2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LAW5229M Contemporary Theories of Crime

15 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Sean Butcher
Email: s.b.butcher@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Module replaces

AW5228M Contemporary Theories of Crime and Justice

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module will provide you with a critical understanding of contemporary theories that have been advanced to explain crime. It reflects and emphasises the interdisciplinary nature of criminology, by drawing upon a range of conceptual ideas, research findings and insights that assist in the pursuit of understanding crime and the conditions in which it occurs. Following important contextual framing, you will be introduced to selected theories, exploring their value, limitations, and applications in real-world settings.

Objectives

This module will introduce and acquaint students with several contemporary crime theories. After contextualising crime theory, the module will provide a foundation upon which to analyse their academic and ‘real-world’ contributions, by exploring existing relevant research, policies and practices; along the debates that these inform.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated an ability to:
1. Understand contemporary crime theories, concepts and ideas, exploring debates that they inform;
2. Locate crime theories, including their hypotheses and implications, within wider social, political and economic conditions;
3. Critically analyse crime theories and their influences, drawing considered conclusions that are rooted in contemporary scholarship and research evidence from primary and secondary interdisciplinary sources;
4. Explore the relationships between crime theories, policies and practices, accounting for implications that arise from these.

Skills learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1. An ability to locate and synthesise the findings and arguments of a range of source materials, in order to draw informed conclusions
2. An ability to think critically in respect of theory development and hypotheses
3. An ability to analyse the transferability of theories within the contexts of ‘real world’ settings
4. Strong written skills whilst appraising the contribution(s) of selected crime theories

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	5	1.00	5.00
seminars	5	2.00	10.00
Private study hours			135.00
Total Contact hours			15.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to the summative assessment task. As part of this, each student will receive individual feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative assessment.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	Coursework	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 27/03/2024

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