Crime and Deviance unit (HGA259)

Introduction

The unit offers a broad overview of the major theories and approaches to the study of crime and deviance. It provides a survey of diverse and competing interpretations of criminal and deviant acts, the situations and contexts within which crime and deviance is defined and takes place, and the explanations put forward for the causes and consequences of deviance in society. The unit encourages students to think critically and practically engage with the key questions and colourful issues that criminologists face, including why and how some behaviours and subcultures are regarded as deviant or criminal and others are not. Each theoretical perspective is vividly illustrated throughout the unit with contemporary applications in topical lectures and tutorials. For example, the unit may cover topics like youth crime and youth gangs, sex work and sexuality, crimes of the marginalised and the powerful, terrorism and counter-terrorism, as well as analysing the dynamic impact of stigma, moral panics and social control on individuals and society.

Summary

Unit name	Crime and Deviance
Unit code	HGA259
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Arts and Society Humanities and Social Sciences
Discipline	Sociology and Criminology
Coordinator	Doctor Loene Howes
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Intermediate

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the main concepts and debates within a range of criminological perspectives and theories.
• Apply criminological perspectives and theories to particular examples of deviance, crime, and social control.
• Evaluate the contribution of different criminological perspectives and theories to the study of deviance, crime, and social control.
• Communicate your ideas clearly, incorporating key elements of academic writing in criminology.

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

25 credit points at Introductory level or higher

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

LAW638 AND LAW615 AND HGA359

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	On Campus: Weekly (online) lectures or equivalent (1.5 hours) and weekly face-to-face tutorial (1.5 hours). Online: Weekly (online) lectures or equivalent (1.5 hours) and weekly online tutorials or participation in online discussion boards (1.5 hours).
Assessment	Tutorial Participation (10%)|Case Study (20%)|Take -home Exam (30%)|Essay (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

The unit textbook is: White, R., Haines, F., & Asquith, N. L. (2023). Crime and criminology (7th ed.). Docklands: Oxford University Press. It is available for purchase at Oxford University Press. It is also available as an ebook at the UTAS Library. Additional required readings are available via the unit's Reading List at the UTAS Library.

Recommended

The following recommended books are available via the Reading List at the UTAS Library: Bryant, C.D. (2011) The Routledge handbook of deviant behavior. Oxon, UK: Routledge. Carrington, K., Hogg, R., Scott, J., & Sozzo, M. (2018) The Palgrave handbook of criminology and the global south. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. Moreton-Robinson, A. (2020) Talkin’ up to the white woman: Indigenous women and feminism (20th Anniversary Ed.). Brisbane: University of Queensland Press.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.