PGDip Criminology

This course provide students with a general overview of the criminal justice field in the context of the inter-relationship(s) between research and policy.

Indicative content: (1) Introduction; (2) Police: policy & research; (3) Prosecution; (4) Sentencing; (5) Crime prevention; (6) Alternatives to imprisonment; (7) Comparative case study; (8) Summary & assignment support.

The unit aims to provide students with a general overview of the criminal justice field in the context of the inter-relationship(s) between research and policy. The course is tailored to the learning needs of those who have a criminological background as well as those who are less well versed in criminological research and criminal justice policies..

On completion of this unit successful students will gain: (1) a general overview of the different institutions and agencies that comprise the criminal justice field; (2) an appreciation of the importance of the types of relationship between research and policy in criminal justice; (3) an understanding of the social, cultural and political contexts that impact criminal justice.

Teaching and learning across course units consists of: (1) preparatory work to be completed prior to teaching sessions, including readings, pre-recorded subject material and online activities; (2) a weekly whole-class lecture; (3) a workshop; and (4) one-to-one support via subject specific office hours.

Employability skills: In addition to subject-specific knowledge and understanding, Criminology units foster highly employable skills such as the ability to (i) analyse, critique and (re-)formulate a problem or issue; (ii) rapidly and thoroughly review/rate argument and evidence from targeted bibliographic searches; (iii) plan, structure and present arguments in a variety of written formats and to a strict word limit, (iv) express ideas verbally and organise work effectively in small teams for a variety of written and oral tasks; (v) obtain, manipulate and (re-)present different forms of data; (vi) manage time effectively; (vii) reflect on and improve performance through feedback.

Assessment methods: This unit is summatively assessed by a 3000 word essay worth 100% of the overall mark.

Formative feedback (both individual and collective) will be given on (1) on tasks and contribution in class, (2) developing essay plans. Detailed summative feedback will be given on the submitted essay via Blackboard (Grademark).

Hobbs, S. & Hamerton, C. (2014) The Making of Criminal Justice Policy. Abingdon: Routledge (available as an e-book in library). There are also a number of good introductions to English criminal justice; my preference is Sanders, A., Young, R. and Burton, M. (2010)/latest) Criminal justice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Across their course units each semester, full-time students are expected to devote a ‘working week’ of 35-40 hours to study. Accordingly each course unit demands 9-10 hours of study per week consisting of (i) teacher-led activities and sessions, (ii) preparation, required and further reading. Part-time students study the same number of weekly hours per unit but take fewer units per semester. Further guidance will be given regarding study budgeting on this and other course units.