LW2ICR: Introduction to Criminology

Module code: LW2ICR

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Leandro Franca , email: l.franca@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

LW2ICR is a concept-oriented module that provides students with an overview of the key questions and concepts in criminology as well as the main theoretical perspectives that comprise criminological discourses and interests.

The module aims to introduce students to major questions, key concepts and relevant theoretical perspectives in criminology. The module also has the purpose of introducing students to research in criminology, and to engage students with criminology. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

· outline and explain essential criminological concepts;

· discuss the main questions in criminology;

· distinguish main theoretical perspectives that comprise criminological discourses and interests;

· describe and evaluate competing definitions and explanations of ‘crime’; and

· analyse research in criminology and evaluate the challenges of doing research on or measuring crime.

Module content

What is criminology? Social control. Violation of social or legal norms. Aetiology. Offender. Desistance. Labelling and power relations. Methods. Philosophies of punishment. Origins and the geopolitics of criminological knowledge.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught by a combination of:

· 11 weekly two-hour long lectures (22 hours)

· 05 fortnightly two-hour workshops (10 hours)

· 05 fortnightly one-hour seminars (5 hours)

· blended learning (13 hours)

· independent study (150 hours)

Lectures provide overviews of the literature and debates on the topic. Workshops provide the space to explore the topics in more detail and focus on their applied aspects. Seminars provide opportunities for students to test their knowledge and understanding of the topics in smaller groups. Workshops and seminars will also be used to provide students with input about assessments and requisite research and study skills. Students will be expected to undertake relevant preparatory reading prior to attending lectures, workshops and seminars.

Study hours

At least 37 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

· Students will be permitted to submit an essay plan of their chosen summative essay using a provided template to aid essay and argument construction.

· Students will be given a mock short answer form examination to test comprehension and scaffold examination skills. 

Reassessment

Additional costs