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SOC2031 - Green Criminology: Green Crime and Environmental Justice

  • Offered for Year: 2027/28
  • Module Leader(s): Ruth McAreavey
  • Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

This module introduces students to the dynamic and rapidly evolving field of green criminology. Moving beyond traditional definitions of crime, the course explores different dimensions of environmental harm and degradation through a critical criminological lens.

Students will engage with theoretical ideas and empirical material to further their understanding of green crime and environmental justice.

Through theoretical engagement and real-world case analysis, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how criminology can respond to environmental injustices and contribute to more just and sustainable futures.

Outline Of Syllabus

The syllabus includes three to four core sections covering criminological approaches to environmental injustices and will draw from:

  • Foundations of Green Criminology – Key theories, concepts of environmental harm, ecological justice, and use of criminal law to address environmental injustices.
  • Crimes Against Nature may include environmental disasters, water pollution, illegal logging.
  • Power, Corporations and the State
  • Dimensions of environmental inequalities
  • Resistance & Justice Futures – Environmental activism, criminalisation of protest, and pathways toward ecological and social justice.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities Lecture 2 2:00 4:00 PIP In person lectures
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities Workshops 8 3:00 24:00 PIP Timetabled Interactive Workshops
Guided Independent Study Independent study 4 1:00 4:00 Podcasts (4 hours) Students are expected to choose four hours of podcasts (from a selection of 12) to listen to, and to discuss in Workshops with their peers
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities Workshops 2 2:00 4:00 PiP Timetabled Assessment Support Workshops (for policy report and for poster)
Guided Independent Study Independent study 1 100:00 100:00 Independent reading & study
Guided Independent Study Assessment preparation and completion 1 64:00 64:00 Preparation for assessments
Total 200:00  
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The 2 hour in person lecture at the start and end of the module will give students a detailed introduction and then summary of key concepts and theories in Green Criminology.

In the 8 whole-group workshops (3 hours long) the emphasis will be on pair/small group discussions and interactive exercises between students and students/lecturer, within the larger group. The workshops will be a mixture of 'traditional' lectures, and these exercises.

The 4 hours of Assessment Support Workshops gives students an opportunity to receive peer/lecturer feedback on their policy report and poster assignments.

Students listen to at least 4 of 12 available podcasts on Green Criminology, and in Workshops they will discuss the podcast of their choice. This will further their understandings of contemporary issues in the Green Criminology, as well as debates about how sociological research on environmental injustices is undertaken and the challenges it poses.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Poster 1 2 A 30 N/A
Report 1 2 A 70 Policy report
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Policy Report: The policy report is an authentic assessment that gives students the opportunity to demonstrate the essential knowledge and skills within a real-world addressing an area in which they believe needs reforming. This assessment promotes students' higher-order thinking and deeper learning. Scaffolding for the assessment will be delivered via workshops, where students will be guided to identify a policy problem, analyse the institutional and societal context, critically engage with it, and draft recommendations. The workshops will also include peer review of the draft policy paper.

Poster: The poster encourages succinct and visual communication of a complex issue. It combines knowledge with digital literacy and professional presentation skills, while also aligning with the module's emphasis on critical thinking.

Timetable