Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LC Criminological Theory I
School	School of Social Policy
Department	Soc Policy, Sociology & Crimin
Module Code	08 32412
Module Lead	Evelyn Svingen
Level	Certificate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Seminar-9 hours Guided independent study-171 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	Criminological Theory 1 is a comprehensive introduction to the study of crime, designed to provide students with an encompassing foundation in criminological theory underlying causes of criminal behaviour. This course explores various theories and perspectives that seek to explain etiology of crime, ranging from classical theories to contemporary approaches. Throughout the course, students will briefly delve into the historical evolution of criminological thought and gain an understanding of the contemporary theoretical frameworks. They will critically examine key concepts, such as the nature of criminal behaviour, the social construction of crime, and the interaction between individuals and their environments. By engaging with a wide range of criminological theories, students will develop analytical skills to assess the strengths and limitations of these explanations of criminal behaviour. The course will also briefly touch upon the practical applications of these theories in shaping criminal justice policies and interventions aimed at preventing and addressing crime.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module, students should be able to: Understand the foundational concepts of criminology: Students will study the concepts of crime, deviance, and important terms we use in criminology. Identify and compare major criminological theories: Students will be able to distinguish and discuss the main contemporary criminological perspectives. Apply criminological theories to real-world crimes and scenarios: Students will be able to apply different criminological theories to explain and understand various criminal behaviours and societal responses to crime. Illustrate the strengths and limitations of criminological theories: Students will develop the ability to critically outline the validity, empirical support, and ethical implications of different criminological perspectives Develop problem-solving skills: By engaging with complex criminological theories, students will enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to analyse and propose solutions to real-world crime-related challenges.
Assessment	32412-01 : Essay : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	3000 word assessment for main and reassessment (100%)
Other
Reading List