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Advances in Criminological Theory - SOC00014M

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Carol Robinson
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

The module aims to critically engage with core and emerging theories in criminological theory. It examines the development of ideas and scholarly debates in key areas of contemporary criminological theory.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

How have ideas and scholarly debates developed in the field of criminological theory? The module aims to critically engage with core and emerging theories in criminological theory, in relation to contemporary developments such as green criminology, visual and cultural criminology, the role of lifecourse, and Black criminology. You will have the opportunity to develop your ability to understand and evaluate theoretical perspectives, and your skills at communicating the differences and potential areas of synthesis between theories of crime and social control.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a developed knowledge and understanding of core criminological theory;
  • Critically evaluate the distinctiveness, strengths and weaknesses of a variety of theoretical approaches to crime and deviance;
  • Critically analyse how advances in theory are made;
  • Identify the ontological and epistemological basis of a variety of theoretical approaches and critically account for how philosophical foundations necessarily place limits on the explanatory potential of theory.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

Pass/fail

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

For formative work - individual presentations - 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 task which is aligned with MLOs 1-4.

For summative work - essay - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with MLOs 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

These will be available on the module sites through the Yorkshare VLE. Most reading materials will be journals or book chapters which will be in pdf format. These can be downloaded and annotated on your work pc if you don t want the expense of printing.

Recommended books will be available in the library for reference only.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.