Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	Criminology
School	Birmingham Law School
Department	Law
Module Code	08 20189
Module Lead	Dr Kate Doolin
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	Programmes in Law Only
Contact Hours	Lecture-30 hours Tutorial-6 hours Guided independent study-164 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	The module presents a theoretical and empirical overview to theories and explanations of offending behaviour, the measurement of criminal activity, the institutions of the criminal justice process, and legal, official and social responses to crime. The module will encourage a critical appreciation of these important issues.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Critically evaluate measure of crime and victimisation. Critically evaluate major criminology theories. Critically evaluate the major institutes within the criminal justice process. Critically evaluate specific aspects of the criminal justice process. Critically evaluate theories of punishment and the process of punishment. Critically evaluate alternative responses to punishment. Critically evaluate official responses to youth offending. Critically evaluate debates concerning crime and gender, crime and race and crime and youth. Critically evaluate the position of victims within the criminal justice process.
Assessment	20189-02 : Essay 1 : Coursework (25%) 20189-03 : Essay 2 : Coursework (75%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessments: 1 2000 word essay (25%) and 1 x 4000 word essay (75%) Reassessment: This is a final year module
Other
Reading List