Criminology and Security Studies - BA (Hons)

This module explores and examines the origins of criminology, some of its historical debates, concepts, literature and research. It will outline what are often considered the core perspectives and theories related to crime and criminality. It introduces students to the history and development of criminology as an academic discipline.

This module introduces students to both qualitative and quantitative criminological research methods and students will develop a basic understanding of how to design research appropriately in relation to a specific topic. This module will equip students to: develop an understanding of the relationship between theories and methods; understand a range of research methods and methods of analysis and develop the critical analyses and practical skills that are required to carry out research.

This module is important in setting a foundation for students in understanding the political and historical contexts of crime and the response of the State to it.

It will provide an understanding of contemporary institutions and policies within the structure of criminal justice/criminology and show their development in historical practice and experience and that they exist within a political framework in which resources are limited and ideas contested. A significant section of the module will cover the essentials of the political structures and institutions of Britain and the manner in which policy, particularly criminal justice policy, is made set against the background of historical practice, party ideology and economic constraints.

This module introduces students to the discipline of Security Studies. The module provides an overview of different theoretical approaches to the study of security, the historical development of the discipline and a range of relevant and contemporary topics such as terrorism and cybersecurity.

Security is an area of tremendous contemporary and international significance and this module aims to provide students with the requisite knowledge and understanding to fully appreciate the international and contested nature of the concept, key areas of debate in the field and the manner in which “security” physically manifests itself in the world.

This module will examine the ways in which criminological and sociological theorising help us to challenge common sense in order to widen our understanding of a) ‘deviant’ identities and b) the operation of social control.

This module will explore the ways in which crime and deviance are socially constructed through varying contexts and how differing ‘deviant’ identities and subcultures are socially controlled and represented. Furthermore, the module explores the relations of power through which ‘deviant’ labels are ascribed (focusing on social stratifications such as gender, class, race/ethnicity, sexuality and age in order to reveal the fluidity of so-called ‘deviant’ identities).

This module allows students the opportunity to develop a key understanding of policing and criminological concepts and theoretical approaches which have been developed in relation to models of policing.

It will allow students an opportunity to examine and conceptualise some of the key debates around crime, policy, human rights, crime prevention, security, and policing. Students will be able to conceptualise and explain the subject matter and develop an understanding which informs debate about crime prevention, justice and security.

This module provides an in-depth and critical look at a range of topics relating to security and strategy in the contemporary era. The module deals with the theoretical, ethical and practical elements of topics such as inter-state violence, asymmetric conflict and the role that high-technology has had on different forms of political violence.

This module provides learners with the opportunity to develop a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of the different procedures used for qualitative data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation. Students will particularly be encouraged to think critically about the diverse assumptions that underpin criminological research enabling the wider focus of the programme concerned with the historical and political framework within which

Criminology is situated to be explored. More specifically, the module aims to develop an awareness of the partiality of all social research (focusing in particular on key stratifications such as ‘race’, gender and sexuality, and class).

The module aims to develop an understanding of the role of intelligence agencies in combating insecurity with particular reference to Britain. The module fulfils this through an examination on key aspects in the field of security studies. It aims to provide an understanding of the role of the British Security Service [MI5] since the end of the Second World War. The focus will be on the manner in which the Service has dealt with changing security threats from Soviet spies, through to internal subversives, the Irish Republican Army and the more recent emergence of Islamic Jihadis within a more accountable and democratic political framework.

This module is designed to develop learners’ understanding of the emergence and development of key theories of punishment through an exploration of the history of penal theory and its contemporary challenges and controversies. Furthermore, this module seeks to refine and expand upon traditional theoretical perspectives of punishment and the current reliance upon imprisonment as a dominant form of punishment in England and Wales. In doing so, it requires students to critically engage with some of the limitations of such an approach.

This module will provide you with an in-depth and critical look at a range of issues, theories and major discussions that surround terrorism and will chart their development by engaging with a range of far-reaching discussions and case studies across the concept’s history.

This module is designed to introduce students to some of the contemporary debates surrounding policing and the police in England and Wales. Leaving aside considerations about the origins, development and function of the police, which is covered by Introduction to Policing, this module explores recent events with have challenged popular ideas of the police and policing. By exploring contemporary examples, such as the riots of 2011, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of the social, economic and political issues, which currently surround policing, and the police.

This module considers the different forms of forensic evidence and the variety of methods and practices of forensic science. It explores the theories and academic debates surrounding current practice and examines the value of forensic evidence in criminal investigations.

The Working in Criminal Justice module is intended to provide a structured opportunity for students -who choose to take-up work experience broadly related to the criminal justice system - to gain academic recognition by undertaking a programme of academic activity and assessment that enables them to reflect upon the practice of criminal justice, within the context of theoretical insights gained elsewhere on the course.

The module will encourage personal development and employability through the use of reflection and encouragement of self-awareness within the context of professional practice.

The module examines a range of terrorist threats from some anti-colonial groups the British encountered in the final days of the Empire, through to the conflict in Northern Ireland and finally those driven by Islamic extremism. The module pays particular attention to the different methods employed in the battle against terrorism from negotiation through to overt and covert military operation.

Traditional security theories focuses on the security of states, inter-state conflict, power politics and global alliances. Critical and human security has more recently attempted to shift the security discourse to issues and geographical areas, where the central position of state security and power politics have been contested both theoretically and through the spread of internal resistance from the disempowered or marginalised part of the population. Using case studies from Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America this module will introduce the students to the debates in critical and human security through exploring post-colonial politics and state-building, intrastate conflict, human displacement and development issues.

The aim of the ‘Live project’ module is to provide a framework for you to undertake a substantial piece of disciplinary-relevant project work combined with academic reflexion and knowledge and skills which will give you both experience undertaking project work (working on a specified and approved project rather than undertaking a pure research project) that links your learning with employability skills and a practice context in a socially beneficial manner.

It is founded upon Birmingham City University’s teaching and learning philosophy which integrates theory and practice, and the BCU aims for graduates of building Skills awareness, employability and personal development which is embedded in the curriculum and its strong emphasis on building a professional portfolio of work and experience to ensure easy work transition for students.

This single module provides students with an opportunity to critically engage with some of the key aims of their programme by examining some of the contemporary debates that surround the phenomenon of homicide and multiple homicide- and how various perspectives have generated their own arguments in an attempt to understand this unique form of offending. In doing so, students will be given various case studies of serial murderers, focusing on more historical cases before moving to more contemporary examples, whilst also providing how academic understanding and society has developed during this time.

By presenting both a theoretical discussion and real life cases of serial murder, students will be provided an opportunity to develop knowledge and critical understanding of criminology and related disciplines both in theory and in practice.

This module aims to familiarise students with the process required when applying to join the police. The module will achieve this by providing students with a practical and theoretical understanding of the skills required to successfully pass both the assessment centre exercises and written application all English and Welsh police forces ask applicants to undertake. This optional module is specifically designed to improve the employability of those students who wish to join the police after their degrees and would be advised that this is the case when making their decision about whether to take this module or not.

This is a Level 6 optional module which will introduce students to hate crime and issues related to hate crime and how multi-agencies have to deal with such complex issues. It will examine the issue of vulnerable groups such as children, those with a learning disability and people who have suffered anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia as potential victims of religiously motivated hate crimes.

The module will introduce students to the complex world of cyber-crime and issues related to cyber technology and how the police deal with cyber issues from cyber terrorism, cyber bullying and cyber hate. The module will work well alongside the other modules related to security studies where students will examine the rationale of cyber-crimes.