Social Science

Course summary

This course is an investigation into crime, criminality, and the criminal justice system. The course assumes no prior knowledge of the subject and will appeal to anyone interested in understanding and explaining criminal behavior. Students who have a keen interest in the psychology and sociology of crime will be well suited to this course, which has strong practical and theoretical elements. The first mandatory unit will enable the learner to demonstrate an understanding of different types of crime, influences on perceptions of crime, and why some crimes are unreported. The second mandatory unit will allow learners to gain an understanding of why people commit crimes, drawing on what they have learned in Unit 1. The third mandatory unit will provide an understanding of the criminal justice system from the moment a crime has been identified to the verdict. Learners will develop the understanding and skills needed to examine information to review the justice of verdicts in criminal cases. In the final mandatory unit, learners will apply their understanding of the awareness of criminality, criminological theories, and the process of bringing an accused to court to evaluate the effectiveness of social control in delivering criminal justice policy. Each unit within the qualification has an applied purpose which acts as a focus for the learning in the unit. The applied purpose demands learning related to authentic case studies. It also requires learners to consider how the use and application of their learning impacts themselves, other individuals, employers, society, and the environment.