Course Title: Current Issues in Criminology

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Current Issues in Criminology

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
JUST2333	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2021, Sem 2 2022, Sem 2 2023
JUST2333	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face or Internet	Sem 2 2019
JUST2333	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Internet	Sem 2 2020

Course Coordinator: Dr. Gregory Stratton

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3021

Course Coordinator Email: gregory.stratton@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 37, Floor 4, Room 14B

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

JUST2264 Critical Criminology or equivalent. Please check with your program manager.

Assumed knowledge will include an advanced knowledge of criminological and/or socio-legal perspectives as well as practical understandings of the justice system.

Course Description

This course will prepare you for employment or further study by bringing together current debates, research concepts, themes, and practical problems in criminology and justice that engage justice and legal professionals in the real world. The course will be delivered by guest scholars /field experts and Justice and Legal staff. Topics will vary according to the currency and relevance of particular issues shaping the direction of criminology and justice at the time.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

CLO1 Apply your developed analytical, research and evaluation skills in assessing current issues in justice and legal fields

CLO 2 Evaluate the efficacy of current approaches in the field related to particular issues

CLO 3 Conceptualise alternative options and responses to current approaches used to address key issues in justice and legal fields

CLO4 Synthesise professional and research literature in key areas

In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:

Use strategic, critical, creative, and analytical thinking to develop creative solutions to a range of dynamic problems associated with crime management and the justice system
Critically analyse, synthesise and reflect on complex theories, principles, philosophies and recent developments in the justice sector, both locally and globally, to extend and challenge knowledge and practice
Employ a wide range of research tools, methods and approaches to produce new knowledge of justice issues and guide policy development and inform decision making

 

Overview of Learning Activities

The course has been designed to include the following learning experiences: formal workshops, experiential exercises, selected reading and practical work on the progressive development of a group project during the weekly workshops. Course learning materials will be made available in a range of formats, which may include lectures, guest speakers and online media.

In order to develop your knowledge and skills, you will be expected to participate in interactive discussions and activities and to critically engage with reading materials. The workshops offer a supportive learning environment where you will have the opportunity to share your knowledge and experiences, and to learn from the knowledge and experience your peers. This peer-based learning may take place through small-group discussions, collaborative work on activities and assessments and/or peer reviewing of research, written work and/or oral presentations.

Overview of Learning Resources

You will be given access to a wide range of resources through a Course Reader or core textbook and also will be able to access to a wide range of online learning tools and content for your course from the student portal, myRMIT, and RMIT Library resources. These resources may include book chapters, journal articles, media articles, lecture notes, bibliographies for supplementary reading, video, and links to external websites.

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. 

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Essay, 50%, CLO1 - CLO4 

Assessment Task 2: Exam, 50%, CLO1 – CLO4 

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.