Criminology and SociologyBSc (Hons)

Becoming a Criminologist

This module will serve as an introduction to university life and has the dual purpose of developing the literacies, discourses and competences needed to become a successful criminologist, while introducing students to the idea of conducting academic criminological research. It will do this by helping you develop your academic skills - such as speed reading, note taking, referencing, paraphrasing and searching for sources. This will be accomplished utilising readings and materials centred on academic research methods.

The module aims to:

1. Introduce you to the discipline and discourses of criminology and what it means to be a criminologist.

2. Build and develop the core academic literacies central to becoming a successful academic and criminologist.

3. Introduce the idea of conducting research into crime and deviance.

4. Introduce different ways in which criminological research can be conducted.

5. Help you settle and adapt to university life, preparing you for your academic studies.

Introducing Social Policy

This module aims to give the student a solid understanding of what social policy is, and of what its links to sociology are. This module highlights key social policy concerns, such as housing, poverty, education, health care and disability, and it also introduces the student to the four pillars of welfare provision. This module also scrutinises different ideological approaches to (the) welfare (state). In order to do this, a historical overview of social policy is given, starting from WWII. This module also highlights some of the challenges facing and shaping social policy today. Finally, it equips the student with practical knowledge of where they can find reputable sources when investigating social policy.

Protest, Justice and Social Change

This module addresses the question of how societies change and who changes them. It focuses on the concepts of social history such as progress, development, and social evolution. It also addresses the ongoing debate of whether change is driven by individual agency or larger societal structures. In addition, the course examines the role of ideas and ideologies in shaping social change, focusing on concepts like freedom, equality, and justice. It discusses real world examples of social protests like anti-war, women's rights, and pro-life movements, as well as the study of how these movements – like the civil rights movement, Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, and Extinction Rebellion – form and spread. Lastly, the course covers the topic of revolutions and their impact on society by examining past revolutions – from the French Revolution to the Arab Spring – and the factors that contribute to their success or failure.

Social Divisions

This module introduces the students to social divisions, focussing on the UK in general, and on England and London in particular. This module scrutinises some of the regular patterns of division in society, and the advantages, disadvantages, and inequality that these divisions may lead to. The concept of ‘stratification’ is used to discover the hierarchical order of some of the social groupings, such as gender, sexuality, ‘race’/ethnicity, (dis)ability and social class. The module explores the inequalities amongst these social groupings on many levels, such as education, health, wealth and housing.

Sociological Imagination

This module will provide you with the necessary intellectual skills for developing your sociological imagination. Week by week you will encounter a range of important insights into the social world that will enable you to identify, apply and evaluate sociological approaches, concepts and debates relating to the everyday situations.

The overall aim of the module is to allow you to see how sociology requires that we make the familiar world appear strange in order to see the workings of society below surface appearances. ‘Sociological Imagination’ will provide you with an introduction to constructing sociological arguments, thinking critically and assessing sociological evidence. The module discussions will allow you to explore a range of applications of sociological insights and theories in order to move beyond common-sense interpretations of society and to understand why ‘personal troubles’ must be grasped in relation to ‘public issues’.

Each week the module visits core sociological contexts including social class, inequality and exclusion; the city and urban sociology; power and surveillance; gender and bodies; popular culture and the arts; unconscious social forces; and religion and spirituality.

The Criminal Justice Framework

This module introduces you to the framework and functions of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) of England and Wales. It provides a foundation of the aims and roles of the agencies of the CJS which you can build into a more detailed knowledge of issues in criminal justice, criminal justice policy, legislation and social justice outcomes at levels 5 and 6.

The module aims to:
1. Provide a solid grounding of the context of the criminal justice system within the constitution of the United Kingdom.
2. Identify the theoretical models of criminal justice which will help inform an understanding of the social function of criminal justice systems.
3. Review the historical development, structures and roles of key agencies responsible for the execution of criminal justice in England and Wales upon which you will be equipped to build a grasp of issues relating to criminal justice.
4. Identify significant examples of policy and legislative changes and evaluate how these have altered the functions and inter-agency cooperation of key agencies of the CJS and the wider impact some of these changes have had on social justice.
5. Provide an understanding of the potential future career opportunities available in the criminal justice sector.

