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Nottingham Trent University Course Specification for BA (Hons) Criminology students
Basic Course Information 1 Awarding Institution: Nottingham Trent University 2 School/Campus: Social Sciences/City 3 Final Award, Course Title and Modes of Study:
BA (Hons) Criminology/ BA (Hons) Criminology (Policing) Full-time 4 Normal Duration: 3 years 5 UCAS code: L
6 Overview and general educational aims of the course
Criminology is concerned with understanding crime, offenders, victims and the criminal justice system by using essential elements of sociology, psychology, law, public policy, and further, more specialised subjects. Four questions are at the centre of our studies: what is crime (the complex nature of crime and criminality); who are the criminals/victims (who are the key players involved in the criminal experience); why do people commit crime (how do we explain motivation for involvement in a wide-range of acts and activities defined as criminal); and how does society respond to crime (the role of the key criminal justice agencies in reducing crime and dealing with offenders).
To engage with these questions, we examine three interrelated components:
- Theory: using inter-disciplinary theory and research to develop a critical view of issues of crime and justice in a local, national and international context.
- Policy: understanding the national and international socio-economic, political and other policy drivers that underpin changes in criminal justice policy.
- Practice: understanding and shaping how criminologists and criminal justice practitioners engage with issues with crime, through working with communities, offenders, victims and others.
In 2014 the School of Social Sciences celebrated the 20 th^ anniversary of delivering criminology at an undergraduate level. The guiding principle behind the redesign of the course has been to ensure the delivery of a criminology curriculum which meets the changing needs of students and employers. Furthermore, we seek to demonstrate through the integration of our teaching, research and partnerships, how criminology can make a positive impact on our local, national and international communities. Through the introduction of innovative service learning, practitioner inputs on every module, opportunities for Erasmus exchange and practice-related research project options, we have put employability at the heart of our course.
Student joining the degree will also have the option to join a dedicated police pathway, designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and experience required for pre-entry into the police service. If you elect to join the policing pathway, you will apply to the Special Constabulary and have completed your training within the first twelve months of starting your degree. For the remaining two years of the degree you will be required to undertake a minimum of 200 hours per year duty time as part of your course. Consequently, if you complete the policing pathway, you will have a minimum of 400 hours duty time as a Special Constable and will, due to curriculum content, be awarded a Police Knowledge Certificate (PKC) as well as the qualification provided by Nottinghamshire Constabulary for Special Constables. These are often the minimum requirement of local police service recruitment policies and your acquisition will make you an attractive candidate and significantly improve your chances of being able to embark on a police career. Please note, that due to operational considerations, the number of available places on the police pathway will be capped each year. Places will be decided on condition of successful short listing by Nottinghamshire Constabulary, passing all legal police checks and completing the PKC.
The course is delivered by a range of staff who are engaged in theoretical and applied research that covers a broad spectrum of criminology and
comparative responses to crime;
- Understand, and demonstrate, the analytical application of knowledge in specialist areas of criminology and criminal justice;
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the methodological and ethical issues that inform criminological inquiry and research;
- Utilise, and critically evaluate, the application of a range of quantitative and qualitative research designs and instruments to the study and analysis of crime and responses to crime
- Explain and critically reflect upon the application of effective and evidence-based practice from national and international research within the UK criminal justice system.
- Critically evaluate and reflect on the principles of effective team, multi- agency and partnership working across the criminal justice system.
Skills, qualities and attributes. By the end of the course you should be able to:
- Demonstrate a range of transferable skills including effective communication, planning and organisation, teamwork and independence
- Understand complex and abstract concepts and ideas in the field of crime and criminal justice.
- Critically appraise textual material in criminology.
- Construct reasoned arguments, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement in relation to criminal justice issues and demonstrate an aptitude for independent, critical thought and problem- solving
- Use quantitative and/or qualitative methods to analyse and interpret data and to help in the understanding and analysis of crime- related problems
- Use information technology in gathering information, analysing and presenting data and preparing written material.
