Introduction to Criminology

Code:

C101

Acronym:

INTC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Criminology

Instance: 2006/2007 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:	Criminology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
C	41	Oficial Study Plan LC	1	-	6	-

Objectives

The main purpose of this course is to introduce to the structure, systems and function of the criminological thinking. In that sense, the course aims to:

- Develop a first interdisciplinary and integrated perspective of the criminological field (epistemological, theoretical and methodological levels).
- Provide an overview of the fundamental and applied contemporary criminology.
- Identify the main principles of theoretical paradigms and their implications to criminological research
- Provide an understanding of the process of scientific research and methodological thinking
- Provide an overview of the relation between criminology and criminal justice system
- Identify major questions in the criminological interventions
- Develop the skills required to research and systematize information relevant to criminology.

Program

I-Definition, object and delimitation of the criminological field
1. Extensive and comprehensive definitions
2. Object and major areas of the criminological knowledge: crime, criminality, deviance, delinquents, victims, the societal reaction; macro and microcriminology, victimology and criminology of the societal reaction.
3. Criminology’s epistemological status
3.1. Criminology in the frame of social sciences: interdisciplinarity, unity and autonomy
3.2. Theoretical and empirical criminology
3.3. Fundamental and applied criminology

II-Research Methods
1.Criminology as empirical science
2.Logic and process of research in social sciences; theory and methodology
3.Introduction to the quantitative and qualitative methods in criminology
4.Introduction to major sources of information

III – Theoretical paradigms (etiological criminology, criminology focused on delinquent act; criminology of the societal reaction, critical and radical criminology; feminist criminology)

IV- Special issues in criminology
1.Criminality and insecurity.
2.Juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice.
3.Victimology and restorative justice.

V – The social function of criminology
1. Criminology, law and criminal politics.
2. Introduction to applied criminology and criminological interventions.

Main Bibliography

Cusson, M. ( 2006). Criminologia. Cruz Quebrada: Casa das Letras/Editorial Notícias.
Debuyst, Ch. (1990). «Pour introduire une histoire de la criminologie: les problématiques de départ.» Déviance et Société, vol XIV, nº4, pp. 347-376.
Dias, J. & Andrade, M. (1992). Criminologia. Coimbra Editora.
Gassin, R. (1994). Criminologie. Paris: Éditions Dalloz.
Hagan, F. (1994). Introduction to Criminology. Chicago: Nelson-Hall.
Killias, M. (1991). Précis de criminologie. Berna : Staempfi & Cie.
Kuhn, A. (2004). Sommes-nous tous des criminels ? Grolley: L’Hebe.
Maguire, M. & Morgan, R & REINER, R. (1994). The Oxford Handbook of Criminology. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
McLaughlin, E. & Muncie, J. (2001). The Sage Dictionary of Criminology. Londres: Sage Publications.
Moyer, I. (2001). Criminological Theories. Thousand Oaks : Sage Publications.
Pires, A. (1998). «La Criminology d’hier et d’aujourd’hui.» In Ch. Debuyst et al.(Eds.), Histoire des savoirs sur le crime & la peine 1, Bruxelas, De Boeck Université.
Siegel, L. (1995). Criminology. West Publishing Company. Londres: Sage Publications.
Vold, G. & Bernard, Th. (1986). Theoretical Criminology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Walklate, S. (1998). Understanding Criminology – current theoretical debates. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Complementary Bibliography

More specific bibliography will be provided during each session.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical sessions are used to describe and discuss the main contents of the program. Practice sessions are orientated toward the analysis and discussion of scientific literature and other resources previously prepared by the students.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Eligibility for exams

See general rules.

Calculation formula of final grade

See general rules.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

See general rules.

Classification improvement

See general rules.