The Development of Criminological Thought

Building on the ideas covered in traditional theories and concepts, you will examine how the discipline of criminology developed. You will explore how criminologists have continued to critique and apply traditional theories in their own explanations of crime. You will explore modern debates about how crime can be understood, and what should be done to address it. You will also explore perspectives which have critiqued the subject of criminology.

Traditional Criminological Theories and Concepts

In the module you will be introduced to origins of criminological thinking, through an exploration of some of the key thinkers who shaped the discipline’s development and created theories to explain and understand crime. You will develop an understanding of the social context in which relevant theories emerged, be able to recognise their limitations, and some of their biases. You will also be able to recognise the policy implications of the theories you explore, as well as their enduring influence on policy and criminological research.

Criminological Research in Context

The aim of this module is to encourage the development of knowledge, skills and understanding for criminological research and the types of methods which are adopted within the field. Via small group workshops you will focus on the development and/or strengthening of your knowledge in relation to key social science research methods/ theory which might be applicable to UG/PG study in the field of criminology and associated subject areas. You will be encouraged to consider how research methods, theory, and the specific studies explored within the module, might be relevant to your own ideas/plans for your final year criminology research project. The knowledge, skills and understanding gained via this module will be useful for those who are interested in conducting criminological research.

Via the workshops, reading and discussions:
a. You will develop an understanding of a range of key social science research methods/theory.
b. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of a range of criminological research/studies and consider the significance of research findings in terms of the contribution to knowledge and/or the impact that research findings can have upon policy/practice within the criminal justice sector.
c. You will develop the skills to critically review criminological research/articles. As you do this you will also be encouraged to reflect upon your own ideas for your final year research project and the method/s you might adopt to study a criminological topic of your own choosing in the final year.

Criminological Research in Practice

This module will provide you with the practical skills required to conduct your own social research projects professionally and ethically. You will gain experience in the exciting and intriguing process of collecting your own data, analysing and interpreting research findings and writing up research results. Throughout this hands-on journey, you will practice a range of data gathering methods such as: conducting interviews, creating compelling surveys, leading insightful focus groups and engaging in cutting-edge online research methods. All of this will develop your data analysis and critical skills enhancing your future employability.

You will analyse both qualitative and quantitative data and develop skills in writing reports to present your findings.

Through the workshops, reading and discussions:

1. You will gain experience in a range of research practices that set the investigation and analysis of social scientists apart from other types of research
2. You will develop your ability to design a research project to answer particular research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies for social problems and topics that interest you
3. You will develop your professional demeanour according to the nature of the method selected and the varying stages of the research project (e.g., organisational skills, observational skills, conversational skills)
4. You will develop analytical skills to critically assess your chosen data set, allowing you to gain experience in evaluating information in light of existent knowledge to then synthesise your findings in a written report.

Cybercrime and Surveillance

This module will look at the dark side of technology and the way it has transformed criminal activities. It will engage with the different types of cyber crime and strategies to combat them, including the challenges of policing the internet, especially when it comes to crimes taking place across different jurisdictions. The second part of this module will analyse e-surveillance, through critically examining how our daily transactional data are managed, particularly in regards to right to privacy versus security issues, as well as the exploitation of personal data for corporate purposes.

The module aims:
1. To provide an overview of the main issues in the field of cybercrime, through the analysis and evaluation of the academic research
2. To critically explore the challenges of researchers and practitioners investigating cybercrime
3. To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of e-surveillance, while analysing the ways in which the stored transactional data is being used by law enforcement bodies and corporations.

