Programme of Study Catalogue

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

(1) Demonstrate knowledge of the definition, measurement and frequency of crime;
(2) Demonstrate knowledge of explanations for crime from a number of different perspectives;
(3) Demonstrate an understanding of the scope of forensic psychology;
(4) Demonstrate knowledge of a range of research paradigms, research methods and measurement technique within Forensic Psychology.

Content:

The nature, range and volume of crime. Methods of measuring the volume of crime. Who commits crime. Introduction to criminology. Sociological, biological, environmental & developmental theories of crime. Psychological theories of crime, including psychodynamic, behavioural, personality, moral and cognitive theories. Introduction to victimology. Introduction to the scope of forensic psychology. The role of the Forensic Psychologist.

Learning and Teaching Information:

This module will make use of both lectures and small group seminars.

Lectures
Contact hours 24
Number of groups: cohort

Seminars/tutorials
Contact hours: 9
Number of groups: 10-20

Workshops
Contact hours: 3
Number of groups: cohort

Further details relating to assessment
Directed Activities: These consist of weekly tasks that must be completed and submitted for inspection at timetabled sessions each week. This assessment will be assessed on a pass/fail basis with a pass requiring at least 75% of all weekly tasks to be successfully completed. A pass mark will lead to the full award of 10% towards the final module mark. A fail in directed activities will contribute 0% to the final mark.

Assessment:

001 Essay 1 x 2000 words end of semester 1 45%
002 Essay 1 x 2000 words end of semester 2 45%
003 Directed Activities sem 1 & 2 10%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Danielle McDermott
Level - 4
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - ONLY AVAILABLE TO FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL