Course Title: Criminal Law
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Criminal Law
Credit Points: 12.00
Important Information:
Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.
To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.
Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.
Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus
Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
HUSO2230 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2012 |
HUSO2230 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face or Internet |
Sem 2 2014 |
HUSO2231 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019, Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021, Sem 2 2022, Sem 2 2023 |
HUSO2231 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face or Internet |
Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015, Sem 2 2016 |
Course Coordinator: Dr Brianna Chesser
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9238
Course Coordinator Email: brianna.chesser@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 37.04
Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
Required Prior Study
You should have satisfactorily completed Introduction to Law HUSO2235 or its equivalent before you commence this course. Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course. Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.
Course Description
This course examines some of the principles and elements of criminal law. You will be introduced to the different sources of criminal law, the elements of criminal offences and you will explore the substantive topics of homicide, including the categories of manslaughter, defences to homicide such as self- defence, sex offences, and non- fatal offences against the person through the discussion of relevant case law and legislation.
You will spend time in analysis and problem solving in these areas of criminal law to further your appreciation of the substantive criminal law and to develop your ability to apply research and analytical skills to other areas of study.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
Program Learning Outcomes
In course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:
- Apply a body of professional, theoretical and practical knowledge relevant to the socio-legal field and primary dispute resolution processes
- Apply critically reflective thought and analytical thinking to problems related to social-legal issues and dispute resolution in local and international contexts
- Assist in the identification of needs and the design and planning of research in the socio-legal field
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Analyse the constituent elements of a range of substantive criminal offences
- Explain some of the theoretical criticisms of the way the criminal law is structured and administered
- Critically analyse recent reforms in the area of criminal law
- Detail some of the important processes of the criminal law (as opposed to its content) with a focus on the balance between the rights of the individual and the state
- Demonstrate legal research techniques.
Overview of Learning Activities
This course is delivered through a blend of learning activities, which include interactive workshop activities, role plays, problem solving, guest speakers, presentations, videos, online media and activities and student lead discussions.
Overview of Learning Resources
There may be a prescribed text for this course.
You will be given access to a wide range of resources through the Canvas student portal, myRMIT, and RMIT Library resources. You will have the opportunity to contribute collectively to class resources by sharing your own research findings and sources with your peers.
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.
There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.
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: Tutorial activities (20%) CLO 1-3
Assessment Task 2: Brief of Evidence (40%) CLO 1-4
Assessment Task 3: Problem based task Review (40%) CLO 1-4
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.