Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC3101: Police and Policing

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

This module offers an opportunity for you 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 Skills	1. Demonstrate a clear and detailed understanding of key concepts in sociological debates around policing. 2. Analyze practical issues and contemporary debates of relevance to policing in England and Wales, synthesizing key findings in the literature. 3. Evaluate the differing research methods commonly used in police research, and their implications.
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. Demonstrate a critical understanding of key sociological concepts in policing - and a capacity apply them to specific topics and questions. 5. Appraise different methods used in the social sciences. 6. Use relevant literature to analyse contemporary issues and debates.
Personal and Key Skills	7. Present a clear, evidence-based argument both verbally and in writing. 8. Conduct guided independent study in order to research a specific topic / question. 9. Work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

The evolution of the police in England and Wales, and the structures and governance mechanisms currently in place.
The nature and function of the police.
The difference between ‘police’ and ‘policing’.
The main theories of policing, their strengths, weaknesses and differences.
The main techniques used to research the police, their strengths and weaknesses and the role that academic analysis can, and should, play in policing.
Different approaches and tactics used in UK policing and internationally.
Police use of force, and less lethal weapons.
Police use of discretion.
Police (sub)culture(s)
Accountability in modern day policing, and its interaction with police legitimacy.
The difference between ‘police’ and ‘policing’.
Changes to, and in, policing, including the notion of plural policing.
Police misconduct and corruption

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activity	11	11 x 1 hour lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activity	11	11 x 1 hour seminars
Guided independent study	50	Preparation of essay
Guided independent study	50	Preparation for exam
Guided Independent study	28	Preparation for seminars and lectures

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
A short, essay based, unseen mock exam, conducted during a tutorial.	20 minutes.	1, 2, 4,6 -8.	Feedback will be given by peers, supported by the tutor. This will give students the opportunity to hone their exam technique, and to informally practice / develop skills around giving and receiving feedback. Additional support will be provided by the tutor during office hours.
Participation in seminars	Active participation in seminars, based on readings.	1 8	Verbal feedback by tutor.

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
50	50	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	50	3, 000 words essay	1 8	Written
Examination	50	1 hour exam	1,2 4, 6 - 9	Written

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Examination	Exam (1 hour exam)	1,2 4, 6 - 9	August/September assessment period
Essay	Essay (3, 000 word essay)	1 8	August/September assessment period