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Course Description

Students critically examine the sociological, socio-cultural, and socio-psychological explanations of criminal behaviour, such as the ecological theories, conflict theories, control theories, and symbolic interactionist theories. Some of the specific theories subjected to critical examination are those concerned with class and group conflict, subcultures, association, labelling, and gender.

Learning outcomes

  • Distinguish between scholarly and lay theories of crime and deviance.
  • Describe a range of methods by which crime and deviance are studied empirically.
  • Critically evaluate and assess sociological theories of crime and deviance.
  • Distinguish between crime and deviance.
  • Apply a range of theoretical explanations and perspectives to the processes by which crime and deviance are created and dealt with.
  • Distinguish between positivist and constructionist approaches to the study of crime and deviance.

Course topics

  • Part I: Introduction and Foundations
  • Part II: Sociological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour
  • Part III: Applying Sociological Explanations to Criminal Behaviour

Required text and materials

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

  • Eisler, L., White, R., & Haines, F. (2022). Crime and Criminology: An Introduction to Theory (4th Cdn. ed.). Oxford University Press. 
    Type: E-Textbook. ISBN: 9780190160609 / 9780190160593 

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

Assessments

Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.

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.

Quiz 1: Modules 1–310%
Quiz 2: Modules 4–610%
Assignment 1: Sociological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour    15%
Quiz 3: Modules 7–1010%
Assignment 2: Applying Sociological Explanations to Criminal Behaviour15%
Mandatory Final Exam40%
Total100%

Exclusions

  • SOCI 2251
  • SOCI 2590
  • SOCI 3680
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Enrol now - select a section to enrol in

Section Title
Sociological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour
Section Schedule
Any Time (30 weeks duration)
Delivery
Online, self-paced  
Course Fee(s)
Canadian in BC/YT non-credit $862.62 Click here to get more information
Canadian outside BC/YT non-credit $971.70 Click here to get more information
International Student non-credit $1,686.15 Click here to get more information
Available for Credit
3 credits

Open Learning faculty member information

An Open Learning faculty member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.

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