- Demonstrate research skills in a specialist area of criminology through the planning and execution of a research project (dissertation), including formulating questions, selecting subject material, selecting and
using appropriate research methods, analysing and evaluating literature and research data, and presenting findings coherently in line with ethical protocols
- Demonstrate the ability to relate criminological theory to a practical setting.
Additional Course Outcomes (Policing Pathway)
In addition to the generic learning outcomes for the BA (Hons) Criminology course as a whole, policing pathway specific outcomes have been developed to reflect the additional knowledge and attributes that should be possessed by students pursuing these courses of studies:
- Demonstrate knowledge of key legislation and policy developments required for pre-entry into policing.
- Demonstrate a theoretical and practical orientation towards the critical analysis of police work;
- Critically evaluate and reflect on the complex legal, cultural, social and political factors influencing the operation of the police service in particular and policing more generally.
- Achieve, and critically evaluate, independent patrol as a Special Constable.
8 Teaching and Learning Methods Members of the criminology team bring subject expertise and student support to their heart of their delivery. They are committed and qualified teachers, using a range of creative and innovative teaching and learning methods to communicate their subjects.
In the course of the three years, you will encounter methods such as:
Large-group formal lectures.
Seminars. These are smaller, more informal groups, where you check your knowledge and understanding of lecture material/extra reading material
- Independent reading. You will be required to access and read particular articles/books for particular seminars/workshops. We ask you to be aware that the teaching and learning methods mentioned here are a starting point for your work, not the end point. University students 'read for' a degree. Independent reading is expected and makes a significant difference to grades.
Our expectations of you in these teaching and learning environments develop over the three years, as we seek to help you move from having relatively high levels of support in year one to being increasingly independent learners in year three. We do not require you to have studied criminology prior to joining us but even if you have, the first year moves beyond what you have already studied. Therefore, learning and teaching in year one reflects this - we provide a safe environment in which you can start or develop your engagement with criminology. From year two, expectations in learning and teaching environments start to move more towards student- led contributions. Small research projects offer opportunities to increase your independent learning skills. At year three, independent learning increases - a key feature of year three is the 40 credit dissertation or report.
9 Assessment Methods The assessment methods you’re likely to encounter on this course include:
- Essays, of varying lengths;
- Exams (both essay and multiple choice);
- Presentations, both individual and group;
- Projects, and preparations for them (e.g. proposals, book reviews);
- Opportunities to write in different genres (e.g. reports or magazine/newspaper articles)
- Contributions to online activities (eg Blogs, Wikipedia entries etc);
- Portfolio material demonstrating the student journey
- Policy paper
- Portfolio
- Dissertation
- Case Studies
10 Course structure and curriculum
The BA (Hons) Criminology course consists of three years of full-time study, with level one providing a generic foundation in criminology which is then developed in levels two and three. On completing level one you will be required to remain on the generic criminology degree or elect to join the police pathway.
Level one assumes no previous knowledge of criminology so each of the core modules are introductory in nature and have been designed to ensure your understanding of: the criminal justice system, its associated agencies and processes, criminological theory, the legal system, aspects of society and social change pertinent to crime, whilst also introducing you to study skills and approaches to research in criminology.
Level one modules:
- Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (20cpts)
- Explaining Criminal Behaviour (20cpts)
- Understanding Crime and Society (20cpts)
- Developing a Criminological Imagination (20cpts)
- Law, Sentencing and Punishment (20cpts)
- Introduction to Psychology and Sociology of Crime (20cpts)
Level two develops the key knowledge of criminology and the criminal justice system which underpins the course as a whole. In term one you will take three core modules. In term two your group will be split to form two distinct pathway groups (Generic or Police) with the policing students undertaking three 20 credit point modules which reflect the curriculum of the Police Knowledge Certificate. If you follow the generic course, you will undertake one core 20 credit point module and a 40 credit point Service Learning module. Additionally students on the generic pathway who wish to study abroad are able to participate in an Erasmus Exchange in term 2.
