Unit Outline

The unit offers a broad overview of the major theories and approaches to the study of crime and deviance. It provides a survey of diverse and competing interpretations of criminal and deviant acts, the situations and contexts within which crime and deviance is defined and takes place, and the explanations put forward for the causes and consequences of deviance in society. The unit encourages students to think critically and practically engage with the key questions and colourful issues that criminologists face, including why and how some behaviours and subcultures are regarded as deviant or criminal and others are not. Each theoretical perspective is vividly illustrated throughout the unit with contemporary applications in topical lectures and tutorials. For example, the unit may cover topics like youth crime and youth gangs, sex work and sexuality, crimes of the marginalised and the powerful, terrorism and counter-terrorism, as well as analysing the dynamic impact of stigma, moral panics and social control on individuals and society.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Explain the main concepts and debates within a range of criminological perspectives and theories.
2.	Apply criminological perspectives and theories to particular examples of deviance, crime, and social control.
3.	Evaluate the contribution of different criminological perspectives and theories to the study of deviance, crime, and social control.
4.	Communicate your ideas clearly, incorporating key elements of academic writing in criminology.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	25 credit points at Introductory level or higher
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	LAW638 AND LAW615 AND HGA359

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In response to feedback in 2023, we have:

adjusted the word limits of assessment tasks

retained 1.5-hour tutorials as they allow greater depth of discussion on contemporary topics and issues (that help prepare for assignments) and further opportunities for feedback on ideas

included some further activities to foster thinking and discussion

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Case Study	Week 5	20 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Essay	Week 10	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Take -home Exam	Exam Period	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Tutorial Participation	Refer to Assessment Description	10 %	LO2, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Case Study

Task Description:

In your case study (short essay), critically evaluate how one criminological perspective explains one type of crime in its social context.
You will need to select one criminological and one crime type from a set of options provided.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 5 (27/Mar/2024)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain the main aspects of a criminological perspective or theory that aims to explain crime.	LO1
2	Apply the theory to a specific local, national, or international examples of crime.	LO2
3	Communicate your ideas clearly, incorporating key elements of academic writing in Criminology.

Assessment Task 2: Essay

Task Description:

In your essay, critically evaluate how TWO criminological perspectives or theories (at least one of which is from the middle part of the unit) explain ONE deviant or criminal activity by a social group from the list of options provided.
Include relevant social, legal, political, or historical context surrounding the group and/or activity (as relevant to the topic).

Task Length:

2,300 words

Due Date:

Week 10 (08/May/2024)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain the main concepts of two criminological perspectives or theories on the nature and causes of crime, construction of deviance, or social control (as relevant to your essay topic).	LO1
2	Apply the two theoretical perspectives or theories to local, national, or international examples. In your analysis, discuss a specific group or groups and particular types of crime or deviance.	LO2
3	Develop your ability to justify your position on key debates in crime, deviance and social control.	LO4
4	Produce written work that communicates your ideas clearly and incorporates key elements of academic writing in Criminology.

Assessment Task 3: Take -home Exam

Task Description:

In your take-home task, respond to four short answer questions from a range of options. Show your understanding of criminological theory and contemporary debates as well as how selected theories (from the later part of the unit) can be applied to practical examples to understand contemporary issues of crime and deviance.

Task Length:

Completed over a three-day period.

Due Date:

Exam Period (13/Jun/2024)

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain criminological perspectives and theories (as relevant to the specific questions selected). Briefly define key concepts and terms as needed.	LO1
2	Apply criminological perspectives or theories to practical examples of crime and/or deviance.	LO2
3	Evaluate the explanation of crime or deviance given by the theoretical perspectives or theories.	LO3
4	Communicate your ideas clearly using criminological terms and concepts.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Tutorial Participation

Task Description:

In weekly tutorials or online discussions, discuss and apply criminological theories and perspectives to current issues and topics of debate in criminology. On-campus students in Hobart and Launceston will have face-to-face classes. Online students will have Zoom tutorials or online discussions in MyLO.

Prepare for discussions by reading assigned materials, as indicated on MyLO. Contribute questions and ideas within your small group or to the whole group.
Through your comments, demonstrate that you are engaging with unit materials and grappling with how and how well particular perspectives and theories can explain issues of crime and deviance.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply criminological perspectives or theories to practical examples of crime and/or deviance.	LO2
2	Justify your own position on key debates in the study of crime, deviance and social control.	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

The unit textbook is:

White, R., Haines, F., & Asquith, N. L. (2023). Crime and criminology (7th ed.). Docklands: Oxford University Press.

It is available for purchase at Booktopia. It is also available as an ebook via the UTAS Library.

Additional required readings are available via the unit's Reading List at the UTAS Library.