Crime and the way society responds to and deals with crime and criminals are subjects which interest most people. Criminology takes the study of crime beyond 'thinking' about it to a more scientific level. In doing so it crosses the boundaries of many disciplines including law, psychology, philosophy, sociology and social policy. The discipline of criminology is large and therefore any criminology course must focus on a number of issues which reflect a balance of themes within the discipline as a whole. For this reason, this course focuses on topics from three major areas within criminology. These are:
- The Nature and Extent of Crime
- Social Dimensions of Crime and Justice
- Criminal Justice Structures and Processes

Within these areas the specific topics studied are as follows:
- the extent of crime
- the causes of crime
- victimology
- research methodology
- gender and crime
- race and crime
- the birth of the prison and current issues in imprisonment
- State Crime
- Cyber Crime

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 300 hours of activities towards achieving the learning outcomes. These will be split between 50 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 250 hours of directed, guided and self-study, together with preparation for and completion of the assessment tasks.

Contact will include a mixture of small and larger group activities, much of it based on the principles of practice and problem based learning. Learning will be organised into a series of sessions where students will be required to participate. Each session will be based around a problem or issue, and students will work towards a range of solutions by specifying objectives, identifying constraints, obtaining background information, applying related theory and knowledge based around the subject matter.

Large group sessions seek to establish an overview framework within which selected theories and rules of the subject matter can be more effectively developed. They will verify and consolidate knowledge and understanding and will engage in more detailed exposition of selected theories, rules and constraints.

The guided learning will incorporate a mixture of activities, some of which will require groupwork and electronic interaction. The learning will be facilitated by use of the VLE platform and discussions/interactions between students and tutors.

Students will be expected to be familiar with contemporary discussions in this area of law, and to bring a range of ideas to bear on the discussions. Thus, although there will be a framework of knowledge and understanding, students will be actively, rather than passively, engaged in the process of both learning about, and increasing understanding of, the subject matter.

The module will use a blend of teaching methods to enable different styles of learning to be facilitated. The differing methods will also be a platform for the development of essential skills such as intellectual skills, communication skills and problem solving, as well as research, teamwork, negotiation, presentation, referencing, argument, judgement and appropriate use of IT.

Working towards the assessment tasks will be a key element of the learning, and tutors will be available to guide students through the process, and to improve their ability to meet the learning outcomes to a high standard. It is expected that around 50 hours of the module will be devoted to the assessment tasks - much of it during the self-directed periods.

Assessment will be an integral part of the module. There will be three assessment points and tutorials focused on assessment activities will be scheduled into the timetable. Earlier tasks will be shorter and more succinct, enabling fast feedback from the tutors so that students can learn and improve for later assessment tasks. Formative feedback will be provided wherever possible.

Module Study Guide
Access to appropriate primary and secondary legal resources
Computing facilities will be needed to access material available via Blackboard and the Web.
Specialist software (Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw)

Mike Maguire, Rod Morgan, Robert Reiner. The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (5th Ed OUP 2012)
Tim Newburn Criminology (2nd Ed Cullompton: Willan 2007)
Stephen Jones Criminology (5th Ed OUP 2013)

1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of key aspects of criminology.
Knowledge and Understanding

2. Demonstrate an ability to describe and comment upon current criminological theory and practice including proposals for reform.
Analysis
Reflection

3. Deploy accurately established techniques of research ,analysis and enquiry and initiate and carry out projects within criminological theory.
Enquiry

4. Develop appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions – to a problem and use decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts.
Problem Solving

5. Communicate and analyse information, ideas, problems, and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences verbally and in writing.
Communication

6. Apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding and devise and sustain arguments, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of criminological theory.
Application

3000 word assignment. A 50% weighting will be applied to this assessment. Assessing All Learning Outcomes

If the mark for the assignment is less than 20%, you will be required to resit this element in the same format.

End of course unseen exam . 2 hours in length
A 50% weighting will be applied to this assessment and combined with the other element of assessment (Assessing all Learning Outcomes)

If the mark for the end of course written assessment is less than 20%, you will be required to re-sit this element in the same format


To pass this module, a student must achieve a minimum composite mark of 40% .


Additional Assessment Details:

Working towards the assessment tasks will be a key element of the learning, and tutors will be available to guide students through the process. Face to face contact sessions focussed on assessment activities will be scheduled into the timetable.

Each week your will examine a different subject, using criminological theory but also legislative development and strategies engaged by Government to reduce threat, harm and risk. You will explore institutions such as police and prisons, reflecting also on how they act via surveillance and state crime and how media can have influence. You will analyse serious harms focusing on violence, sexual offending and serial killer theories. You will engage with subjects as varied as serious organised crime, street gangs’ theory, cyber-crime, human trafficking, child abuse, the growth of exploitation on-line and terrorism