Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Module Identifier
CRM1020
Module Title
Criminological Theory and Perspectives
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Reading List
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Group activity facilitation  (30 minutes)  30%
Semester Assessment Comparative Report  (4,000 words)  70%
Supplementary Assessment Written representation of facilitating a group activity.  Handout to support group activity and 2,000 word rationale.  30%
Supplementary Assessment Comparative report  (4,000 words)  70%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the major theories and fundamental concepts in criminology;

2. Identify and evaluate the application of criminological theory and understanding in contemporary criminal justice process and practice;

3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the causes and harms of crime in other jurisdictions and account for changes in trends over time and across locations;

4. Utilise criminological theory to propose solutions to current issues in crime control and prevention and account for the limitations of these proposals;

5. Critically reflect on social influences (e.g. media reports and cultural considerations) that distort the reality of deviance and crime and taint societal responses to these issues;

6. Demonstrate the ability to independently identify and research a current criminological concern and facilitate a group activity on this theme, illustrating the practical application of theory to practice and its outcome.

Brief description

This module introduces students to the major themes of criminological theory and current perspectives within criminology. Students will be provided with a detailed understanding of how criminology has been influential in the understanding of crime and its causality. From there, students will develop a critical appreciation of the impact of crime from both an individual perspective, i.e. offender and victim, but also the wider implications of crime on society. Finally, it considers the role of the state agencies (e.g. the police) in the regulation of criminal behaviour and the limitations of criminal justice interventions in producing safer societies.

Content

The module identifies and reflects on competing theoretical perspectives of criminological theory and their application to contemporary society. Five major areas are considered, across time and place, to situate and evaluate current debates within criminology:

Understanding Crime and Crime Counting

Causes of Crime

Offenders and Criminalization

Victimology

Crime Prevention and Intervention

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number
Communication The facilitation of a workshop will require students to communicate clearly and professionally. Written communication and achieving the appropriate academic tone will also be assessed via the essay.
Improving own Learning and Performance Each week, students will have to engage with the topic pre-reading, whilst also preparing for their assignments. They will need to be flexible in how they approach this and demonstrate a strength and resilience to be successful managing this busy workload. Students will be given the opportunity to regularly reflect on their progress at the workshops taking place throughout the module. The module convener will provide students with questions on the module topics that will help guide self-reflection.
Information Technology Students will enhance their digital proficiency using Blackboard, where materials to support learning will be made available. Students will also develop skills in searching for, and assessing the validity of, online information sources as part of preparation for lectures, workshops and assessed tasks. Assessed work will be presented in electronic format, according to standard expectations.
Personal Development and Career planning This module requires students to take criminological theory and consider it in an applied and real world sense. They will also have to work in small groups and communicate their finding clearly to their peers and academic tutors.
Problem solving As part of the assessment, students will have to facilitate a group activity with a workshop. This will encourage them to think independently and creatively about how to engage a group of people on a particular theme.
Research skills Students have to answer an essay question which will require critical thinking and to demonstrate the ability to research an area independently.
Subject Specific Skills Students have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of subject specific skills that help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas on the module. These subject specific skills include: • Collect and understand a wide range of data relating to the module. • Evaluate competing perspectives. • Apply a range of methodologies to contemporary criminological problems.
Team work Students have to facilitate a group workshop as part of their assessment. This will provide an ideal opportunity to observe their ability to work and communicate with others.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7