ATS3004 - Crime, risk and security - 2017

This unit provides a theoretical background to the challenges facing contemporary criminology nationally and internationally, identifying and interrogating the narratives that make up the diverse perceptions of crime, the evolution of 'risk society', ideas of local and global security/insecurity and the impact this has on rights and liberties. It employs an advanced critical analysis of the nature of 'risk society' and, importantly, the responses by various agencies and organisations to 'threats' within and beyond the state. These include theories on violence, legitimacy, governance, securitization and resistance articulated within sociological, political, human rights as well as criminological frameworks. The unit builds and extends on knowledge gained in previous units and applies seminal theoretical scholarship in conjunction with cutting edge research to address some of the most pressing criminological issues facing our contemporary world.

Upon completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate an ability to:

1. build a critical understanding of relevant theories on crime, risk and security;
2. apply these theories to a range of contemporary issues of crime, risk and security;
3. critically analyse practical and policy responses to contemporary challenges of a risk and security framework nationally and internationally;
4. develop a research question and apply relevant theoretical frameworks to a case study;
5. synthesise existing research and communicate key arguments about crime, risk and security.

Within semester assessment: 70% + Exam: 30%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Professor Jude McCulloch

Criminology

Twelve credit points of second-year Arts units. It is highly recommended that students only take this unit after they have completed at least one cornerstone unit in Criminology.