Teaching. |
APPROACH
Dr. Krebs likes to start his Crime & Justice course with two fundamental questions:
"What is crime?"
"Why do we punish criminal behavior?"
"Why do we punish criminal behavior?"
Typically, students can give plenty of good examples. For instance, crime is "Murder," "Assault," "Fraud," "Speeding", and so on. As to the question of "Why do we punish criminal behavior?" Well, that's easy enough... "It's against the law."
The students' examples and explanations may seem simple at first. However, Dr. Krebs believes it's his job as the course instructor to harness the students' basic interest in the course and help them understand that - as young scholars - they can engage with their academic discipline for deeper connection and insight. Throughout the course, then, Dr. Krebs provides his students with a foundation for knowledge and growth by incorporating lessons from multiple areas, including sociology, criminology, criminal justice, psychology, and social work. Instead of trying to answer the elementary questions noted above, Dr. Krebs turns to a series of more pertinent and apt inquiries:
What are the legal elements of crime? How do we measure the different type of crime? What do we know about certain types of criminal behavior? What are the theoretical justifications for punishment? What are the elements of an ideal justice system, and how does our justice system compare? Can we conceive of alternatives models of punishment, and how might they operate?
For Dr. Krebs, the value of teaching rests in his potential to create change by promoting active learning and student engagement. With this foundation, he teaches his students how to think – rather than what to think – about these important topics.
The students' examples and explanations may seem simple at first. However, Dr. Krebs believes it's his job as the course instructor to harness the students' basic interest in the course and help them understand that - as young scholars - they can engage with their academic discipline for deeper connection and insight. Throughout the course, then, Dr. Krebs provides his students with a foundation for knowledge and growth by incorporating lessons from multiple areas, including sociology, criminology, criminal justice, psychology, and social work. Instead of trying to answer the elementary questions noted above, Dr. Krebs turns to a series of more pertinent and apt inquiries:
What are the legal elements of crime? How do we measure the different type of crime? What do we know about certain types of criminal behavior? What are the theoretical justifications for punishment? What are the elements of an ideal justice system, and how does our justice system compare? Can we conceive of alternatives models of punishment, and how might they operate?
For Dr. Krebs, the value of teaching rests in his potential to create change by promoting active learning and student engagement. With this foundation, he teaches his students how to think – rather than what to think – about these important topics.
COURSES
Crime & Justice
Course Description
What is a crime? Why do we punish criminal behavior? In this course, students explore issues of crime, law and deviance in the United States. Students will learn about the different types of criminal behavior, the characteristics of criminal offenders and their victims, and the strengths and weaknesses of our criminal justice system.
Course Objectives
Course Evaluations
What is a crime? Why do we punish criminal behavior? In this course, students explore issues of crime, law and deviance in the United States. Students will learn about the different types of criminal behavior, the characteristics of criminal offenders and their victims, and the strengths and weaknesses of our criminal justice system.
Course Objectives
- Review the legal definitions of crime, and the many useful ways that crime is measured in a population.
- Explore the social/behavioral contexts of criminal behavior, including the various types violent crime and property crime.
- Examine the specific procedures within criminal justice system, and test the basic theories of criminal punishment.
Course Evaluations
- "I loved my teacher for Crime and Justice. He made the class really fun and interesting." - Crime & Justice, 2017
- "The teacher was very friendly and good at what he did." - Crime & Justice, 2016
Punishment & Society
Course Description
Are we addicted to punishment? This course focuses on punishment and social control in the United States. Students will learn about various justifications for punishment, and the foundations of our contemporary institutions of justice. Students will also be introduced to inequalities in punishment standards, and alternative justice models.
Course Objectives
Course Evaluations
Are we addicted to punishment? This course focuses on punishment and social control in the United States. Students will learn about various justifications for punishment, and the foundations of our contemporary institutions of justice. Students will also be introduced to inequalities in punishment standards, and alternative justice models.
Course Objectives
- Explore the philosophical justifications for punishment, including theories of retribution and deterrence.
- Illustrate the modern penal system in the U.S., including law enforcement, courts, and correctional systems.
- Examine the manifestation of specific socioeconomic inequalities within our modern penal system.
- Address our reliance on punishment and introduces alternative justice models.
Course Evaluations
- "Professor Krebs designed this course so thoughtfully. An excellent communicator. Nuanced and complex discussions. Caring about his students. We all learned so much in this course." - Punishment & Society, 2018
- "Andrew did a really great job teaching us about criminal justice, corrections, and society. He was very passionate and cared about his work, as well as his students." - Punishment & Society, 2018
- "Probably one of my favorite profs here at UT because of how engaging Krebs made the class. Wish I can take it again!" - Punishment & Society, 2018