Criminology: The Nature and Origins of Crime (2024/2025: Semester 2 – Spring)

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Cursusdoel

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Explain what is meant by the statement crime is a social construction and apply the concept harm;
  2. Elaborate on patterns of crime and victimization;
  3. Apply methods and techniques to determine how crime is studied;
  4. Exhibit an understanding of criminological theories and critically discuss them in relation to various criminal behaviours;
  5. Describe and elaborate upon aspects of punishment and the criminal justice system as well as strategies to prevent criminal behavior based upon previously discussed theories;
  6. Discuss the interdisciplinary nature of criminology;
  7. Collect data on, describe, and apply criminological theories to a chosen criminal behaviour;

Relationship between tests/assignment/papers and course goals
In this course, the final course grade is based on six elements: two written exams, two papers, presentation of an academic article, and active participation in class discussions.

1. In-class midterm assessment: this tests your knowledge of definitions of crime, the strength and weaknesses of measurement of crime, methodologies in conducting criminological research and patterns of crime and victimization with relation to race and gender (course goals 1 through 3).
2. Written Final exam: this tests your knowledge of, and ability to interpret criminological theories and how these explain various patterns of crime discussed in the first half of the semester. The last few weeks of the course examine the criminal justice system and how crimes and criminals are processed and punished (course goals 4 and 5).
3. Class participation (goal 6; relies upon the student mastering the material found in course goals 1 through 5)
4. Paper: this exercise requires you to write an academic paper on a subject related to criminology integrating you own data collection, material from the readings, and lectures to draw upon other relevant academic literature (course goal 7 which must integrate material obtained through goals 1 through 5).
5. Presentation research paper (course goal 7).

Vakinhoudelijk

Criminology: The Nature and Origins of Crime
Criminology is the study of crime and society’s subsequent reaction to it. Crime is a social construction which is dependent upon and changes over time, across cultures and disciplines. Whereas deviant behavior is that which varies from the norm, crime is a behavior prohibited by law. This course begins by examining the definition of crime and deviance and how these definitions vary across countries, cultures, social classes and time. Discussion will focus on major facts and fallacies about crime such as the stability of deviance and the issue of versatility versus specialization in particular types of crime. These introductory lectures will be followed by discussions of the different sources used to measure crime. A further discussion focuses on how measurements are used (to provide descriptions, establish relationships between variables or as a predictive tool). Lectures continue with studying the relationship between media and crime, fear of crime and victimization.
Building upon themes addressed in the introductory courses in Sociology and Psychology, sociological theories will be used to explain criminal behavior among groups or sub-groups within society. The Chicago School, Classical and Positivist theories, Social Structure and Social Process theories, the nature vs. nurture debate, and critical-cultural notions, will be applied to the study of crime and criminal behavior.

Continuation into level 3
This course is one of the possible prerequisite courses for all level 3 Sociology courses. However, continuing to level 3 in the field of criminology is not possible at UCU anymore. A related course to consider is UCSSCLAW35 International and Transnational Crimes.

Format
Students prepare to participate actively in class by completing assigned readings. They write a final paper in which they apply criminological theories to a criminal behaviour of their choosing. They present their findings to the class. There is also a mid-term assessment and a final exam.

Werkvormen

UCU course

Toetsing

Attendance, preparation, participation

Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75

Final exam

Verplicht | Weging 25% | ECTS 1,88

Paper

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

Presentation paper

Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Niet verplicht

Midterm evaluation

Verplicht | Weging 25% | ECTS 1,88

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er moet voldaan zijn aan minimaal één van de cursussen:

Voorkennis

Er is geen informatie over benodigde voorkennis bekend.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • BOEK
    Newburn, T. (2013). Criminology (3rd. Ed.). Routdledge: London
  • ARTIKELEN
    Additional readings will be assigned and available through the UU library

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Coördinator

prof. dr. M.H.D. van Leeuwen M.H.D.vanLeeuwen@uu.nl

Docenten

V. Esconjauregui Caro LLM v.esconjaureguicaro@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

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