Programme Specifications

Aberystwyth University's Year in Employment option OR a Placement Module with Department of Law and Criminology

• Criminology

• Sociology

September 2023

• To develop a broad and deep understanding of Criminology and Sociology; the content, methods and philosophies of both disciplines and the significant synergies between them; 

• To provide a structured programme of delivery that is academically rigorous and meets current and future benchmarking requirements; 

• To encourage selected specialist knowledge and understanding through research-led Level 3 optional modules in those areas where Law and Criminology, DGES, and other relevant departments at AU, have expertise; 

• To produce graduates with a wide range of analytical, critical and technical abilities within Criminology and Sociology; 

• To develop powers of critical, analytic thinking and logical argument; 

• To develop competence in a range of subject-specific and transferable skills including literacy, numeracy, computer literacy, problem setting and problem solving, research skills, report writing, and fieldwork skills; 

• To encourage independent study and thought, enquiring minds, and a commitment to personal scholarship of the highest standard. 

On completion of the BA Criminology and Sociology degree programme students should:

• be able to critically evaluate ideas, concepts and approaches across the disciplines of Criminology and Sociology and, in particular, in relation to the significant synergies that exist between the two disciplines;

• be able to carry out independent research, applying a range of skills in relation to data collection, analysis and presentation;

• have developed a range of skills and be able to apply them to a variety of Criminological and Sociological issues;

• be able to recognize that their learning experience has been positively reinforced by exposure to research;

• be able to evaluate their own performance in a range of learning contexts and under different modes of assessment;

• be able to work independently, in a team and with a social awareness of the contribution made by scholarship and applied research in their discipline to criminological issues and social policy;

• have the necessary skills and awareness to seek employment in a variety of professional careers or to begin postgraduate research and study.

• A1 key concepts and theoretical approaches that have been and are developing within Criminology and Sociology

• A2 the relationships between individuals, groups and social structures

• A3 social diversity, inequalities and deviancy

• A4 the role of institutions in mediating social lifeand in defining and controlling crime and deviancy

• A6 the distinctive character of Criminology and Sociology in relation to other forms of understanding (e.g. other disciplines and everyday explanations)

• A7 the relationship between analysis of evidence and criminological/sociological arguments

• A8 a range of qualitative, quantitative and digital data sources, research strategies and methods of data collection and analysis

• A9 the importance of ethical issues in all forms of criminological and sociological data collection, analysis and argumentatio

Learning and Teaching

At year1, student development towards learning outcomes A1 –A7 is promoted via the core BACriminology and Sociology module programme, delivered through a combination of lectures and small classes, supported by independent study and reading by students. Issues relating to learning outcomes A8 and A9 are addressed through in years 2 and 3. The option modules designated as part of the BA Criminology and Sociology degree scheme will also allow students to develop their knowledge and understanding of learning outcomes A2-A5.

At years2 and 3, the teaching programme consists of four elements.

• (i) Core Knowledge and Understanding Modules in year 2 develop student capacities relating to outcomes A1 to A7 through lectures supported by independent study and reading by students.

• (ii) Core Skills Modules at year 2 promote learning outcomes A7 to A9 through a combination of lectures, practical classes and field classes, variously supported by fieldwork exercises, group or individual exercise-based assignments and independent reading as appropriate. Field classes will also allow the students to understand how many of the themes learnt in A1-A5 operate in the real world.

• (iii) Optional modules taken at year 2 and year 3 and delivered through lectures and seminars supported by independent study and reading, contribute to student development towards some or all of outcomes A1 to A5

• (iv) Small group teaching in year 2 cover themes relating to outcomes A1 to A9. Independent research undertaken by students towards their Dissertation may also contribute towards the development of knowledge relating to some or all of outcomes A1 to A9.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

At year 1, student capacities relating to learning outcomes A1 to A7 are assessed through unseen examination essays, unseen short-answer examinations, exercise-based coursework assignments and project work. At years 2 and 3, student capacities relating to learning outcomes A1 to A9 may be variously assessed as appropriate through assignments, the Dissertation project, oral presentations, coursework essays, project essays, seminar presentations, and seen, unseen and freetime examination essays

