Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Aims

The aim of the course is to give a broad introduction to criminology. Criminology encompasses many different theoretical perspectives, and it intersects and overlaps practically and theoretically with the discipline of sociology. The course will introduce key theories within the field of criminology. This includes, among others:

• Central criminological perspectives including social learning theory, labelling theory, and control theory.
• Nils Christie’s perspectives on crime, punishment, and closeness.
• Michel Foucault’s perspectives on surveillance and punishment.
• Lawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson’s routine activity theory, which is central to crime prevention.
• Cultural criminology, a newer current from the beginning of the 1990’s which emphasizes crime and crime control as products of power relations and culture.

The class emphasizes understanding theory, and the exam will be an individual written exam.

The elective course in criminology can be relevant for many reasons. One reason is an interest in criminology itself. Another reason may be the growth of criminology as a field of practice and research in Denmark. A third reasons may be to familiarize oneself with the field before deciding whether to study in the first and only criminology education in Denmark at AAU.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

It is the aim that students achieve:

• knowledge within the course area at a basic level.

Skills

It is the aim that students can:

• formulate, evaluate, and communicate central problems within the course area.
• discuss and analyze current problems within the course area from a criminological/sociological perspective.

Competences

It is the aim that students can:

• Independently reflect on central problems within the course area, including competing perspectives, methods, and applications.

Type of instruction

The course is a theoretical course organized as a series of lectures.

Exam

Exams