Crime, Criminology, and Critique (CRIM10001)

Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 1
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Criminology is the study of crime, social harm and how we respond to it. In this subject, you will take on the big questions of the discipline: What is crime? Who is the criminal? Criminologists seek to understand and explain the complex causes and motivations for crime and how categorisations of crime can change according to time, place and politics.

In this subject, you will examine a range of topics including youth crime, street crime, crime in the home and crimes of the powerful. You will learn how understandings of crime inform and produce a range of state responses and varied experiences of justice/injustice. Given the local context of colonial Australia, we pay particular attention to crime as a settler colonial construct. Through your reading, classroom activities with peers and assessment tasks, you will critically reflect on the ways that crime is constructed and popularised, and build your academic skills. The subject will require you to read and think critically about your own assumptions, media representations, and the ways that powerful groups define, measure and regulate crime.

Crime, Criminology and Critique is available as a Bachelor of Arts Discovery subject, supporting your introduction to university and fostering connections within your course. If you are taking this as your Discovery subject, you will need to concurrently complete the three compulsory Joining Melbourne modules.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Explain key concepts and terms within criminology
  • Identify a range of theoretical perspectives within criminology
  • Discuss the effects of criminalisation on various groups within society
  • Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of techniques used to measure, classify and define crime and criminality.

Generic skills

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Generate original ideas and solutions
  • Develop reasoned arguments
  • Communicate effectively in written forms
  • Exercise critical thinking and analysis in evaluating information.
  • Demonstrate enhanced research skills through sourcing appropriate information using databases
  • Engage in rigorous and respectful debate.

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

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 April 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

A report, drawing on two weeks of required readings

  • 500 words
Week 410%

An essay

  • 2000 words
Week 950%

A take-home exam

  • 1500 words
During the examination period40%
Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures. Throughout the teaching periodN/A
Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. Throughout the semesterN/A

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    CoordinatorsBree Carlton and Liam Gillespie
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours36 hours: a 2 hour lecture and a 1 hour tutorial for 12 weeks.
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025
    Last self-enrol date14 March 2025
    Census date31 March 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025
    Assessment period ends27 June 2025

    Semester 1 contact information

    Dr Bree Carlton: bcarlton@unimelb.edu.au

    Dr Liam Gillespie: liam.gillespie@unimelb.edu.au

     

Time commitment details

Total of 170 hours

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Further information

Last updated: 3 April 2025