Self and Society

This module introduces you to key sociological approaches used to explore and explain the concept of ‘self’. Through an examination of the works of influential 20th-century sociologists, as Mead and Goffman on the social construction and presentation of self, and Marx and Parsons on the structural constraints shaping identity, you will gain a deep understanding of how sociological theory illuminates the relationship between individual agency and societal forces.

The module will also consider contemporary debates about the ‘project’ of self and identity, asking how much freedom individuals have in crafting their identities. These discussions will be grounded in real-world situations, encouraging you to reflect on the social and cultural factors influencing the ways we ‘become’ who we are.
By the end of the module, you will develop a critical perspective on the tensions between agency and structure. You will understand the major sociological theories on the construction and constraints of the self. You will critically evaluate the relevance of classical sociological theories for understanding contemporary debates about identity. You will apply sociological concepts to current social phenomena related to the formation of self and identity.

Understanding Racism and Ethnicity

Accusations of racism and ethnic discrimination are seemingly everywhere, in the workplace, in the streets, in everyday interactions. You will wonder what is exactly meant by racism and ethnicity, whether this are beliefs about racial and ethnic subordination or it is rather found in social interactions. This module addresses various theories of racism and ethnic discrimination, and critically assess the challenges revolving around the political and social hostile environment against racialised minorities in specific, socio-political contexts in the UK. This module goes beyond the Eurocentric ideas that have dominated sociological thinking and will apply more-diverse and -inclusive theoretical frameworks to the interconnectedness among issues of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, age, drawing on the principles of social justice and empowerment.

Aims. This module will provide key skills and knowledge that will enable you to:

• Analyse critically key concepts including racism and ethnicity as well anti-racism, multiculturalism, Islamophobia in order to develop an awareness of their contested nature.
• Look at these issues in the hostile environment against racialised groups, exploring the meanings ascribed to these terms, historical origins and key examples where these issues have been or remain important in shaping contemporary British society.
• Consider the impact of racist and ethnic discrimination on specific groups, including women, religious and ethnic groups.

Becoming a Criminal Justice Professional

The aim of this module is to encourage professional development. The module is delivered via small group workshops which focus on the development and/or strengthening of your professional profile in preparation for future job applications. You will also develop/strengthen your knowledge and understanding of potential roles within the criminal justice sector and consider how to match some of the skills/qualifications required by employers with those you have developed during your degree and previous work/study experience. The knowledge, skills and understanding gained via this module will be useful for those who intend to seek employment within the criminal justice sector.

Via the workshops, reading and discussions:
1. You will develop an understanding of key roles within the criminal justice sector.
2. You will be encouraged to develop your professional profile (CV, LinkedIn, cover letters, interview performance etc).
3. You will consider how to match your skills to criminal justice employers’ requirements.

You will be encouraged to consider your career aspirations and to develop the skills and confidence to pursue them.

Crime, Media and Technology

This module looks at the media impact on public perceptions of crime and justice. It also looks at the way contemporary media and technologies influence criminal behaviour and influence the operations of the criminal justice system.
The module aims to:
1. Consider the various relationships between media, technology and crime
2. Develop an understanding of the role of the media in shaping perceptions of crime and criminal justice, with a particular emphasis on marginalised groups
3. Develop a critical awareness of how different groups are represented in the media with regard to crime, criminality and deviance
4. Provide an overview of the way technologies interact with crime and the criminal justice system
5. Develop summarising and analytical skills.

Criminology Today

In this module you will build on the themes explored in crime in context by examining contemporary themes in criminology. This will involve an introductory examination of different categories of crime which have become the focus of attention and concern. You will critique perspectives on different categories of crime by exploring and evaluating the evidence gathered by criminologists. You will also explore different theoretical understandings of specific categories of crime and consider their policy implications.

Dark Destinations - Crime and Tourism

This module looks at ‘dark tourism’- a term most commonly used to describe tourist activities in places that are associated with death and suffering, or activities carried out by tourists that are deviant, illegal or have associated harms. Along with highlighting the historical events that inspire dark tourism, the module will take a look at the underlying harms and crimes that are often still perpetrated, affecting both consumers and people who work in tourism or live close to tourist hotspots.