10.2.1 Intellectual Skills
By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:
B1the ability to formulate and investigate questions
B2competence in using major theoretical perspectives and concepts
B3the capacity to identify, assess and analyse sources of evidence
B4the ability to identify a range of qualitative and quantitative data sources
B5the ability to identify a range of research strategies and methods and to comment ontheir relative advantages and disadvantages
B6 the ability to plan and conduct research using quantitative and qualitative data sources
B7the ability to understand and apply best ethical practice in criminological and sociological enquiry
B8the ability to recognise the relevance of knowledge to criminological, social, public and civic policy

Learning and Teaching
Student development towards outcomes B1 to B8 is primarily promoted through small group teaching associated with the core Criminology and Sociology modules (years 1-2), practical classes (years 1 and 2), and one-to-one tutoring for the Dissertation project (year 3). Learning is supported through small-group andpractical exercises. The application of these skills in the context of specific areas of Criminological and Sociological enquiry is demonstrated through lectures for core and optional modules at years 1, 2 and 3.

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Assessment of student capacities in relation to outcomes B1 to B8 are central to criteria employed in the evaluation of a range of assessment forms employed at all three levels of the degree scheme but particularly in years 2 and 3. These include assignments, coursework essays, practical exercises, project essays, seminar and oral presentations, the Dissertation (independent research project) and seen, unseen and free-time examination

10.2.2 Professional practical skills / Discipline Specific Skills
By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be ableto demonstrate:
C1 ability to formulate and investigate criminological and sociologically informed questions
C2 competence in using major theoretical perspectives and concepts in Criminology and Sociology, and their application to social life
C3 the capacity to identify, assess and analyse sources of evidence in building a criminological and/or sociological argument
C4 the ability to identify a range of qualitative and quantitative data sources, across different modalities (visual, oral, material or digital) of relevance to criminological and/or sociological enquiry
C5 the ability to identify a range of research strategies and methods and to comment on their relative advantages and disadvantages for criminological and/or sociological research
C6 the ability to plan and conduct criminological and sociological research using quantitative and qualitative data sources whether using secondary analysis of previous research, naturally occurring data or gathering new dataC7 the ability to understand and apply best ethical practice in criminological and sociological enquiry
C8 the ability to recognise the relevance of criminological and/or sociological knowledge to social, public and civic policy

Learning and Teaching
Student development towards outcomes C1 to C8 is primarily promoted through small group teaching associated with the core Criminology and Sociology modules (years 1-2), practical classes (years 1 and 2), and one-to-one tutoring for the Dissertation project (year 3). Learning is supported through small-group andpractical exercises. The application of these skills in the context of specific areas of Criminological and Sociological enquiry is demonstrated through lectures for core and optional modules at years 1, 2 and 3

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Assessment of student capacities in relation to outcomes C1 to C8 are central to criteria employed in the evaluation of a range of assessment forms employed at all three levels of the degree scheme but particularly in years 2 and 3. These include assignments, coursework essays, practical exercises, project essays, seminar and oral presentations, the Dissertation (independent research project) and seen, unseen and free-time examination

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• D1 judging and evaluating evidence

• D2 statistical techniques for interpreting and analysing numerical data

• D3 appreciating the complexity and diversity of criminological and social contexts

• D4 assessing the merits of competing theories and explanations

• D5 gathering, retrieving, and synthesising information

• D6 Making reasoned and evidenced arguments

• D7 interpreting evidence (numerical, visual, spoken and written)

• D8 reflecting on their own accumulation of knowledge

• D9 being reflexive about assumptions and the social processes and structures shaping forms of knowledge

• D10 recognising forms of prejudice and abuses of power; developing arguments and evidence to challenge these

Learning and Teaching

The programme aims to promote, develop and nurture students’ awareness of and competence in these key transferable skills, many of which students will already possess in a greater or lesser degree. Some of these skills are integral to teaching and learning activities across the programme (D1, D3, D4, D6, D7, D9, D10). Others are developed through specific modules and learning activities, including practical classes and exercises (D1, D2, D4, D5). Most significantly, small group teaching associated with the Criminology and Sociology core modules specifically addresses a number of these skills.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Assessment of student capacities in relation to the above outcomes iscentral to criteria employed in the evaluation of a range of assessment forms employed at all three levels of the degree scheme. These include assignments, coursework essays, practical exercises, project essays, the Dissertation, and seen, unseen and free-time examination essays. In addition, a number of the above skills are explicitly assessed at various points during the programme through a range of methods, including the Dissertation project (D1, D2, D5), reports on fieldwork group project (D1, D2, D5),and practical exercises