Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC1045: Introduction to Criminal Justice

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to:

  1. Introduce you to the Criminal Justice System and the study of crime
  2. Provide you with a critical understanding of some of the key theoretical, conceptual and historical approached within criminology
  3. Provide you with a basic understanding of the use, implications and ethics of the methodologies applied to practices, theories and the organisational of the Criminal Justice System.
  4. Give you opportunities to engage with and analyse the representations of crime and responses to crime by the Criminal Justice System.
  5. Train you to recognise and evaluate competing insights within Criminology and the Criminal Justice System

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 knowledge of the concepts and principles underpinning the basic structure of the Criminal Justice System and the relevant agencies.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of how official statistics are recorded, used, published and alternative sources of information.
3. Understand how the Criminal Justice System developed over time, (politics, individuals, pressure groups)
4. Identify and locate relevant materials and information in support of research;
5. Recognise the wider context of crime and the Criminal Justice System, and its implication on society
Discipline-Specific Skills6. Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate literature (theoretical and empirical investigations);
7. Conduct independent criminological research;
Personal and Key Skills8. Argue rationally, concisely, in a logical structured way communicating information and ideas in written and oral form
9. Work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task.

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 assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
On-line test 1 hour total (5 elements of 20 minutes tests spread out over term)1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9Written

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.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
40600

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

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay402000 words1-9Written
Examination601 hour1-9Exam mark

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 assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
EssayEssay (2,000 words)1-9August\September reassessment period
ExaminationExamination (1 hour)1-9August\September reassessment period