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Taming Business? Crime, Law and Politics (CRIM90004)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
March
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | March |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The activities of businesses are central to every aspect of our lives from the food we eat, to our financial security and our health. But, businesses from the small local shop to large international corporations also can cause death and injury both within and outside of work, significant financial loss, economic hardship and environmental destruction. This subject tackles whether and how we can ‘tame business’ to provide for our needs without creating such damage. We examine previous attempts at control, from criminalisation and regulation to NGO pressure, that have seen some success but significant levels of failure. Through case studies and class discussion the critical relationships business and government, and government and the public, which frames the way in which these harms are dealt with are understood. Students also critically examine how governments and those affected have sought to control business in the global economy. In doing so, we analyse the growing use of corporate codes of conduct, and the central role played by NGOs in prompting change at the global and local level. Students completing the subject will have a good understanding of the political and economic challenges that are associated with controlling business crime and harm and will be able to assess critically a variety of different forms of controls in different settings.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- understand the complex range of, and reasons for, harmful business conduct
- critically assess a range of methods for reducing harms associated with business
- conduct library and field research into areas of business harm and regulation
- present orally and in writing reports of this research.
Generic skills
- Have an advanced understanding of the relevant knowledge base in the specialist area.
- have the ability to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature in the specialist area.
- have well-developed problem-solving skills in the specialist area.
- Understand the complex range of, and reasons for, compliant or deviant conduct.
- have significant capacity to articulate knowledge and understanding in oral and written presentations.
- have a capacity to engage where appropriate with issues in contemporary society.
- describe and evaluate regulatory techniques and practices.
- conduct library and field research into areas of regulator control.
- present orally and in writing reports of their research.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Criminology at Undergraduate level
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
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
A short essay
| Early in the teaching period | 20% |
A brief oral presentation arranged through the second half of semester (speaking notes of 500 words or less will be submitted). | Second half of the teaching period | 10% |
A research essay
| During the examination period | 70% |
Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- March
Coordinator Fiona Haines Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total of 24 contact hours: 2 x 2 hour seminars per week over 6 weeks. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 23 March 2020 to 8 May 2020 Last self-enrol date 1 April 2020 Census date 17 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 8 May 2020 Assessment period ends 29 May 2020 March contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided online through the subject's LMS site prior to the commencement of semester. Case studies for discussion will be provided by the School.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Specialisation (formal) Criminology Specialisation (formal) Criminology Specialisation (formal) Criminology Specialisation (formal) Socio-Legal Studies Informal specialisation PD-ARTS Criminology Informal specialisation PD-ARTS Socio-Legal Studies - 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