Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Module Identifier
LC34220
Module Title
Contemporary Issues in Criminology
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Pre-Requisite
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Reading List

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Group Oral Presentation  20 Minutes  50%
Semester Assessment Written Report  2000 Words  50%
Supplementary Assessment Case study  2000 Words  50%
Supplementary Assessment Essay  2000 Words  50%

Learning Outcomes

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

​Critically review the major theories, concepts, values, debates, principles, and approaches relating to a wide variety of contemporary issues in criminology.

Critically evaluate the concepts of crime, deviance, and victimisation and how these are socially and legally constructed, with reference to contemporary issues in criminology.

Identify the key issues, policies, processes, institutions, actors, and debates surrounding contemporary and newly emerging issues in criminology.

Critically discuss contemporary criminological issues are utilised on a local, national, and international basis and their impact upon political, media and popular opinion in this area.

Identify the key dynamics, processes and problems facing contemporary criminological theory and practice.

Explain how approaches to criminology help us to understand and influence its effects, and how this is in turn influenced by other theories from related disciplines.

Display a reflective approach to various contemporary issues facing criminology and show a critical understanding of analytical methods.

Brief description

The module will study in depth at least three areas of contemporary criminology. Each area will study theoretical, practical and research data. Each year the subject matter of the course will be chosen to reflect the broad basis of the discipline.

Content

​This will be flexible in order to keep up-to-date with alterations in criminology but, currently, would include areas such as:

Animal abuse and wildlife crime
Environmental harm
Heritage crime
ADHD and Crime / Impulsivity and Crime
Does the Media Cause Criminality?
Psychology and Terrorism
Media presentations of violent crime

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Understanding and evaluating relevant quantitative research data will be a small part of the module.
Communication Oral communication skills will be in lectures through interactive learning . Written communication skills will be practised through note taking both in lectures and private study and in formal submission of written work in assignments.
Improving own Learning and Performance Students will be encouraged to practise and test their own learning and ability to use and interact with the materials through interactive learning in lectures.
Information Technology Preparation for the assignment will require use of the library databases and other electronic databases..
Personal Development and Career planning Enhanced capacity for independent and critical thought. Good time-management skills in preparing for seminars and submitting work on time.
Problem solving Much of the module involves the study of theories developed to explain certain types of behaviour. It also includes consideration of present means of control. Students will have to assess these and apply them in specific case studies.
Research skills Criminology necessarily involves an interdisciplinary approach therefore students will be introduced to research tools in a number of different subject areas. They will be supported and encouraged develop research skills over these areas. They will be encouraged to read widely and to locate materials both in the library and on-line
Subject Specific Skills Reading and understanding relevant materials in the field of Criminology.
Team work This will be developed through exercises and problems set in seminars and through group presentation assessments.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6