The module aims to:

1. Identify and explore crime and deviance related tourism
2. Introduce you to global historical crimes and harms which have inspired contemporary tourist activities
3. Allow you to investigate the underlying harms and crimes that occur in relation to tourism hotpots
4. Encourage you to consider the reasons behind the publics’ fascination with dark tourism
5. Explore how both consumers and local people are impacted by dark tourism.

Sociology and Current Affairs

In this module you will learn to apply a range of contemporary social theories and concepts to the understanding of current affairs. The module will provide you with the conceptual tools to critically assess representations of social groups and events in virtual and print media and other portrayals of contemporary social life, political events, and social issues. The module will allow you to develop a conceptual toolkit drawn from semiotics, phenomenology, post-structuralism, among others, to explore representations of difference and power and to appreciate how they acquire ‘newsworthiness’. You will learn how to view current affairs – ranging from coverage of debates on global poverty and social exclusion to migration and terrorism – through a sociological lens in order to look beyond the spectacle or apparent banality of the news.

The module will contribute to the development of your practical skills in critical analysis by exploring [a] the way that social issues are represented for public consumption; and [b] the value of applying social theory to achieve in-depth interpretations of events and roles of social actors. In an age of multiple media platforms, the ‘quick news fix’ of social media, and the proliferation of fake news, ‘Sociology and Current Affairs’ will encourage you to develop and use innovative and imaginative approaches to gain and communicate better understandings of the complexity of the world around us.

Understanding Gender and Sexuality

This module introduces students to the key concepts and theories relating to the social construction of gender and sexuality and their application to a range of social sectors and issues in the UK and abroad. This module addresses the ways in which gender and sexuality are both constitutive of the social and are established through social structures, institutions and interactions. Drawing on intersectional approach, this module will explain the ways in which theories of gender and sexuality inform the sociological study of the family, work, health, education, crime, the welfare state and politics, media and the body. To this end, the approach to gender and sexual discrimination and inequalities will be made in connection to other forms of social identity, including class, race and ethnicity.

The aims of the module are to:

• Introduce and critically analyse key concepts in the sociological theories of gender and sexuality;
• Understand how the notions of gender and sexuality impact all levels of social structures, social relations and social identities;
• Address the intersections between gender, sexuality and other forms of social identity and difference, including class, race, ethnicity.
• Consider the conceptual framework for the persistence of discrimination and inequalities on the basis of gender and sexual orientation.

Working with Offenders

This module offers you the chance to understand the current debates and practices around working with offenders. The module will cover working with children involved in offending behaviour as well as adults and is ideal if you are considering working within youth justice, probation or voluntary sector organisations working with those with offending backgrounds. You will explore debates around enforcement, risk management and public health approaches within the criminal justice sector. A key focus of the module will also be on your understanding how discrimination (including individual prejudice) affects people's experience of the criminal justice system and how to work in an anti-oppressive way.

The module aims are as follows:

● Understand the role of the youth justice system, probation service and voluntary sector organisations when working with offenders
● Discuss and evaluate the effectiveness of enforcement, public health and risk managements approaches to offender management and crime prevention and desistance
● Support you to understand risk factors associated with offending
● Explore the importance of trauma informed practice within the criminal justice system
● Assess the impact of discrimination on disproportionality and the role of anti oppressive practice
● Understand the role of assessment and reporting when working with those involved in offending.

Criminology Project

The overall aim of this module is to equip you with the knowledge and skills to design and conduct an independent criminological research project, and to produce a written research report. This gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of criminological theory and its application, of the quality and significance of criminological research evidence, and the relevance of your research to contemporary issues and debates in criminology and criminal justice fields.

