Criminology - Vocational (equivalent to 1 A-Level)

Assessment

Unit one: Changing Awareness of Crime, examines questions such as: • What different types of crime take place in our society? • What kinds of crime exist about which we know very little, or which are simply not reported to the police and the media? • Who decides what behaviours should be against the law? Unit two: Criminological Theories, examines questions such as: • How do we decide what behaviour is criminal? • How do we explain why people commit a crime? External assessment – 90 min. exam Unit three: Crime Scene to Courtroom, examines questions such as: • What are the roles of personnel involved when a crime is detected? • What safeguards are in place to ensure a suspect has a fair trial? Unit four: Crime and Punishment, examines questions such as: • Why do we punish people? • We spend a great deal of taxpayers’ money on social control, so how effective are these organisations in dealing with criminality? The focus of learning is on building informed, balanced and clear arguments through academic research and investigation of contemporary issues in crime and criminal justice. The course covers areas of sociology, psychology and law and therefore requires some extended writing in both coursework and exams.