Teaching & Mentorship

My teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that academic excellence and innovation thrive in environments that are inclusive, accessible, and student-centered. I strive to create spaces where students feel empowered to take intellectual risks, explore new ideas, and engage deeply with complex material. By blending academic rigor with flexibility and compassion, I aim to support all learners in realizing their full potential. I am committed to reimagining what learning can look like through equitable practices that honor diverse experiences and foster meaningful engagement.

Full Statement

Courses Taught

Since 2019, I have taught a range of criminology and criminal justice courses at the collegiate level, covering various components of the criminal legal system. I have experience teaching in diverse formats, including in-person, online (both asynchronous and synchronous), and hybrid modalities. I am proficient in several digital learning platforms, including Canvas and Desire2Learn. Below is a list of courses I have developed and taught with example syllabi.

Introduction to Criminal Justice

Level: Undergraduate
Format: In-person & Online (Synchronous & Asynchronous)
Description: Overview of the American criminal legal system, examining the roles and relationships among police, courts, and corrections. Students explore the justice process as a form of social control, compare U.S. practices with other systems, and critically analyze emerging issues in public safety.

Criminology

Level: Undergraduate
Format: Online (Asynchronous)
Description: Introduction to the study of crime, criminal behavior, and social responses to crime. Covers major criminological theories, methods of study, and application of theory to contemporary issues. Students analyze social, cultural, economic, and political factors influencing crime and evaluate prevention and control policies.

Statistical Analysis for Criminal Justice

Level: Undergraduate
Format: In-person & Online (Synchronous & Asynchronous)
Description: Introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics for criminal justice research. Topics include measures of central tendency, variability, hypothesis testing, correlation, t-tests, ANOVA, and regression.

Gender, Crime, and Justice

Level: Undergraduate
Format: Online (Asynchronous)
Description: This course examines how gender shapes experiences within the criminal justice system, both for those who commit crimes and those who are victimized. Students explore the role of gender in offending patterns, victimization, law enforcement, court processes, and corrections. The course draws on feminist criminology, intersectionality, and contemporary research to analyze how gender intersects with race, class, and sexuality to influence justice outcomes and policy responses.

U.S. Corrections Systems

Level: Undergraduate
Format: In-person
Description: This course examines the history, philosophy, and operations of correctional systems in the United States. Students explore institutional and community-based corrections, the impacts of sentencing practices, rehabilitation, and reentry, as well as contemporary challenges such as overcrowding, privatization, and mental health care in correctional settings. The course encourages critical engagement with research and policy debates shaping the future of corrections.

Police Systems and Practices

Level: Undergraduate
Format: In-person
Description: This course examines the administration, organization, and management of police agencies in the United States. Students explore the historical development of policing, organizational structures, and the cultural, political, and social forces that shape police practices. Topics include the functions of police, use of force, discretion, bias, community policing, corruption, and the future of policing. Emphasis is placed on developing critical perspectives and the ability to interpret and apply research to real-world policing issues.

Juvenile Justice

Level: Undergraduate
Format: In-person
Description: This course examines the history, philosophy, and operation of the juvenile legal system in the United States. Students explore the roles of police, courts, and corrections in addressing juvenile delinquency, as well as the legal and social issues surrounding youth crime. Topics include the origins of the juvenile court, due process rights, diversion, rehabilitation, and the impact of race, gender, and socioeconomic status on system involvement. Emphasis is placed on current challenges and reform efforts in juvenile justice policy and practice.

Administration of Justice

Level: Undergraduate
Format: In-person
Description: This course explores the structure, policies, and practices of the criminal legal system, with an emphasis on policing, courts, corrections, victimology, juvenile justice, and comparative justice systems. Students engage with academic and non-academic sources to develop critical thinking, research skills, and an understanding of the administration of justice from multiple perspectives.

Introduction to Law

Level: Undergraduate
Format: In-person
Description: This course provided students with a foundational understanding of the American legal system, exploring its nature, functions, and limitations. Through lectures, case studies, and analysis of current issues, students examined the roles of law enforcement, attorneys, judges, and legislators, as well as key areas such as constitutional law, criminal law, administrative law, torts, and contracts.

Special Topics: The Death Penalty

Level: Undergraduate
Format: In-person
Description: A course I developed examining the history, legal precedent, and contemporary debates surrounding capital punishment in the United States. Topics include constitutional challenges, landmark Supreme Court cases, racial and geographic disparities in application, wrongful convictions, and the ethical arguments surrounding the death penalty.

Student Reflections

Introduction to Law

She has taken the time to get to know everyone personally, and connected me to the mock trial team, and law school seminars to help me better prepare for my future career. Few professors take the time to know students on a level to know their goals, but very very few learn of these goals then take specific steps to further those goals.

Statistical Analysis

Professor Tapp did a phenomenal job taking on teaching this course, even with the large amount of rigor that it entailed, she was able to get the information across in a great manner. The course itself is rigorous, but the use of paper homework and numerous practice helped substantially.

Introduction to Criminal Justice

I truly appreciate the opportunities you gave us to give back to the people in our own community. It's opened doors for me as well as given me something to think about.