LW3CRY-Criminology

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Professor Jo Phoenix
Email: j.b.m.phoenix@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
Criminology is a lecture-led module examining the nature of crime as a social phenomenon, theoretical explanations of criminal behaviour, and official responses to crime. The module will incorporate tutorial classes and a piece of assessed coursework.

Aims:
This module aims to encourage an understanding of crime as a social phenomenon, of theoretical and empirical analyses of offenders and offending behaviour, and of social and legal responses to crime. It is intended to encourage students to develop core analytic and critical skills in relation to their knowledge of this area.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Assessable outcomes
By the end of this module it is intended that students will be able to:

• Identify and explain a range of theoretical approaches to issues concerning crime as a phenomenon, offenders and offending, and social responses to crime;
• Apply and utilise theoretical criminological concepts to practical issues within the field of crime, law and social control;
• Examine, analyse, and criticise, competing explanations of crime and crime-related issues;
• Formulate, develop, and communicate critical arguments about criminological issues and ideas in written and oral form;
• Critically evaluate a range of sources and concepts, and appraise established and accepted public/political notions of crime and crime control.

Additional outcomes:
This module will encourage the development of analytical and critical approaches to literature and sources. The written work and examination will encourage students to develop their oral and written communication skills, and the ability to work independently.

Outline content:

• What is crime? (Social constructions, the extent of crime, public perceptions)


• Explanations of crime (Positivist, Radical, Administrative and Realist)


• Responses to crime (theories of crime control, policing, social inequalities and criminal justice, penology)Ìý

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Teaching will be by lectures (25 hours) and tutorial classes (5 hours). Lectures will provide an overview and explanation of an area to facilitate individual learning; tutorial classes will consist of discussion of questions and issues raised in advance. Active participation in tutorial classes is essential.