- UCAS course code
- LM39
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Crime and Society
| Unit code | CRIM10001 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 20 |
| Unit level | Level 1 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
| Offered by | School of Social Sciences |
| Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
This course is about the problem of crime. It aims to introduce some of the central issues, themes and concepts involved in thinking critically about crime. We will be concerned with exploring how perspectives drawn from across the social sciences can inform our understanding of this significant contemporary social issue
Indicative weekly topics: (1) Defining and measuring crime; (2) The politics of crime; (3) Media representations of crime; (4) Approaches to understanding crime; (5) Gender and crime; (6) Race and crime; (7) Age and crime; (8) Crime, power & inequalities; (9) Course overview & exam preparation; (10) Mock exam.
Aims
To (1) introduce students to the concept of crime and criminality; (2) introduce key approaches to studying and understanding crime; (3) critically explore the social and political context of crime.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to: (1) Demonstrate an understanding of the social construction of crime; (2) Differentiate between approaches to crime and criminality in the social sciences; (3) Articulate the benefits of inter-disciplinary study of crime and criminality (4) Appreciate the ethical dilemmas connected with crime in a diverse society.
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods will be flexible and allow us to adapt to changing conditions, however, the common intention across units is to provide a blended offer of the best in online and on-campus teaching that includes: (1) whole-class sessions used for a range of exercises and activities; (2) high quality online learning materials; (3) a tutorial; (4) 1:1 support via a subject-specific contact hour.
Knowledge and understanding
Understand and explain the foundational topics covered on the Unit
Intellectual skills
Accurately summarise and evaluate complex material;
Develop arguments in a logical and coherent way.
Practical skills
Research, collate and evaluate relevant materials.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
Work effectively in a team;
Prepare and deliver effective presentations.
Employability skills
- Other
- (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 2.5 hour online open book exam (Part A – 5 short compulsory answers; Part B – 2 essays from choice of 4) worth 100% of the overall mark for this unit. Formative assessment is by mock exam in the final week of teaching.
Feedback methods
You will have the opportunity to practice the short answer questions similar to Part A of the exam through the weekly learning materials and in your tutorials. You will receive formative feedback during the weekly subject hours and in your tutorials as well as being provided with example answers to the preparatory short answer questions. During the final week, you will have the opportunity to take a mock exam where you will practice an essay similar to Part B of the exam only. You will receive formative feedback on your essay prior to the exam period.
Recommended reading
Liebling, A, Maruna, S and McAra, L (Eds) (2017), The Oxford Handbook of Criminology. 6th Edition. Oxford: OUP.
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 20 |
| Tutorials | 10 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 70 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Emily Turner | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
Across their course units each semester, full-time students are expected to devote a ‘working week’ of around 30-35 hours to study. Accordingly each course unit demands around 10-11 hours of study per week consisting of (i) 3 timetabled teacher-led hours, (ii) 7-8 independent study hours devoted to preparation, required and further reading, and note taking.
Restricted to: 1st yr LLB (Law with Criminology) and BA (Criminology) students for which this subject is compulsory. Open to BA (Econ) students on all pathways, BA Social Sciences (BASS) and other students may be accepted at the discretion of the Course Unit Director.
Available to incoming study abroad students university wide.