| Unit name | Responding to Crime and Social Harm |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOL10031 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Natasha Carver |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
Crime and related harms are major social issues requiring state intervention. This unit introduces you to the ways crime and social harm are managed in the UK both in terms of offending and victimisation. Specifically, the unit examines the main institutions and organisations responsible for the control of crime and social harm and assesses policy interventions in the context of wider theoretical debates about how states control (or not) crime and related social harms.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This is a mandatory unit for the BSc Criminology. The unit introduces you to a range of issues that will be explored in more depth at latter points and ensures a conceptual grounding in important themes that underpin studying criminology at Bristol.
An overview of content
Crime and related harms are major social issues requiring state intervention. This unit introduces you to the ways crime and social harm are managed in the UK both in terms of offending and victimisation. Specifically, the unit examines the main institutions and organisations responsible for the control of crime and social harm and assesses policy interventions in the context of wider theoretical debates about how states control (or not) crime and related social harms.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will have gained core knowledge about the operation of policing and justice which will be essential for understanding and learning on Year 2 and 3 units. In addition, you will have learnt about and undertaken an observation – a key social research method.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
In the classroom – which will consist of seminars and lectures - you will be expected to complete interactive activities and discussions. This allows you to expand and develop knowledge and understanding, develop critical thinking skills and develop broader employability skills such as effective communication, team working, and research and analysis skills.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Your learning tasks will be focused on developing the skills required for successful completion of the portfolio. You will get the opportunity for peer and tutor formative feedback on activities and learning during the taught sessions. Classroom activities will include a range of formative activities that support preparation for the summative assessment. An up-to-date resources list and ‘additional materials’ folder will provide suggestions and links to further relevant and interesting resources to support learning and encourage independence in learning.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Engagement and Collaboration: portfolio of structured learning activities (3000 words maximum, 100%)
This assessment covers all of the intended learning outcomes.
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. This will comprise a task of the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOL10031).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
