Fundamentals of Criminology
30 hours face to face + blended
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn, Online
Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
Overview
This unit provides students with an overview of the discipline of criminology through a presentation of both the major theoretical models as well as the application of these models to a variety of criminal justice settings. Students will learn the breadth of the field of criminology as well as the importance of theoretical models when developing research and programming within the criminal justice system.
Requisites
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
06-July-2026
04-October-2026
04-October-2026
Last self-enrolment date
19-July-2026
Census date
04-August-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
25-August-2026
Results released date
27-October-2026
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
01-March-2027
30-May-2027
30-May-2027
Last self-enrolment date
14-March-2027
Census date
30-March-2027
Last withdraw without fail date
20-April-2027
Results released date
06-July-2027
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Identify the scope and boundaries of Criminology, including the identification and evaluation of key stakeholders
- Outline and critique major criminological theories of crime and criminal behaviour
- Explain how criminological theories inform and influence policy responses to crime
- Employ foundational learning and academic skills, including research competencies and critical thinking
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Lecture |
1.00 | 6 weeks | 6 |
| On-campus Class |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Online Lecture (asynchronous) |
1.00 | 6 weeks | 6 |
| Unspecified Activities Various |
7.50 | 12 weeks | 90 |
| Specified Activities Various |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Class | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | Individual | 10% | 1,2,3 |
| Portfolio | Individual | 40% | 2,4 |
| Research Essay | Individual | 50% | 2,3,4 |
Content
- What is Crime? What is Criminology? What is theory?
- Perceiving Crime: Measuring and reporting on crime
- Classical School of Criminology
- The Chicago School
- Anomie and Strain
- Social and Self control
- Labelling theory
- Feminist Criminology
- Indigenous Criminology
- Crimes of the Powerful
- Critical Theories of Crime
- Graduate Attribute - Digital Literacies: Information Literacies
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.
