Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC2101: Police and Policing

This module descriptor refers to the 2024/5 academic year.

Module Aims

This module offers you an opportunity to engage with the key issues, concepts and contemporary debates around the police and policing – a far-reaching and highly controversial area of study.  The module also  aims to provide you with an insight into the methods commonly used to research this topic, and their strengths, weaknesses and ethical implications.  The focus is predominantly on English and Welsh policing, and you will benefit from an enhanced understanding of the institutional arrangements, policies and practices used in the jurisdiction.  However material will also be drawn from a range of countries, to allow you to put policing practices into an international context.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in sociological debates around policing.
2. Analyse practical issues and contemporary debates of relevance to policing in England and Wales
3. Analyse the literature around police and policing, and their implications
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Demonstrate an understanding of key sociological concepts in policing - and a capacity to apply them to specific topics and questions.
5. Assess literature used in the social sciences.
6. Use relevant literature to contribute to contemporary issues and debates in criminology.
Personal and Key Skills7. Present a clear, evidence-based argument both verbally and in writing.
8. Conduct guided independent study in order to research a specific topic / question.