BASS Sociology and Criminology / Course details

This course will examine general principles underpining criminal law as well as some of the core criminal offences (eg. murder, manslaughter, sexual offences, theft) and defences (eg loss of control, self defence, insanity).

This course unit aims to equip you with the ability to analyse the core criminal offences and defences of England and Wales, and to understand the role of criminal law within its wider social, political and moral context. It aims to enable you to develop a critical understanding of the general aims, values and principles of criminal law and to understand the content of selected specific criminal laws and to apply it to practical situations.

20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars.

- An ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the core criminal offences and defences.

- An ability to think critically about the values and principles that inform the criminal law.

- An ability to understand the role, and basis, of judicial law making in criminal law.

- A capacity to identify, analyse, evaluate and interpret significant legal, social, political and ethical issues pertaining to criminal law.

- A capacity to relate criminal law ‘in books’ to criminal law ‘in action’.

 - A capacity to provide reasoned and critical analysis of criminal law.

- A capacity to appraise historical, philosophical, social, and political arguments concerning the role of criminal law and its relationship to society.

- An ability to carry out independent library-based and electronic research.

- An ability to present argument coherently and fluently.

- An ability to structure argument and analysis.

- An ability to work in groups.

- An ability to engage in structured oral discussion.

- An ability to collect information from the sources available, including electronic resources.

- An ability to manage one’s own study-time and meet deadlines.

- An ability to discern between the merits or otherwise of competing arguments.

- An ability to present material orally in front of a small group.

Formative: One 1,500 word essay or problem question from a choice of 4. 

Students will take an Online Exam worth 100% of their grade.

Feedback is provided in a number of ways:

- you will receive written and oral feedback on your formative assessment.

- feedback will be provided in seminars.

- past examination, an outline of issues, giving guidance on appropriate content for examination and answers will be provided.

J Child and D Ormerod, Smith, Hogan, and Ormerod's Essentials of Criminal Law 4th Edition 2021
Oxford University Press

Padfield, N., ‘Criminal Law’ 10th Edition 2016, Oxford: OUP

Closed book examination.

Information
Restricted to: BA (Criminology) for which this subject is compulsory;  BA (Econ) students (all pathways), BA Social Sciences (BASS). Other students may be accepted at the discretion of the course unit director.

This course is available to incoming study abroad students.

Timetable
See Law School Timetable.