The module aims to:

1. Give you the opportunity to reflect upon your learning, your experience, and the skills you have acquired to date, to independently define and research a criminological topic which is of interest to you.
2. Further develop your research skills, encouraging you to formulate feasible criminological research questions, to select appropriate quantitative/qualitative methods, and to reflect upon ethical issues which arise in research.
3. Give you the opportunity to produce a written research report which demonstrates your knowledge, understanding and skills for conducting criminological research, recognising the relationship between criminology and related fields as well as the limits of knowledge.

Human Rights and Conflict

You will develop an understanding of the international human rights framework and consider debates and theories challenging this framework (including a critical assessment of the concept and implementation of the universality of human rights). The module will enable you to evaluate various international conventions on the protection of human rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The module will examine violations of human rights in the light of various social and political contexts across the world and gain an understanding of how human rights applies in specific contexts; how such violations impact societies, communities and individuals; and how individuals and organisations work for justice in such harrowing circumstances. In addition, the module will explore issues surrounding cases of historic injustice relating to human rights abuses and atrocities committed in conflicts.

Migration, Borders and Control

The aim of this module is to investigate the complex relationship between migration, crime, borders and the criminal justice system. In this module, you will discuss the management of migration, focusing on the control of borders and the processing of migrants. You will examine the relationships between migration, borders and crime, looking at a range of topics such as forced migration, migrant smuggling, policing migration and borders, imprisoning foreign nationals, immigration detention, deportation and human rights, drawing on theoretical work and empirical research in a range of disciplines.

The module aims to:

● Critically examine the complex relationship between migration, borders and crime
● Understand and explain key concepts such as national sovereignty, citizenship, globalisation and migration
● Understand some of the theories emerging from recent research on migration, borders and crime.
● Explore diverse forms of border policing and crime control.
● Assess the differential impacts of migration control on particular groups (e.g. gender/nationality/race/ethnicity, class)

Religion and the State

This module will provide students with an opportunity to engage with contemporary debates on the relationship between religion and the state and sources of religious intolerance. Students will be required to critically examine the ideas of the classic and contemporary social scientists on religion and explore the application of their ideas to an ever-changing world. Overall, the aim of the module is to develop the students’ capacity to utilise social scientific concepts and perspectives in their analyses of religion in contemporary society. The disciplinary focus of the module will, initially, be the sociology of religion. The application of a range of social scientific approach will also be introduced - historical, political, economic and social psychological approaches.

By the end of this module, you will:

1. Engage critically with key debates on the relationship between religion and the state, and with contemporary discussions surrounding religious tolerance and intolerance.
2. Examine and evaluate the contributions of classic and contemporary social theorists to the sociological understanding of religion.
3. Apply social scientific concepts and perspectives to the analysis of religion in contemporary societies.
4. Develop a multidisciplinary awareness by exploring historical, political, economic, and social psychological approaches to the study of religion.
5. Enhance your capacity for independent and critical thought in interpreting the role and significance of religion in an ever-changing social world.

Conversations in Sociological Thought

This module addresses the decolonial encounter in contemporary sociology. Following an initial revisiting of the foundations of social theory, the module invites you to critically explore sociology ‘beyond the Western Canon’ and its roots in Eurocentrism to develop a decolonised sociological imagination. The aim of the module is to develop an ongoing conversation in contemporary social thought rather than viewing contesting perspectives as an insurmountable challenge. In short, you will explore the perceived limits of Eurocentrism and assess the need to rethink the basis of sociology’s conceptual knowledge and vocabulary.

You will reconsider enduring sociological problems such as ‘alienation’ and ‘anomie’ alongside the work of theorists such as Frantz Fanon and other postcolonial writers; explore the biopolitical disciplining of the social body via a conversation between the ideas of Michel Foucault and Achille Mbembe; assess the continued relevance of Simone de Beauvoir’s feminist theory compared to the critical intersectionality of Patricia Hill Collins.

‘Conversations in Sociological Thought’ will enable you to reassess the value of the Eurocentric traditions of sociology by addressing critical questions at the core of classical and contemporary social thought through a reflexive exploration of intersubjectivity, bodily practice, race, and gender in the contexts of past and contemporary social experience.

