CRIM 1011 - Introduction to Criminology

Course Description

Students arrive at a critical understanding of the core concepts, basic data sources, and general research findings in the field of criminology, with particular attention to Canadian developments. Topics include the role of media in shaping our understanding of crime, crime measurement, patterns and trends in crime and victimization, criminological theories, how the theories are related to public policies and the criminal justice system, and the important role race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, and gender play in the above.

Learning outcomes

• Assess the scope and contributions of criminology as an academic discipline that studies crime and deviance and how to control and reduce them.
• Use criminological terminology and concepts appropriately.
• Evaluate methods of measuring crime and victimization; identify patterns and trends in crime and victimization and how they vary based on race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, age, etc.
• Summarize basic elements of theories to explain crime and deviance; and evaluate their respective strengths and weaknesses and apply these theories.
• Identify the origins of and variables related to people’s differential levels of fear and risk of crime, in particular race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, age, etc.
• Explain how and why certain behaviours come to be defined as deviant and criminal behaviour, incl. the relevance of race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, age, etc.
• Critically assess contemporary crime control methods employed within society in general and the criminal justice system in particular.

Course topics

• Part I: What We Think We Know About Crime and What the Data Show
• Part II: Explaining Crime and Deviant Behaviour
• Part III: Contemporary and Alternative Responses to Controlling Crime
• Part IV: Applying Explanations of Crime and Deviant Behaviour

Required text and materials

Students are responsible for purchasing the required materials on their own:

• O’Grady, W. (2022). Crime in Canadian Context: Debates and Controversies (5th ed.) Oxford University Press Canada. 
  Type: Textbook. ISBN: 9780199039838 / 9780199039852

Note: This item can be purchased directly from the following link.

Assessments

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the final mandatory exam.