Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC2098: Sociology of Imprisonment

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to provide you with an introductory knowledge of prison sociology. It aims to teach you what the prison experience entails, but also to think more broadly and question accepted academic perceptions of imprisonment and punishment more generally. It will thus help develop your critical thinking skills and encourage you to engage in socio-political discussions.

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 prison sociology.
2. Assess the utility of prison sociology in thinking about the purpose of prison and its effectiveness as a method of punishment for a criminal offence.
3. Engage with a range of sociological sources (academic, biographical, documentary).
4. Attempt to critically engage with academic discourses about the boundaries of punishment.
Discipline-Specific Skills5. Demonstrate an understanding of the explanatory frameworks and their applications to criminology.
6. Demonstrate a sound understanding of different sources of data and critically assess their reliability and utility in debating whether imprisonment is an effective method of punishing offenders.
7. Clearly present research and policy in your arguments.
Personal and Key Skills8. Present an argument orally and in writing in a clear and organized manner;
9. Analyze and attempt to critically assess sources of qualitative and quantitative data;
10. Demonstrate you can work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specific task.