This course will introduce students to the canon of criminology and map the key theoretical frameworks that have been advanced to explain crime and deviance. The course will encourage students to engage their ‘criminological imaginations’ to understand the causality of crime and the infraction of social norms and values.

The course will begin by examining how deviancy and crime is socially constructed. We will then explore the various theoretical perspectives that have been developed to try and explain crime and deviancy. Beginning with the classical school of criminology that emerged in the late 18^th Century, the course will document how understanding of criminal behaviour has developed and advanced. Subcultural theories and the labelling of individuals as ‘deviant’ will be examined, alongside an appreciation of how Marxist readings can help explain social inequality and the links between poverty and the criminal justice system. The course will require students to critically engage with the theories presented; and to critique their value, utility and explanatory power in contemporary society. Examples and research will be drawn upon throughout the course to bring to life the application of the criminological canon.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate:

1. Developed ‘criminological imaginations’ to gain understanding of the social construction of deviance and crime.
2. Gained knowledge of the key theories explaining criminal behaviour.
3. An ability to critique the value and utility of different theories and approaches to the understanding of crime and deviance in contemporary society.
4. An ablility to source relevant research publications on crime and justice, and interpret that information appropriately.
5. An ablility to articulate and critique complex theories in a succinct and comprehensible manner.
6. An insight into how society responds to deviance and crime and how the criminal justice system reacts to and impacts upon different individuals and groups.

There are four modes of assessment on this course:

• Seminar Presentation (10%) [Learning Outcomes 3, 4, 5]
• Participation (10%) [Learning Outcomes 1 and 5]
• Online quiz (30%) [Learning Outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5]
• Research Essay (50%) [Learning Outcomes 2, 3, 4, 6]
  

Two hour lectures will be held weekly, for a duration of 12 weeks. Some guest lectures will be scheduled.

Tutorials will be weekly and last one hour and students must come prepared (having read the set reading and prepared to answer discussion questions). Each tutorial will commence with a short presentation delivered by a different member/s of the group each week.

It is vital that all students come prepared to contribute to tutorials. There is mandatory reading each week indicated by an asterisk: ‘*’. There is also additional reading / websites if you wish to explore the subject area in more depth.

Students are expected to manage their workload to allocate even time to their courses in line with their enrolment. For full time study, this is equivalent to an average of 10 hours per course per week. 

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An understanding of social theory and method will be beneficial, but not required to take this course.

There are no prescribed texts for this course. Set readings will be provided via Wattle.

If students wish to access a book to aide study, recommended texts include:

• Bernard et al (2010) Vold's Theoretical Criminology. (6th Ed). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• White and Habibis (2007) Crime and Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Williams (2008) Textbook on Criminology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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