CRIME AND SOCIETY - 2020/1
Module code: SOC1034
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in a departure from previous academic years and previously published information, the University has had to change the delivery (and in some cases the content) of its programmes, together with certain University services and facilities for the academic year 2020/21.
These changes include the implementation of a hybrid teaching approach during 2020/21. Detailed information on all changes is available at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/coronavirus/course-changes. This webpage sets out information relating to general University changes, and will also direct you to consider additional specific information relating to your chosen programme.
Prior to registering online, you must read this general information and all relevant additional programme specific information. By completing online registration, you acknowledge that you have read such content, and accept all such changes.
Module Overview
This module offers students a comprehensive introduction to the sociological study of crime and deviance. The module aims to think of crime sociologically and to explore patterns of crime and deviance in relation to the organization of contemporary society. In order to do achieve this, the module will explore crime and responses to crime by focusing on a number of substantive areas. In addition you will also learn more general study skills as part of this module.
Module provider
Sociology
Module Leader
ADAMS Maria (Sociology)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 4
JACs code: L611
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None
Module content
Indicative content includes:
· Crime and gender
· Ethnicity and crime
· Childhood, age and crime
· Internet crime
· Crime and the media
· Victims and victimization
· Core study skills (email, referencing, note taking, exam preparation)
Assessment pattern
Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
---|---|---|
Coursework | STUDY SKILLS ASSIGNMENT | 10 |
Coursework | 1500 WORD ESSAY | 40 |
Examination | 1-HOUR EXAMINATION | 50 |
Alternative Assessment
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their level of understanding of key criminological concepts, show the ways that crime and responses to crime are structured in relation to key sociological differentiators (e.g. gender, age, ethnicity), and gain practice of the core study skills necessary for academic work.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
- A range of directed study skills tasks including searching for literature and referencing techniques. Typically due in week 5
- A 1,500 word essay allowing us to assess the students understanding of a core criminological concept and how it needs to be understood in relation to a key social differentiator. The essay also assesses basic essay writing skills, referencing, and understanding of key readings. Typically due in week 5
- A 1 hour exam assessing students abilities to synthesise existing academic material and apply it to a topic relating to the inter-relationship between patterns of crime and the organisation of contemporary society. During the exam period
Formative assessment and feedback
Students receive regular feedback during seminars from postgraduate tutors. Students are also able to schedule one-to-one meetings with the course convenor to discuss progress and assessments. Feedback on the study skills work and 1,500 word essay are returned to students by week 8, and include details on substantive content and core study skills. A revision session is scheduled at the end of the module, allowing students a forum to ask futher questions. General feedback about the progress of the overall cohort is also provided after the essay and exam.
Module aims
- Provide an introduction to the sociological study of crime and deviance
- Explore a range of contemporary issues in criminology, and examine how these relate to the structure of society
- To give a grounding in the core study skills required to undertake undergraduate study, including email, referencing, and issues around plagiarism
Learning outcomes
Attributes Developed | ||
---|---|---|
1 | Have developed a sociological approach to understanding crime and deviance and understand the distinctive features of this approach. | |
2 | Understand the inter-relationship between patterns of crime and the organisation of contemporary society | |
3 | Be able to understand crime in relation to the existence and organisation of forms of social differentiation | |
4 | Be familiar with core study skills and be able to implement these in academic work. |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Overall student workload
Independent Study Hours: 128
Lecture Hours: 12
Seminar Hours: 10
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
Provide students with a general introduction to criminology, promote interest in the discipline, and give students a ‘taster’ of the content in the rest of the course. The lectures are designed to help students develop their note-taking abilities, as well as expose them to key debates and literature. The seminar groups then act as a forum to discuss these ideas in more depth in smaller groups, including peer-learning and discussion exercises. The study skills classes give students understanding of basic study techniques useful for the remainder of the degree.
The learning and teaching methods include:
· 1 hour lecture x 12 weeks
· 1 hour seminar x 10 weeks
· 1 hour study skill class x 10 weeks
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: SOC1034
Programmes this module appears in
Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
---|---|---|---|
Criminology BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Criminology and Sociology BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Law with Criminology LLB (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.