Criminology Work-Based Learning

This module provides an opportunity for you to develop your previously learned work-based skills and gain valuable experience of a working environment either in the criminal justice sector or in a private, statutory or voluntary organisation related to criminal justice and criminology. From this experience, the objective is for you to reflect and develop new capacities and skills in the context of your future goals. This objective also applies if you are currently in the workplace, whether in a paid or voluntary capacity.

The module aims to:

1. develop key skills and knowledge for you to understand your abilities in relation to your career values and goals

2. practically apply the knowledge gained through the course programme to a work environment

3. give you an in-depth insight either of your current work environment or of a new work environment

4. provide an opportunity for you to reflect on the culture and structure of a working environment, your activity within it and to demonstrate inclusive workplace practice

5. give you the ability to recognise your personal and professional development learning to apply to your future goals.

Please note:
● You will be contacted prior to the semester to provide support in securing a work based placement in good time (if you do not already have a suitable work based placement).
● You are responsible for applying for opportunities and to engage with the Module Leader/Work Based Learning teams to assist you.
● The suitability of any opportunities will be assessed by the Module Leader and all placements must meet Health and Safety requirements for Higher Education Work Placements.

If you are studying on a Student Visa, you will only be able to complete a work placement if it meets UKVI monitoring requirements including: approval of the placement dates and hours by the Placement Officer prior to starting the placement, submission of weekly timesheets for the hours undertaken, signed by your line manager/supervisor and continued engagement with the Placement Officer as well as the International Student Support and Compliance Team.

Global Crime and Disorder

The aim of this module is to provide you with a critical understanding of the historical, conceptual, and theoretical ideas fundamental to the study of crime and criminal justice in a contemporary global context. You will acquire knowledge of conceptual and theoretical frameworks such as globalisation, neoliberalism, securitization, and global inequalities through which global crime and disorder can be interpreted and analysed. In this module, you will explore how the quest for order in the name of crime control and risk management contributes to dis-order; the way political discourse and the mass media manufacture global disorder and risk; and the ways state actors are often complicit in transnational crime and global dis-order.

You will be provided with the analytical tools to critically appraise global criminological and social justice problems such as migration, the rise of the right, war and terrorism, global drug crime, ecocide, and modern slavery, and criminal justice policy responses. The module will help you to develop your ability to communicate coherently and clearly, orally and in writing, and present and defend cogent arguments in relation to global issues. The module will provide you with the knowledge and competencies useful for future employment in international justice organisations, intergovernmental organisations, policy making, as well as for postgraduate study. This wide-ranging module utilises research-informed teaching to help you develop an outward looking, reflective and critical approach to crucial current global issues.

Living Theory

In this module we will explore and apply important theories and concepts in contemporary social theory for the purpose of enhancing our understanding of the world we live in. Through the work of contemporary social thinkers, the module will examine and test out the ways in which social theories and concepts are ‘live’ – not dead or irrelevant abstractions of little consequence, but a living and crucial part of how people understand reality and navigate its vicissitudes. This will support your learning in other modules, and post-university, by deepening your understanding of key theoretical frameworks for analysing social phenomena and enhancing your ability to apply them.

Organised Crime

This module explores the social, economic and political issues associated with the emergence and illicit activities of organised crime. It will delve into the different definitions and types of organised crime, such as mafia, cartels, syndicates and gangs. The module will also provide a brief overview of the historical context and the main theories and research in the field. At the same time, it will explore the practical implications of policing organised crime, especially when it comes to its increasingly transnational nature. This module also looks at the criminal activities of organised crime, including human/drugs/arms trafficking, cybercrime, and the push and pull factors that influence the mobility of organised crime groups across territories.
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The module aims:

1. To analyse prominent research and theoretical underpinnings in the field of organised crime
2. To critically explore the main facets of organised crime groups and illicit activities
3. To outline the key challenges encountered by those who investigate organised crime, i.e. academics and practitioners

Punishment and Prison

The module will focus on critical consideration of the principles of punishment and the role of imprisonment in the criminal justice system and wider society. Looking at prisons within a ‘real world’ context, issues with penal policy and practice will be considered. The needs of specific minority and vulnerable groups of offenders (including women, young people, ethnic minority and mentally disordered offenders) will be considered. Comparative penal perspectives will be explored by considering a number of international perspectives, including the American/Scandinavian examples.

