Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Seminar | 5 x 2 Hour Seminars |
| Lecture | 11 x 1 Hour Lectures |
| Workshop | 5 x 2 Hour Workshops |
| Lecture | 3 x 2 Hour Lectures |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Individual Oral Presentation | 25% |
| Semester Assessment | Group Poster Presentation | 25% |
| Semester Assessment | Individual Report (1500 words) | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Assignment 1 (If Oral Presentation failed complete a 1,500 word assignment on allocated topic) | 25% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Assignment 2 (If Group Poster Presentation is failed complete a 1,500 word assignment on allocated topic) | 25% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Individual report 1500 words | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Review and appraise a range of key readings, theories and concepts relating to criminology and criminal psychology.
2. Apply theoretical criminological and psychological concepts to contemporaneous events and issues relating to crime, social control and criminal justice.
3. Understand, utilize and communicate critical arguments about criminological and psychological issues in both oral and written form.
4. Be capable of constructing and substantiating logical criminological and psychological arguments in written work, oral presentations and group work discussions.
5. Display an understanding of major theories, concepts, debates and approaches in the study of criminology and criminal psychology.
6. Display an understanding of how crime, deviance and victimization are socially, legally and psychologically constructed and examined.
Brief description
This module will provide level 1 students the opportunity to engage with some of the key readings and debates in criminology and criminal psychology. Drawing on theoretical foundations developed during semester 1, students will examine contemporary events and issues relating to crime, deviance, control, victimology and harm (see e.g. Hillsborough; Grenfell; Brexit etc.). The applied focus of this module will allow students to situate their understanding of theories, concepts and debates within wider social, legal, psychological, historical and economic contexts. The module is intended to encourage students to develop their analytical and critical skills in relation to the knowledge they have developed to date.
Content
Lectures will be used to introduce students to the requirements of the module. They will also introduce students to issues, debates and events relating to the workshop activities and group assessment.
Throughout the module’s seminar series, students will have the chance to read, evaluate and debate key, influential readings relevant to criminology and criminal psychology. Students will be encouraged to consider the wider influences and legacy of these contributions across various relevant disciplines.
In each seminar, students will be asked to read a set text or to prepare for a discussion on a particular topic. The seminars will be used to enable students to develop their confidence in reading and understanding key texts.
A series of workshops will be used throughout the module in order to allow students to engage in group work, applying criminological theories and concepts to contemporary events, issues and debates.
Given the applied and contemporaneous focus of the module, the exact content will alter each year.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Students will be introduced to the key concepts of reading and understanding studies relating to criminology and criminal psychology. They will be required to engage with empirical data and be able to understand the nature of social scientific research in various forms. |
| Communication | Individual Oral: Students will develop oral communication skills by presenting in seminars as part of their assessment. They will learn to be clear and direct with their discussion. Group Poster: Students will further develop their group communication skills in the preparation and delivery of a poster presentation and in their responses to questions. Written Report: Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format and their written communication will be assessed according to effective expression of ideas, good language skills and a coherent argument. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Interactive seminars will encourage the critical and lateral thinking of students with exercises planned to deliver a range of opportunities to facilitate the learning of abstract concepts, and will allow students to reflect on their own learning. |
| Information Technology | Searches of on-line electronic information sources and accessing information from electronic journals will provide practice in IT skills. Module information on Blackboard will be accessed using IT skills. Students will submit their assessed work in word-processed format. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Preparation for seminars and the assessed assignments will develop time management skills. The collation of sources for assessments will nurture research skills. Building an appreciation of complex theoretical issues and applying these to contemporary issues and events will develop critical thinking skills. All of these skills will contribute to students’ wider portfolio of transferable skills. |
| Problem solving | The module will require students to engage with, debate and utilise a range of theories and concepts relating to criminology and criminal psychology. They will then be required to develop their problem-solving and lateral thinking abilities by applying their learning to relevant contemporary issues and events. |
| Research skills | The study of criminology requires an ability to read confidently across a range of different research materials and disciplines. The module actively encourages the development of this necessary ability. |
| Subject Specific Skills | |
| Team work | Workshop activities will foster team working skills and the group poster presentation will necessitate the development of team working abilities. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4