Course

Introduction to Criminology

Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Criminology
Course Code
CRIM 1150
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
35
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts and content of criminology, such as crime, criminal, delinquent, deviance, treatment, rehabilitation and victim. The position of criminology, its subject matter, and its relationships with other sciences will be examined. The relationships between theory, research, and practice are also included. The history and evolution of criminological thought through classical and modern theories will be critically analysed. Scientific foundations for a modern criminal justice policy will also be critically examined.
Course Content
  1. The Concepts of Crime and Deviance
  2. The Sources of Data on Crime
  3. The Costs and Consequences of Crime
  4. Correlates of Crime
  5. Criminal Victimization
  6. The Victim/Offender Relationship
  7. Legal, Social and Clinical Responses to Crime
  8. Criminal Justice Policy
  9. Theory and Requirements for Effective Theory
  10. History and Evolution of Criminological Theory
  11. The Classical School
  12. The Positivist School
  13. Biological Theories
  14. Psychological Theories
  15. Sociological Theories
  16. Emerging Focus of Criminology
Learning Activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:  lectures, audio visual aids, small group discussions, research projects and presentations.

Means of Assessment

Evaluation will be based on the course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. This course will include multiple methods of evaluation including at least one written component.  The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific criteria during the first week of classes.

An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

Written Components(s): (e.g. Essay, Policy or Case Analysis, Annotated Bibliography)

Tests: Midterm/Final or Multiple Tests throughout the term (which will include written components such as short answers/definitions or short/long essays, critique, case analysis)

Individual or Group Presentation

Attendance & Participation Tasks

An example of an evaluation scheme would be:

Exam I  20%
Exam II  20%
Term Paper  20%
Oral Presentation  10%
Class attendance/participation         10%
Final Exam  20%
Total 100%
Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:

 

  1. Explain the nature and content of criminology as a social science.
  2. Explain the history and evolution of criminological thought.
  3. Critically analyse the elements of the classical and modern theories of criminology.
  4. Explain the criminological foundations of contemporary criminal policy.
  5. Compare and contrast the various perspectives on crime.
  6. Critically evaluate the various sources of crime data.
  7. Discuss current issues and trends in criminology.
  8. Research and critically evaluate criminological texts, periodicals, and media sources.
  9. Research and critically defend positions related to controversial topics in the field of criminology.
  10. Link theory to current issues and policies in the criminological context.
Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

Texts will be updated periodically. Typical examples to choose from include:

 

O’Grady, William. (2011). Crime in Canadian Context – Debates and Controversies.  Don Mills:  Oxford University Press.

 

Sacco, Vincent F. (2011). The Criminal Event. An Introduction to Criminology in Canada. Scarborough: Nelson.

 

Schmalleger, Frank and Rebecca Volk. (2014). Canadian Criminology Today. Theories and Applications. Don Mills:

Pearson.

Requisites

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for CRIM 1150
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO CRIM 166 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU CRIM 101 (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR CRIM 101 (3)
Coquitlam College (COQU) COQU CRIM 108 (3)
Justice Institute of BC (JIBC) JIBC LAWS 1203 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU CRIM 1100 (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG CRIM 1125 (3)
North Island College (NIC) NIC CRM 101 (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC CRIM 111 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CRIM 101 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU CRIM 1XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU GENS 1XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO ARTS_O 1st (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV ARTS_V 1st (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC SOSC 1XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV CRIM 100 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC SOCI 1XX (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC CRIM 1150 (3)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU CRIM 101 (3)

Course Offerings

Summer 2024

CRN
Days
Dates
Start Date
End Date
Instructor
Status
CRN
22127
Tue
Start Date
-
End Date
Start Date
End Date
Instructor Last Name
Macnair
Instructor First Name
Logan
Course Status
Full
Section Notes

See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses.

Max
Enrolled
Remaining
Waitlist
Max Seats Count
35
Actual Seats Count
35
0
Actual Wait Count
0
Days
Building
Room
Time
Tue
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N3410
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
15:20
CRN
Days
Dates
Start Date
End Date
Instructor
Status
CRN
22186
Thu
Start Date
-
End Date
Start Date
End Date
Instructor Last Name
Perkins
Instructor First Name
Charmaine
Course Status
Full
Section Notes

See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses.

Max
Enrolled
Remaining
Waitlist
Max Seats Count
35
Actual Seats Count
35
0
Actual Wait Count
0
Days
Building
Room
Time
Thu
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N3408
Start Time
9:30
-
End Time
12:20
CRN
Days
Dates
Start Date
End Date
Instructor
Status
CRN
22228
Tue
Start Date
-
End Date
Start Date
End Date
Instructor Last Name
Perkins
Instructor First Name
Charmaine
Course Status
Open
Max
Enrolled
Remaining
Waitlist
Max Seats Count
35
Actual Seats Count
26
9
Actual Wait Count
0
Days
Building
Room
Time
Tue
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N3412
Start Time
15:30
-
End Time
18:20