Explaining Crime and Deviance - SOC00014C
Module summary
Students will be introduced to different criminological theories that have been developed to explain crime and deviance. By considering how these theories have emerged, the module module will enable you to think about the contribution and impact of criminological theory to society.
Module will run
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 1 2025-26 |
Module aims
Why do people commit crime? How have criminologists sought to explain rule breaking? In this module, we introduce you to different criminological theories that have been developed to explain crime and deviance. You will consider how these theories have emerged by building on previous ideas and how controversies within contemporary criminology continue to rage. The module will enable you to think about the contribution and impact of criminological theory to society and engage your skills in problem solving and time-management.
Module learning outcomes
Demonstrate your understanding of how the field of criminology has developed and the debates that underpin theoretical responses to explaining crime.
Manage and plan your time whilst working independently on set tasks and activities
Apply insights from social theory to historical and current events and issues
Articulate and synthesize ideas and arguments coherently in both verbal and written formats.
Indicative assessment
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
For formative work - York Crime Walk - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. The formative assessment provides practice for the summative tasks which entail a podcast review which is in line with MLO particularly 1,2, 4.
For summative work - portfolio - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with 1-4. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.
Indicative reading
Downes, D. and Rock, P. (2007) Understanding Deviance, (5th ed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Lilly, J.R., Cullen, F.T., and Ball, R.A. (2011) Criminological Theory, (4th ed.) London: Sage.
Maguire, M. Morgan, R. and Reiner, R. (eds.) (2007) Oxford Handbook of Criminology, (4th ed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Tierney, J. (2006) Criminology, Hemel Hempstead: Prentice Hall/Harvester Wheatsheaf.
Williams, K.S. (2008) Textbook in Criminology, (6th ed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press.