Via the workshops, reading and discussions you will:

1. Develop an understanding of the aims and principles of punishment and prisons via an exploration of the operation of prisons and the role of imprisonment within the criminal justice system and wider society.
2. Explore comparative penal perspectives and develop understanding of diversity within penal policy and practice.
3. Enhance analytic skills and critical awareness through consideration of both official rhetoric and evidence together with the limitations of penal policies and practice in a 'real world' context.
4. Develop your ability to research, analyse, and communicate arguments relating to punishment, penal policy and practice.

Serious and Serial Offenders

You will explore the definition, characteristics and offending behaviour of serious and serial offenders, with a particular focus on mass, spree and serial murderers, sexual offenders and arsonists. You will also consider how such offenders are investigated, their behaviour and characteristics analysed. Key explanatory theories used to explain serious and serial offending will be examined and the efficacy of these in relation to methodological concerns critically evaluated. Finally, the module explores the identification and apprehension of serious and serial offenders.

The module aims to:

1. discuss and give examples of some of the most disturbing and controversial forms of offending behaviour;
2. identify the prevalence of serial and serious offending within the broader population of criminal offences, questioning common assumptions about, and contemporary popular focus on, these categories of offences;
3. evaluate and debate the definition and measurement of serious and serial offending, particularly in relation to methodological concerns;
4. describe and critically discuss a range of key theories and concepts employed in the explanation and understanding of serious and serial offenders;
5. critically evaluate the investigation and detection of such offenders and offences.

Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism

The aim of the module is to provide you a thorough understanding of terrorism, political violence and counter-terrorism strategies. It will look at state and non-state actors who have been involved in acts of 'terrorism'. The module will enable you to re-think the concept of 'terrorism'. By doing so, it will look at and investigate the origin of what we now consider to be 'terrorism'. It will also investigate the role that state terror plays with regards to actions conducted against another state or acts of terrorism which a state conducts against its own citizens. In the end, it will provide you a critical analysis of counter-terrorism and other responses by the state. The module will engage you with key texts by leading scholars in terrorism studies, critical terrorism studies and special attention to criminological approaches to the subject.

On this module you will:

• Describe and analyse the phenomenon of terrorism and political violence
• Describe and analyse the phenomenon of state terrorism
• Examine counter-terrorism and other state responses to terrorism
• Analyse terrorism inspired or directed by al-Qaeda and Islamic State
• Analyse terrorism and political violence inspired or directed by a variety of movements

Victims and Crime

The aim of this module is to encourage you to develop a meaningful understanding of the experiences of victims of crime within the criminal justice system and beyond. The module is delivered via workshops which begin by exploring the notion of victimhood and critiquing the ways of understanding the impact and extent of victimisation for a diverse range of crime victims. You will consider the ways in which we identify and respond to victims of crime. You will study the development of victimology as an academic discipline and the key theoretical concepts within the field. More broadly, you will explore the social, political and cultural contexts which influence our understanding of and responses to victims of crime. Via workshops, readings and discussions you will also
critically explore and analyse the development of victim-centred policy and practice
within the criminal justice system and beyond. This knowledge and understanding will be useful for those seeking to work with and/or advocating for victims of crime.

Via the workshops, reading and discussions:
a. You will develop an understanding of the key theoretical concepts within victimology.
b. You will identify some of the social and political factors that placed victims at the forefront of academic and professional discourses.
c. You will explore the nature and extent of victimisation and critically appraise criminal justice responses to victims of crime.
You will develop your ability to research, analyse, and communicate thoughts relating to victimisation, victim policy and practice.