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Influencers and Ideas in Criminology - SOC00061H

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Carol Robinson
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

Who are the influencers and how do their ideas shape criminology? How have criminologists changed ideas about crime, and criminology? In this module, you will explore the work of ground breaking criminologists through a diverse range of significant key texts that have sculpted the field.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

Who are the influencers and how do their ideas shape criminology? How have criminologists changed ideas about crime, and criminology? In this module, you will explore the work of ground breaking criminologists through a diverse range of significant key texts that have sculpted the field. You will consider how these works have contributed to the development of criminology and understandings of crime. In doing so, you will discover how criminological theories and perspectives have evolved and further your understanding of some of the ongoing debates within criminology. Through writing a critical review of texts from the module that inspire you the most, you will engage with the enduring ideas in criminology.

Module learning outcomes

Critically assess how theoretical arguments are formulated in criminology.

Identify and evaluate the important arguments made by authors in a series of key texts and how they fit within, develop or challenge wider theories and debates

Articulate the critical points of disagreement and convergence in debates between criminological theories

Demonstrate a critical awareness of how academic reasoning is used to identify room for argument and critique

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Book Review 3000 words		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Book Review 3000 words		 N/A 100

Module feedback

For formative work - short written assessment: book review- 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 in line with MLO 1–4.

For summative work - Essay: Book Review - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with MLO 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

Davis, A. (2003) Are prisons obsolete? New York: Seven Stories Press.


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.