Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Serial Killers (Face-to-Face)

CJ 4300-01

Course: CJ 4300-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 12445

Course Description

This course examines the historical development of serial killing in the United States. Both offenders and victims will be examined to better understand the classification of serial killers, as well as their motivations, backgrounds, and methods. Finally, the role of society in shaping our understanding of serial killers and our fascination with the macabre will be examined. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: D- Registration Restriction(s): Junior or Senior standing required

Required Texts

Douglas, J., & Olshaker, M. (2019). The killer across the table. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. 

Learning Outcomes

There are several specific goals to be met at the end of this course.
-Knowledge: Students will gain a more thorough understanding of serial killers and the characteristics that define them.
-Critical Thinking: Students will strengthen their critical thinking skills regarding how society views serial killers.
-Communication: Students will strengthen their communication and writing skills through various in class and outside assignments.  While this is not a writing enhanced course, there are several writing assignments that will help you express yourself through writing, as well as improve your writing skills. 

Course Requirements

  | The Killer Across the Table response  | 30
 | The Killer Across the Table reading quizzes  | 40
 | Attendance  | 40
 | Exam 2  | 50
 | Exam 1  | 50
 | Film response  | 50
 | Class activities (six total)  | 60
 | Final Paper  | 100

Course Outline

 | January 8   | Syllabus Introductions    | 
 | January 13   | The Phenomenon of Serial Murder        | 
 | January 15   | Classifications of Mass and Serial Murder       | 
 | January 20 | Cultural Development of Monsters, Demons, and Evil      PDF on Canvas: Why We Crave Horror Movies   | 
 | January 22   | Cultural Development of Monsters, Demons, and Evil      PDF on Canvas: Why We Crave Horror Movies   |   
 | January 25  | Activity 1 due by 11:59pm | Activity 1 due by 11:59pm  
 | January 27 | Psychopathy and Biogenics of Serial Murderers       Link on Canvas: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Section 3 (3.1-3.5.3) |  
 | January 29  | Psychopathy and Biogenics of Serial Murderers       Link on Canvas: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Section 3 (3.1-3.5.3)  The Killer Across the Table Quiz 1 due by 11:59pm | The Killer Across the Table Quiz 1 due by 11:59pm 
| February 3   | Psychopathy and Biogenics of Serial Murderers  Link on Canvas: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Section 3 (3.1-3.5.3) |  
 | February 5   | Social Construction of Serial Murder            | 
 | February 8  | Activity 2 due by 11:59pm | Activity 2 due by 11:59pm
| February 10   | Social Construction of Serial Murder       |  
 | February 12 | Class discussion     |  
 | February 17 | Exam 1 Review   | Exam 1 Review 
 | February 19  | Exam 1 online due by 11:59pm  No class     | Exam 1 online due by 11:59pm  No class   
 | February 24  | Sexual Predators, Criminal Paraphilia, and Murder  Healthcare Killers  PDF on Canvas: In Search of Angels of Death  The Killer Across the Table Quiz 2 due by 11:59pm | Read Part II (pp. 115-190) 
| February 26   | Healthcare Killers  PDF on Canvas: In Search of Angels of Death |  
 | March 1  | Film Response 1 Due | Film Response 1 Due
| March 3 | The Male Serial Murderer    |  
 | March 5 | The Male Serial Murderer   |  
 | March 8  | Activity 3 due by 11:59pm   | Activity 3 due by 11:59pm 
| March 9-March 13 | No class: Spring Break | No class: Spring Break  
 | March 17   | Team Killers     |  
 | March 19  | Guest Speaker   The Killer Across the TableQuiz 3 due by 11:59pm | Read Part III (pp. 191-254)
| March 24 | Team Killers  The Female Serial Murderer  PDF on Canvas: Female Serial Killers |  
 | March 26   | The Female Serial Murderer  PDF on Canvas: Female Serial Killers |  
 | March 29  | Activity 4 due by 11:59pm   | Activity 4 due by 11:59pm  
 | March 31  | No Class: Festival of Excellence     | No Class: Festival of Excellence    
 | April 2   | Victims of Serial Murder       |  
 | April 5  | Activity 5 due by 11:59pm  Film response 2 due by 11:59pm    | Activity 5 due by 11:59pm  Film response 2 due by 11:59pm 
| April 7 | Victims of Serial Murder   Exam 2 Review |  
 | April 9  | Exam 2 due by 11:59pm  No Class    | Exam 2 due by 11:59pm  
 | April 14  | Responding to Serial Murderers   The Killer Across the Table Reading Quiz 4    | Read Part IV and Epilogue (pp. 255-336)
| April 16  | Responding to Serial Murderers    | The Killer Across the Table response due by 11:59pm  
 | April 19  | Activity 6 due by 11:59pm  Final Paper due by 11:59pm    | Activity 6 due by 11:59pm  Final Paper due by 11:59pm  

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

If you miss an assignment, make-ups will be permitted as necessary and appropriate. You will have ample time to complete these. If you do, however, run into an issue, you need to let me know as soon as possible. Coming to me at the end of the semester saying you forgot will not be an approved reason to make-up the assignment. In some instances, assignments may only be made up for partial credit. This will be decided on an as needed basis.

If you turn in your writing/research assignments late, you will lose 1 point per day, up until 3 days after the assignment is due.  No papers will be accepted after the 3-day period without approval by the instructor (and proper late penalties will be applied).
You are always more than welcome to turn in assignments early, and it is in your best interest to talk to me sooner rather than later regarding conflicts.

Attendance Policy

Simply coming to class will not give you full points for this portion of your grade. In order to receive the maximum number of points, you must attend AND be attentive. This can be achieved in multiple ways. Students are expected to show up to every class (unless you have an excused absence); students arrive on time (no more than 5 minutes after class has started unless prior notice has been given); students actively participate (providing meaningful contributions to the discussion and/or asking substantive questions); students are actively paying attention (taking notes, watching videos, refraining from being on phones/laptops constantly and for non-academic purposes); students will be professional towards and respectful of other students and myself; students will refrain from having conversations amongst themselves to a distracting level. Those who do not meet these requirements will not receive full credit for that day’s participation grade. 

 

Excused absences that are not school sanctioned will give you half credit for that day’s class.

Course Fees

$12

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.