ATS1281 - Understanding crime: An introduction - 2018

Crime is an issue that citizens and governments confront on a daily basis. The causes of crime, and how it should be dealt with, are the focus of intense and on-going debate. That debate is examined in this unit. Students analyse the meaning, nature, and extent of crime, examine how crime is portrayed in the media, evaluate the effect images of crime can have on our perceptions of the crime problem, and how it should be addressed.

Upon completion of the unit students will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Apply library based research skills to access appropriate Criminology databases;
2. Demonstrate basic skills in communicating orally and in writing key criminological theories;
3. Apply criminological theories to everyday situations of crime in the community;
4. Describe and define the strengths and weakness of key criminological theories.

Within semester assessment: 60% + Exam: 40%

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

Criminology