical questions that will help facilitate conversation on the work.   The discussant is also in charge of leading the class discussion and mediating responses.   Each member of the class is expected to fulfill this role.  Active participation is crucial to the class and will consist 30% of your final grade.
 


RESEARCH PAPER:
A major research paper is required to be completed during this semester.  An outline with an abstract will be required by April 10th.  The final version will be due in class on Tuesday, April 24th and will consist of no less than 15 and no more than 30 typewritten, double-spaced pages (excluding references). Papers will be required to be formatted in 12 pt. type with one inch margins.  Penalties of five points per day will be assessed daily for papers that are late.   Each student is required to have his/her research topic choice approved before beginning to write.  If you are not sure what to write about, you should consult the instructor ASAP.

Paper Oral Presentation:
Since my goal for this courses include enhancing your scholarly research and writing skills, I want to replicate the academic paper preparation experience in all of its dimensions.  As such, at the end of the semester you will be expected to present your research paper in  a fifteen to twenty minute oral presentation (similar to the time frame provided in professional meeting sessions).  The final class periods in April will be dedicated to student oral paper presentations summarizing  your major findings, conclusions, and literature review to me and the rest of the class. 

 

GRADING:
Your final grade will be comprised of three factors, weekly class participation (30%), final paper (60%), and the oral presentation of your final paper (10%).    Obviously, regular class attendance and active participation in discussion is required of all students.  You must be prepared for each seminar session by demonstrating that you have completed the assigned readings for that week.  This applies to everyone, not just for the students who are responsible for leading the discussion for that week. If you are responsible for presenting specific material, brief paper outlines are expected in that week's class.
Final Paper                                       60%
Final Paper Oral Presentation            10%
Class Participation                            30%
 
No extra credit work will be assigned or accepted.  Cheating, unauthorized collaboration on papers, plagiarism (even electronic), or other forms of academic dishonesty will be considered grounds for course failure and referral to Student Honor Court.

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS:
Students requesting classroom disability accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office.  The Dean of Students Office will then provide documentation to your instructor regarding the requested accommodation.