Teaching and learning methods at level 2 are constructed to facilitate increased your participation, for example through the use of workshop exercises, group presentations and student-led debates. Level Two also encourages the development of analytical skills and increased independent
Level three modules: Core module for all students:
- Contemporary Criminological Theory and Research (20cpts)
Additional modules for generic students:
- Core: Dissertation/Research Project (40cpts) Options (one from each block):
- Block A: High Tech Crime (Revised)/ International Crime (20cpts)
- Block B: Substance Misuse (New)/Psychopathology and Offending Behaviour (20cpts)
- Block C: Young People and Crime (Revised)/ Sex and Violent Crimes (20cpts)
Additional modules for police pathway students:
- Crime Scenes and Criminal Investigation (20cpts)
- Public Order Policing (20cpts)
- Operational Traffic Policing (20cpts)
- Police Practice 2 and Applied Dissertation (40cpts)
The curriculum supports the attainment of the course learning outcomes outlined earlier.
Interim awards:
If you acquire 120 credits in year one and do not progress to year two, you will be eligible for the award of Certificate of Higher Education in Criminology. If you acquire 120 credits in year one and year two respectively, but do not progress to year three, you will be eligible for the award of Diploma of Higher Education in Criminology. If you obtain 120 credits from year one, 120 credits from year two, and 60 rather than 120 credits from year three, you will be eligible for the award of an Ordinary Degree in Criminology.
11 Admission to the course
Entry requirements For current information regarding all entry requirements for this course, please see the `Applying’ tab on the course information web page.
12 Support for Learning We take support for learning, both academic and pastoral, very seriously.
However successful you have been at school/college, university is a new environment with new expectations. Study skills for success in criminology at university are, therefore, embedded into our first year course, and developed in years two and three. But you are strongly encouraged to contact relevant module leaders if you need extra academic support in getting to grips with the material covered in their module. Members of staff are happy to meet up with you individually. There is also a Study Skills Advisor in the School of Social Sciences, who can offer you advice on request.
We ask you to ensure that you attend your classes and that you complete all the weekly readings/tasks required of you, so that we're all working together to ensure your academic success. A code of conduct detailing our expectations of you will be provided at induction. You will be taught at an early stage in your course, by our dedicated subject librarian, how to make use of the Library and Learning Resources, so that you can access and use a range of materials to support your own learning.
You will be inducted into using NOW at the beginning of your course - in NOW you will be able to locate module/course noticeboards, online discussions and module content, such as Powerpoint slides, as appropriate. You’ll also submit most of your coursework via a drop box in NOW. Computer facilities are available for all students. The course offers you opportunities to prepare for life after university, with career planning talks/individual meetings with careers advisors and placement learning available to you in core modules and beyond.
You will be allocated a personal tutor at the beginning of your first year, who
The principal mechanisms by which the standards and quality of the provision are maintained and enhanced are:
- Course Committees and Staff-Student Consultation Forums, for which student representatives (elected by you) work with their designated year tutor to write reports for consideration; course committee minutes inform the development of the yearly Course Standards and Quality Report (CSQR)
- a report on the course for the previous academic year, which is reviewed at School and University level.
- Criminology Course Teaching Team meetings/Division of Sociology meetings;
- Assessment Boards, at which External Examiner Reports are received.
- University-level reviews.
We strongly encourage informal and constructive student feedback, either individually or via your student representatives, throughout the academic year, not just at Course Committees. We expect students with issues about a particular module to approach the relevant module leader in the first instance and as early as they can, so that issues can be resolved speedily and as close to their point of origin as possible. Module leaders also provide opportunities for student feedback at significant points in modules. You are also invited to offer end of year feedback.
15 Assessment regulations This course is subject to the University’s Common Assessment Regulations (located in its Academic Standards and Quality Handbook). Any course- specific assessment features are described below: The course is subject to the University's Common Assessment Regulations. 16 Additional Information Collaborative partner(s): Course referenced to national QAA Benchmark Statements:
QAA Benchmark Statements for Criminology Course recognised by: Date implemented: 1 st^ September 2013 Any additional information:
QAA Benchmark Statements: The QAA Benchmark Statements for Sociology have been referenced in the design of this course.
