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Organised Crime and Human Trafficking (CRIM90025)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
August
Overview
| Availability | August |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
While organised crime has existed for centuries, it is only recently that the international community has begun to take it seriously as a transnational ‘soft’ (i.e. non-military) security issue. For example, the most frequently cited convention against transnational organised crime – that of the UN – dates only from 2000. Similarly, while drug and weapons trafficking has long been a concern of states and IOs (International Organisations), the focus on human trafficking essentially dates from the late-1990s. Human trafficking is now seen as the fastest growing form of trafficking and, along with cybercrime, the preferred form of criminal activity for an increasing number of criminal gangs and organisations. This subject will explore both the phenomena of transnational organised crime (TOC) and human trafficking, and the discourses surrounding them. The coverage will be international, but with an emphasis on Europe and South-east Asia. The subject will focus on trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation, but will also consider other forms of human trafficking.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Critically examine the definitional debates on both organised crime and trafficking;
- Identify the main activities of contemporary (since WWII) organised crime – globally, but with a particular emphasis on both Europe/Asia and human trafficking;
- Examine the various methods used to measure the scale of organised crime activity and human trafficking;
- Elaborate and evaluate the main theories of the reasons for organised crime and its dynamism;
- Consider the relative merits and weaknesses of the abolitionist and regulationist positions on human trafficking;
- Study and assess the approaches of states, IOs, NGOs (non-government organisations) and other agencies to organised crime and trafficking.
Generic skills
•Research: through competent use of the library and other information sources (inc. online), and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research.
•Critical Thinking and Analysis: through recommended reading, briefing and essay writing, and seminar discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument.
•Thinking in Theoretical Terms: through seminar discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences.
•Thinking Creatively: through essay writing, seminar discussion and presentations, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgements and arguments from conflicting evidence and by critical analysis.
•Understanding of Social, Ethical and Cultural Context: through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument.
•Communicating Knowledge Intelligibly and Economically: through briefing and essay writing, and seminar discussion.
•Written Communication: through briefing and essay preparation and writing.
•Oral Presentation: through seminar discussion and informal class presentations.
•Time Management and Planning: through managing and organising workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion.
•Group Work: through group discussions.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Criminology or Political Science
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- 1 x 1000 word briefing paper (20%) due mid-September.
- 1 x 3000 word research essay (60%) due mid October.
- 1 x 1000 word briefing paper (20%) due late October.
- Hurdle Requirement: As this is an Intensively-taught subject, Lecture/Seminar attendance is compulsory at all classes and regular class participation is expected.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- August
Principal coordinator Leslie Holmes Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 32 contact hours: This subject will be delivered intensively from 9:00am - 5:00pm, with seminars over four days. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 24 August 2019 to 15 September 2019 Last self-enrol date 28 August 2019 Census date 13 September 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 25 October 2019 Assessment period ends 22 November 2019 August contact information
Time commitment details
Total 170 hours
Additional delivery details
This subject will run frmo 9am until 5pm on scheduled days
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
J. Finckenauer, Mafia and Organized Crime (Oneworld, 2007)
L. Shelley, Human Trafficking (Cambridge UP, 2010)
Recommended texts and other resources
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022