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Explaining Crime and Deviance - SOC00014C

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

Students will be introduced to different criminological theories that have been developed to explain crime and deviance. By considering how these theories have emerged, the module module will enable you to think about the contribution and impact of criminological theory to society.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

Why do people commit crime? How have criminologists sought to explain rule breaking? In this module, we introduce you to different criminological theories that have been developed to explain crime and deviance. You will consider how these theories have emerged by building on previous ideas and how controversies within contemporary criminology continue to rage. The module will enable you to think about the contribution and impact of criminological theory to society and engage your skills in problem solving and time-management.

Module learning outcomes

Demonstrate your understanding of how the field of criminology has developed and the debates that underpin theoretical responses to explaining crime.

Manage and plan your time whilst working independently on set tasks and activities

Apply insights from social theory to historical and current events and issues

Articulate and synthesize ideas and arguments coherently in both verbal and written formats.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 70
Essay/coursework 30

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 70
Essay/coursework 30

Module feedback

For formative work - York Crime Walk - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. The formative assessment provides practice for the summative tasks which entail a podcast review which is in line with MLO particularly 1,2, 4.

For summative work - essay - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with 1-4. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.

Indicative reading

Downes, D. and Rock, P. (2007) Understanding Deviance, (5th ed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Lilly, J.R., Cullen, F.T., and Ball, R.A. (2011) Criminological Theory, (4th ed.) London: Sage.

Maguire, M. Morgan, R. and Reiner, R. (eds.) (2007) Oxford Handbook of Criminology, (4th ed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Tierney, J. (2006) Criminology, Hemel Hempstead: Prentice Hall/Harvester Wheatsheaf.

Williams, K.S. (2008) Textbook in Criminology, (6th ed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.