LW1CRM-Introduction to Criminology

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

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

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Criminology is made up of the study of crime, justice, punishment and social harm. This module provides students with an introduction to the discipline of criminology as well as an overview of the key concepts and main theoretical perspectives that comprise criminology. The main questions that the module addresses are:

• What is criminology? What counts as research in criminology?


• What is crime?


• What are the reactions to crime?


• What are the main theoretical perspectives of criminology?

Aims:

• To stimulate students’ interest in, and enthusiasm for, criminology


• To introduce students to the range of subjects that can be covered within criminology and the ways that criminologists approach the study of crime and deviance


• To introduce students to research in criminology

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

• Outline and explain key concepts in the study of crime (crime, harm, criminalisation and victimisation)


• Describe and evaluate competing definitions of ‘crime’


• Describe and evaluate the challenges of doing research on or measuring crime


• Describe and evaluate competing explanations of ‘crime’

Additional outcomes:

Students will be able to

• Lead a seminar discussion


• Participate in class discussions


• Read a criminological study


• Write a book review


• Understand the difference between public discourse on crime and criminological research and knowledge

Outline content:

Construction and deconstruction of official criminal statistics, differences between academic and non-academic criminological theories, key concepts in criminology, realist criminology, critical and conflict criminology, biological explanations for crime, cultural criminology.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be taught by a combination of weekly two-hour long lectures and fortnightly 1 hour tutorials. Lectures will introduce students to the basic concepts and map out the contours of the module. The lecture series will be divided into three parts: deconstructing official statistics, reading criminological theory and the foundations of criminological theory. Seminar series will be divided into two parts: the first seminars will explore in more detail the themes and issues of the lect ures and will be a forum in which students read four classic texts, discuss the content, the arguments and the methodological issues. The latter seminars will provide students with an opportunity to consolidate their understanding of the main perspectives and conceptual language of criminology.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	20	20	2
Seminars	3	5
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	50	50
Wider reading (directed)	25	25
Total hours by term	98	100	2
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	80
Oral assessment and presentation	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will be asked to write an essay of not more than 5 pages long. As part of this assignment, students will need to append a Learning Reflection of not more than one half a page in which they reflect on their learning style, challenges and strategies for outcoming these. 5% of the overall mark for this summative assessment will be given for the Learning Reflection. This will be due towards the beginning of the summer term. (80%)

Formative assessment methods:

• Criminological biography (due week two) (formative)


• Reflective essay on folk devils (due week four) formative


• Ongoing: dialogic reading assignments (due in tutorials, formative)


• Portfolio assignment (due at ends of terms one and two):


• Throughout the term, you should identify at least three news stories or events that connect to the lecture themes.  You will be expected to write a one-page reflection on that news story or event which draws from Cohen’s work or one of the assigned readings (total of six pages). 

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40%

Reassessment arrangements:

Book review of a different text than previously submitted – no more than 1500 words.  Worth 100%

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 11 September 2023