Dr Janet Foster

This course is available on the BSc in Social Policy and Sociology and BSc in Sociology. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

This course encourages students to think about and debate some of the major issues in Criminology. We explore the social construction of crime and deviance; the different sources of information about them; key factors that shape patterns, perspectives and experiences of crime and deviance, including social class, gender, ethnicity and the media; and different Criminological theories that have been used to explain crime and deviance. We also explore elements of social control including policing and prisons.

6 hours of lectures, 6 hours of classes and 8 hours of workshops in the MT. 6 hours of lectures, 6 hours of classes and 8 hours of workshops in the LT. 1 hour of classes and 2 hours of workshops in the ST.

This course is taught using a mixture of 2 hour workshops (4 in MT and 4 in LT) and 6 one hour lectures (MT and LT) and 6 one hour classes (MT and LT).

All students are timetabled so that they are able to attend both the two hour workshop and the one hour lecture/classes.

There is one 2 hour workshop in the ST.

Students are required to complete two formative essays – one in MT and one in LT

There is no set text for this course, and a full reading list is provided at the first class. The following is useful introductory reading that includes topics covered on the course: Carrabine E et al (2016) Criminology: A Sociological Perspective; Downes, D & Rock, P (2011, 4th Edition) Understanding Deviance; Liebling, A et al, (2017, 5th Edition) The Oxford Handbook of Criminology; Tierney, J (2018, 4th Edition) Criminology: Theory and Context; Walklate, S (2016) Criminology: The Basics.

Exam (50%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.
Other (15%) and other (10%) in the LT.
Other (15%) in the ST.
Other (10%) in the MT.

Attendance at all classes and submission of all set coursework is required.