LWMRCJ-Research in Criminal Justice

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Module can only be taken with permission of the Programme Director for M Res (Law & Society) and Module Convenor. Permission will ordinarily only be granted to M Res or MA Res students.
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: LW3CJ Criminal Justice
Current from: 2018/9

Module Convenor: Dr Stephen Banks

Email: s.banks@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
Critical analysis of the insitutions responsible for the delivery of criminal justice (the Police, the Courts, the Prison), their philosophical/ideological foundations, their historical antecedents and their contemporary attributes through a major research project.

Aims:
This module aims to develop and enhance students􀀒 knowledge of an area of criminal justice (including criminal law and criminology) which is of interest to them and to develop their ability to analyse and critically evaluate the law and issues in the field using methods appropriate to the field.

Assessable learning outcomes:
After completing the module, students will:

• be able to analyse and critically evaluate a range of legal and non-legal materials that are relevant to their selected area of criminal justice;
• be able to identify and apply appropriate research methods to their selected area of criminal justice;
• be able to synthesise wide-ranging material and to articulate arguments effectively and clearly in writing an assessed essay;
• develop their knowledge and understanding of an area of criminal justice in which they are interested.

Additional outcomes:
This module will also encourage the development of independent learning, as well as communication skills and personal responsibility.

Outline content:
Students will research and write a major essay on a topic to be agreed with the module convenor

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Teaching and learning is primarily in the form of an agreed programme of lectures and/or seminars, regular supervision, and is informed by students􀀒 participation in the compulsory modules for the M Res programme.

Contact hours: The programme of classes will be agreed with the Programme Director and Module Convenor. Students will be required to attend a minimum of 10 hours and a maximum of 20 hours of classes but may attend more if they wish. The programme of lectures and/or seminars will be drawn on those offered as part of the module LW3CJ Criminal Justice.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	20
Project Supervision	1	1
Guided independent study	89	89
Total hours by term	110.00	90.00
Total hours for module	200.00

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
15 page essay (formatted in accordance with the School of Law􀀒s Assessed Work Rules).

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
50% overall

Reassessment arrangements:
See School of Law PGT Programme Handbook

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: 20 April 2018