Course specification for CRI1111

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CRI1111 Criminology

Semester 1, 2020 On-campus Toowoomba
Short Description: Criminology
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts
School or Department : School of Law and Justice
Student contribution band : Band 1
ASCED code : 099903 - Criminology
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Requisites

Enrolment is not permitted in CRI1111 if LAW3471 has been previously completed.

Rationale

This course is a core or elective course for students enrolled in the Associate Degree of Criminology and Criminal Justice, as well as Law and Arts programs. It introduces students to concepts related to crime and criminology and allows them to deepen their understanding of these areas. The course is designed to enhance students’ critical thinking skills and to apply these skills to contemporary problems.

Synopsis

The course introduces students to the study of crime and criminology with a primary focus on the main theories that inform the discipline of criminology. It considers definitions of crime and examines some theoretical explanations for criminal behaviour. The course further analyses a number of criminological theories, their development over time, and their application to contemporary examples. Also incorporated into the course is an outline of different types of crime and how they are defined, including an examination of how they are measured and understood.

Objectives

On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

  1. Describe how crime is defined and measured.
  2. Understand, explain and critique a number of criminological theories.
  3. Describe the historical contexts of some of the major theories that have influenced criminological thought.
  4. Explain the main features associated with different crime types.
  5. Apply criminological theory to explain crime problems.
  6. Develop and apply problem solving, communication, time management and organisational skills.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Defining crime. 5.00
2. Measuring crime. 5.00
3. Understanding crime types. 40.00
4. Criminological theories. 50.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=CRI1111)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Hayes, Hennessey, Prenzler, Tim, P. Ed 2019, An Introduction to Crime and Criminology, 2019th edn, Pearson Australia, Melbourne, Victoria.
(An Introduction to Crime and Criminology needs to be purchased as an eBook to facilitate access to Revel. Access to Revel is not granted if a hardcopy is purchased:.)
White, Robert D., Haines, Fiona, Asquith, Nicole L 2017, Crime and Criminology, Oxford ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Press, Melbourne, Vic.
Additional required readings for the course will be made available through the course ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk where applicable.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Bernard, TJ, Snipes, JB & Gerould, AL 2016, Vold’s theoretical criminology, Seventh edn, Oxford ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Press, New York.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Assessments 45.00
Directed ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 50.00
Private ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 70.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
Research Paper 30 30 22 Apr 2020
Tutorial Sentencing Exercise 15 15 19 May 2020
Tutorial Participation 20 20 02 Jun 2020 (see note 1)
Online Test 35 35 09 Jun 2020

Notes
  1. Tutorial participation is required weekly from week 2 through to week 15. Details will be made available on the ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    Online: There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

    On-campus: It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative items for the course.

  6. Examination information:
    There is no examination in this course.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Not applicable.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Date printed 19 June 2020