This course presents the major theoretical explanations of crime and criminal behavior. It focuses on the historical de- velopment of criminological theory based on various defini- tions of crime. The primary purpose of this course is to provide a clear overview of the major academic explanations (or theories) that dominate criminology in an effort to clarify what is known about crime based upon empirical research. To this end, this course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of historical and current criminological perspectives, as these are the foundations upon which both criminological research and public policy are based.