Criminology
Subject Leader: Mrs Natasha Southall
Subject Leader Email Address: natasha.southall@swale.at
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
MARTIN LUTHER KING
Subject overview
Criminology (from Latin crīmen, "accusation"; and Greek -λογία, -logia) is the scientific study of criminal behaviour, on individual, social and natural levels, and how it can be managed, controlled and prevented.
This course will enable students to use theories of criminality to analyse criminal situations and make recommendations for policy. Students also develop the knowledge and skills to research policy in practice, assess campaigns for changes in awareness and examine information to review verdicts in criminal cases.
Sixth Form Year 12
Course outline:
An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social work, probation work, and sociology and psychology. WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology is a qualification with elements of psychology, law and sociology that complements studies in humanities. This is an Applied General qualification. This means it is designed primarily to support learners progressing to university. It has been designed to offer exciting and interesting experiences that focus on learning for 16-19-year-old learners and adult learners through applied learning, i.e. through the acquisition of knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the criminal justice system.
In Year 12, students will study:
Unit 1 - Changing awareness of crime
Unit 2 - Criminological Theories
Term 1
Unit 1 - Students will analyse different types of crime and explain why certain crimes go unreported, as well as the consequences of this.
Unit 2 - Students will compare criminal behaviour to deviance and gain the skills to explain why crime is socially constructed.
Term 2
Unit 1 - Students will gain the skills to describe media representations of crime and deepen their knowledge to explain the impact of these representations on the public perception of crime.
Unit 2 - Students will be able to explore the biological theories behind criminality and evaluate their credibility. Students will assess policies that have been formed with these biological theories throughout history.
Term 3
Unit 1 - Students will start to examine campaigns used to reduce crime and reflect on their success. Afterwards, students will consider creating their own campaigns to reduce crime and explore different materials that can contribute to success. Students will consider justifying their campaigns and gathering evidence to support their reasons.
Unit 2 - Students will proceed to describe individualistic theories of criminality and critique government-created policies.
Term 4
Unit 1 - Students will then take their Unit 1Controlled Assessment over 3 days.
Unit 2 - Students will describe sociological theories of criminality and consider crime prevention policies influenced by these. Finally, social changes influencing these policies will be discussed.
Term 5
Students will be revising for their Unit 2 examination that takes place in early May.
Term 6
Students will be researching content accessed in Year 13 and learning case studies to support their studies.
How is the course assessed?
Unit 1: 8-hour controlled assessment (25% of the course)
Unit 2: External exam (25% of the course)
Sixth Form Year 13
Course outline:
An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social and, probation work, and sociology and psychology. WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology is a qualification with elements of psychology, law and sociology that complements studies in humanities. This is an Applied General qualification. This means it is designed primarily to support learners progressing to university. It has been designed to offer exciting and interesting experiences that focus learning for 16-19-year-old learners and adult learners through applied learning, i.e. through the acquisition of knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the criminal justice system.
In Year 13, students will study:
Unit 3 - Crime Scene to Courtroom
Unit 4 - Crime and Punishment
Term 1
Unit 3 - Students will evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal investigations, as well as assess the usefulness of investigative techniques in criminal investigations.
Unit 4 - Students will describe the process for law-making in the United Kingdom, as well as explore the organisation of the criminal justice system in England and Wales.
Term 2
Unit 3 - Students will explain the requirements of the Crown Prosecution Service for prosecuting suspects, and examine court proceedings such as trial processes and the use of evidence. Students will also be able to examine information for validity, such as media representations and miscarriages of justice.
Unit 4 - Students will be able to explain different forms of social control. They will also discuss the aims of punishment and how forms of punishment meet these aims.
Term 3
Unit 3 - Students will take their Unit 3 Controlled assessment over 2 days.
Unit 4 -Students will explain the role of agencies in social control and the contribution of agencies to achieving social control previously explored.
Term 4
Unit 4 - Students will be examining the limitations of agencies in achieving social control and evaluating the effectiveness of agencies in achieving social control. Students will then be revising for their Unit 4 exam.
Term 5
Unit 4 examination takes place in early June.
Term 6
N/a
How is the course assessed?
Unit 3: 8-hour controlled assessment (25% of the course)
Unit 4 External exam (25% of the course)