Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC2009: Deviance: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

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

Module Aims

The central aims of the module are to enable you to develop an understanding of and to critically explore the cultural dimensions and significance of deviance; to use theoretical concepts and modes of reasoning from a range of different disciplinary perspectives to do so; to reflect critically on and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different disciplinary perspectives. The module seeks to go beyond orthodox social science accounts of deviance which cast deviance as reducible to ‘hard’ social-structural variables on the one hand, and individual-centred ‘psychological’ factors on the other.

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 and understanding of the current state of cultural criminological, cultural sociological and social and cultural anthropological debates related to deviance
2. Show a developing understanding of specific issues related to the understanding of deviance – such as performativity, punishment, subcultures, embodiment – based on criminological, sociological and anthropological literature.
Discipline-Specific Skills3. link theoretical concepts with empirical examples and case studies;
4. Show competence in assessing claims about deviance using sociological and cultural theory
Personal and Key Skills5. Understand and communicate theoretical ideas clearly both orally and in writing;
6. work independently and in groups, within a limited time frame, to complete self-directed and group-based tasks

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
Individual Seminar Presentation10 minutes1,3,4,5,6Oral

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
50500

...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
Essay501,750 words1-5Written
Examination502 hours1-6Written on request

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
EssayEssay1-5August/September reassessment period
ExaminationExamination1-6August/September reassessment period