CRIME AND SOCIETY - 2026/7

Module Overview

This first-year module gives you an 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 achieve this, the module explores how crime and responses to crime are structured in relation to key aspects of social differentiation (for example, gender and ethnicity). The module also covers a number of substantive concerns such as, for example, the inter-relationship between crime and contemporary developments in internet technologies, and the growth of prisons.

Module provider

Sociology

Module Leader

AKRIVOS Dimitris (Sociology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

• Definitions of crime


• Ethnicity and crime


• Gender and crime


• The reporting, recording, and measuring of crime


• Prisons and punishment


• White collar crime


• Crime and the media


• New technologies and crime


• Victims and victimization

Core study skills (researching and finding information, critical thinking, reading, and writing, referencing, assessment preparation)

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their 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 academic skills necessary for academic work. Students are also expected to synthesise ideas from across the module and reflect on how their arguments took shape through the research and writing process.

• A written assignment (100%). The assignment requires students to draw on and synthesise knowledge from across the module, constructing a coherent argument that makes connections between different areas of the module content. Students are also expected to show how their argument developed through engagement with evidence, feedback and theoretical perspectives. The assignment is typically due in week 12.

   

Formative assessment and feedback

Students receive regular feedback during seminars from postgraduate tutors and are able to schedule one-to-one meetings with the course convenor to discuss progress and the assessment. The module also provides opportunities for developmental feedback at key points, designed to shape and strengthen students' academic thinking and writing ahead of the final submission. This includes guidance on the direction and structure of their argument, their use of evidence and academic sources and their ability to make connections across different areas of the module content. Feedback on the summative assessment is returned by week 15.

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
• Develop students' awareness of how academic ideas take shape through research, reading and engaging with feedback

Learning outcomes

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 an understanding of basic study techniques useful for the remainder of the degree.



The learning and teaching methods include Lectures and Seminars.

 

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

Other information

The School of Sociology is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Employability: students develop a range of critical thinking and academic skills that are transferable to the field of employment. Seminars are structured around discussions and debates that are designed to develop communication skills.

Digital capabilities: a lecture devoted to ‘Crime and New Technologies’ encourages students to think critically about the global evolution of technology with reference to how it can facilitate criminal activity. Case studies of cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crimes are explored. Students engage with digital technologies in seminars and when writing assignments.

Global and cultural capabilities: Students engage with diverse global perspectives when considering definitions of crime. Students critically consider how definitions of crime vary across cultures, contexts, and history. Students comparatively consider variations in criminal justice systems’ respond to case studies of ‘universal’ crimes and link to societal norms and values.

Sustainability: Students consider issues of sustainability in relation to white collar environmental crimes. Lecture content introduces students to some of the challenges involved in prosecuting white collar crime.

Resourcefulness and resilience: students are required to complete independent research and reading outside of teaching contact hours. In assessment students are encouraged to develop their own original ideas through self-directed critical engagement with the field of criminology. Lecturers facilitate this process through signposting to helpful resources.

Programmes this module appears in

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 2026/7 academic year.