Module SOC3121 for 2022/3
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
SOC3121: Policy Analysis in Criminology
This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.
Module Aims
This module aims to give participants first-hand experience of developing and delivering a policy brief on a contemporary issue in criminology, with a particular focus on the police, prisons and detention and the justice system. In so doing, it will give them the opportunity to explore theoretical debates about policy change, to discuss substantive policy issues in social and criminal justice and to develop practical employability skills, including oral, written and presentational skills.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate detailed and sophisticated knowledge of a contemporary policy issue in criminology; 2. Generate and justify recommendations around a contemporary policy issue in criminology; 3. Understand and critically apply theories of policy change; |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Analyse contemporary policy issues in criminology; 5. Understand and critically assess theory pertaining to criminology policy; |
Personal and Key Skills | 6. Plan, develop and deliver a clear, concise and well timed poster presentation; 7. Demonstrate the design and / or PowerPoint skills necessary to produce a visually pleasing, understandable poster; 8. Plan, develop and deliver a policy briefing with an Executive Summary. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
- Introduction
- Theoretical frameworks on policy change
- The role of academics in bringing about policy change
- The role of other actors in bringing about policy change
- Case studies
- One of more issues around policy-making in the police (which may include use of force, stop and search, special constabulary, equality and diversity issues and other topics of public policy concern)
- One or more issues around policy-making with regards to the judiciary, sentencing, legal and due process (which may include the use of magistrates, judges and juries; forms of sentencing and sentencing alternatives, IPP sentences, equality and diversity issues)
- One or more issues around policy-making in detention (which may include immigration detention, equality and diversity issues, prison monitoring and oversight)
- One or more policy issues elsewhere in the broader criminology landscape
- Limits and unintended consequences of policies
- Planning for and evaluations of policies
- The ‘impact agenda’
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 |
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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 | 22 | 11 x 2 hour weekly lectures / seminars (or 1 hour lectures + 1 hour seminars) |
Guided independent study | 28 | Reading for seminars |
Guided independent study | 30 | Preparation of poster |
Guided independent study | 70 | Preparation of policy briefing |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).