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CRIM100 Understanding Crime

Updated: 02 February 2011
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 1 Off Campus D - Comp/internet essential
Armidale Semester 1 On Campus D - Comp/internet essential
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites None
Co-requisites None
Restrictions None
Notes None
Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) Fiona Utley (futley2@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit is divided into three parts. The first introduces students to a range of criminological theories and concepts that they will use throughout their degree. The second part of the unit examines a range of crime patterns associated with gender, youth and Indigenousness as well as the distinctive differences between rural versus urban patterns of crime. Part 2 also explores the victims of crime and the criminalisation and decriminalisation of certain sex crimes (i.e. prostitution). Part 3 concludes the foundation unit with a sample of pressing contemporary issues facing policy makers, such as: the threat of terrorism and the rise of cyber, internet and corporate crime.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

An Introduction to Crime and Criminology
ISBN: 9781741038989
Hayes, H. and Prenzler, T. (eds), Pearson Education 2nd revised ed. 2008
Text refers to: Semester 1 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Essay 40% 1500-2000
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-6 GA: 1-4 and 7
Online Test 1 10%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-6 GA: 1, 3 and 6
Online Test 2 10%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-6 GA: 1, 3 and 6
Final Examination 2 hrs 40%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-6 GA: 1-3

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. demonstrate an understanding of the social context of crime and the criminalisation process and the differing roles of victims and offenders;
  2. have a basic understanding of a range of criminological theories;
  3. interpret crime data and analyse crime statistics;
  4. understand the gendered nature of crime and criminalisation;
  5. critically analyse the factors that contribute to the over-representation of youth and Indigenous people in the criminal justice system;
  6. have an appreciation of the rural/urban differences in crime rates and the reasons for this.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
The knowledge of the discipline will be taught through lectures and tutorials. Students will have a basic understanding of a range of criminological theories and will demonstrate knowledge of the discipline through practical application. It will be assessed in all assessments. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students studying on campus will learn valuable communication skills through participation in tutorials (this will include debates and small group work). Students will be assessed on the style of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas, and referencing. Students will practise their communication skills through completing the assessment tasks (written through essays). 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Students will learn about a variety of different ways to understand crime, and how these understandings shape the public's perception of offenders. Students will be assessed on their capacity to understand how international events have impacted on crime, and crime policy, in Australia. 		True True True
4 Information Literacy
Students will be taught, and directed, to relevant criminological and sociological literature and how to assess its validity. Students will be assessed (through the essay) on their ability to identify relevant literature, and on their ability to critically analyse the literature. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Through completing the assessments, students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, and will be useful in any research positions. These attributes will be assessed in all of the assessments (written skills; analytical skills). In addition, students who attend tutorials will be provided with the skills to debate contentious topics and develop their understanding of a topic through group activities. 		True
6 Problem Solving
Students will be assessed on their ability to deconstruct the essay question and to integrate theory and literature into their answer. Students will need to work out how to address the question and where the most appropriate material is to answer the question. 		True True
7 Social Responsibility
Students will be taught about their professional responsibilities as a researcher to provide balanced and accurate research. In addition, students will be taught that they have a social responsibility to question and challenge some 'facts'. This will be assessed and taught through their responses to the essay, exam questions and discussions in tutorials or online postings. 		True True True
8 Team Work
Students will practise their teamwork skills through participating in tutorials, or online discussion postings. They will be required to discuss the weekly topics with their fellow students in a thoughtful and respectable manner. 		True
   

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