SOC2044 : Sociology of Crime: Social Control in Neoliberal Societies
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Karenza Moore
- 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 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce students to theoretical ideas and empirical material that will further their understanding of crime, deviance, transgression, punishment regimes, and formal and informal means of social control in neoliberal societies, with a focus on power, social change, and inequalities.
It will offer a deeper understanding of core issues within Sociology, which will inform students' second and third year modules, including their dissertations.
Outline Of Syllabus
The syllabus includes four to five core sections covering social theories, sociological and criminological approaches to crime, and relevant examples (including classic and contemporary studies of crime topics):
Punishment, power and social change;
Cultures and representations;
Geographies;
Contemporary crime and crime control debates.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Week 1 and Week 11 |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 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 | 8 | 3:00 | 24:00 | PIP Timetabled Interactive Workshops |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | PIP Timetabled Assessment workshop 2 |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | PiP Timetabled Assessment Support Workshop 1 |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 134:00 | 134:00 | N/A |
| 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 the Sociology of Crime.
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 essay ideas and plans.
The second lecture (2 hours) looks at 'the pains of imprisonment' and acts as a bridge between social theory (history of the prison estate) and contemporary crime and crime control debates (drugs in prisons).
Students listen to at least 4 of 12 available podcasts on crime topics, and in Workshops they will discuss the podcast of their choice. This will further their understandings of contemporary issues in the Sociology of Crime, as well as debates about how sociological research on crime and punishment 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 40 | 1000 word essay with references 500 word annotated bibliography |
| Essay | 1 | M | 60 | 2,500 words |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 1 | M | Ongoing throughout module based on seminar performance |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The first assessment will be focused on understanding the background theories, concepts and approaches within the Sociology of Crime. It consists of a standard essay with references chosen from a list of questions (1500 words).
The second assessment (2500 words) will task students with exploring the implications of social control for certain populations, drawing on material from the whole module.
The students thus have the opportunity to write a first short essay on Sociology of Crime core concepts and then a longer, more detailed second essay, capturing issues from across the entirety of the module rather than on specific weeks.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SOC2044's Timetable