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Title / Theories of Crime (Hastings)
Code / SS125H
Level / 1
Credit rating / 20
Pre-requisites / None
Type of module / Extensive over 1 semester
Aims /
  • To develop students understanding of Criminological theory.
  • To review the origins, development, major issues and debates and current controversies in criminology.
  • To familiarise students with a range of competing perspectives within criminology and encourage them to employ these in explaining and understanding contemporary issues in crime and justice, criminalisation.
  • To consider the ways in which criminological theories have had an influence upon society's responses to the problem of crime.
  • To develop skills of presenting criminology materials to a peer group in seminars.

Learning Outcomes / On successful completion of the module the student will:
  1. demonstrate the ability to employ a range of competing perspectives within criminology in explaining and understanding contemporary issues in crime, justice and criminalisation.
  2. understand the factors influencing the origins and development, major issues and debates within criminology and demonstrate an ability to engage in debates centering upon current criminological principles.
  3. demonstrate the ability to present a short report to other students based upon academic articles on a criminological topic and your own locally based research.
  4. demonstrate the ability to engage with the academic content of the articles and also an awareness of the processes involved in communicating this content verbally.

Content / Introduction to theories of Criminology and to the development of different theories from the beginning of Criminology. The module considers early individual theories of crime (biological, psychological, psychoanalytical , and then sociological theories which became important; strain theory, control theory, labelling theory, conflict theory, and the ‘realist theories. The module also is concerned to introduce students to contemporary feminist and anti- racist approaches within criminology and to administrative and cultural criminology.
Teaching and learning strategies / 200 hours of study time delivered through 36 hours direct teaching and 164 hours directed private study outlined in the module handbook. The module includes weekly lectures (12 hours) and weekly seminars and workshops (24 hours), a guide to independent study(164 hours of private study) including a course reader with exercises included. Academic skills development will be built into module activities.
Learning support / Indicative reading
Coleman, C and J. Moynihan. 1997. Understanding Crime Data. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Carrabine, E. Iganski, P. Lee, Plummer, K. and N. South. 2004 Criminology: A Sociological Introduction. London: Routledge.
Carrabine, E (et al). 2002. Crime in Modern Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Crowther, C. 2007. An Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice. London: Palgrave.
Downes, D. and P. Rock. 2007. Understanding Deviance. 5th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hester, S. and P. Eglin. 1992. A Sociology of Crime. London: Routledge
Hudson, B. 1998. Understanding Justice. Buckingham: Open University Press
Maguire, M. et al 2007. The Oxford Handbook of Criminology. 4th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Marsh, I. Ed. 2006. Theories of Crime. London: Routledge.
Matthews, J. and J. Young. 1991. Rethinking Criminology (2 Vols.) London: Sage.
Newburn, T. 2007. Criminology. Cullompton: Willan.
Rock, P. 1988. A History of British Criminology. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Ruggiero, V. 1998. The New European Criminology. London: Routledge.
Walklate, S. 1998. Understanding Criminology, Buckingham: Open University Press.
Relevant Journals:
The British Journal of Criminology
Criminal Justice Matters
Howard Journal
Punishment and Society
Student Central
Relevant material will be entered onto student central for this module
Module Handbook for SS125
Assessment tasks / An assessed seminar presentation – 25% of total (Learning Outcomes 3 and 4) in which students will be required to make a presentation to other students based upon a number of academic articles on a criminological topic and their own locally based research.
An examination-75% of the total in which students will be required to show an awareness of the factors shaping the development of criminological theory, ability to engage in debates between criminological traditions and ability to critically apply criminological theories to contemporary issues in crime and crime control. (Learning Outcomes 1 and 2)
Brief description of module content and/or aims (maximum 80 words) / The module provides an introduction to theories within Criminology, and considers the development of different theories from the beginning of Criminology .It considers the early individual theories of crime (biological, psychological, psychoanalytical. It then goes on to introduce the sociological theories which became important; strain theory, control theory, labelling theory, conflict theory, and the ‘realist theories. The module also is concerned to introduce students to feminist and anti- racist approaches within criminology and to cultural criminology.
Area examination board to which module relates / SASS Undergraduate
Module team/authors/ coordinator / Greta Squire
Semester offered, where appropriate / 2
Site where delivered / Hastings
Date of first approval
Date of last revision
Date of approval of this version / September 2012
Version number / 1
Replacement for previous module / SS220
Field for which module is acceptable and status in that field
Course(s) for which module is acceptable and status in course / Compulsory for
BA (Hons) Applied Psychology and Criminology
BA (Hons) Criminology and Social Policy
BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology
BA (Hons) Applied Social Science (Hastings)
Optional for
BA (Hons) Social Science
School home / School of Applied Social Science
External examiner / Dr Adrian Barton (to Sept 14)