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CRIM1001 – Introduction to Criminology

2025 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Alex Simpson
alex.simpson@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

When we think of crime, we often have a tacit, common sense understanding of what it is, who it targets and the practices it seeks to prevent. However, when we look at crime more closely it often eludes us. Crime is flexible and fluid, it changes upon variations of time and space as well as social context of power. As a discipline, criminology continually questions how and why societies define and respond to crime and approaches to punishment, examining in the process the ongoing legacy of colonisation and other forms of exclusion and marginalisation throughout society. This unit introduces the study of criminology, including a broad overview of key developments, theories and practical implications. The intention is to situate criminology, and its various strands, within its particular social, political and intellectual contexts and to outline some of the key approaches associated with the field. The unit does not arrive at a simple understanding of crime. Rather it seeks to locate and understand the reasons for crime within wider power relationships. This is to recognise that the study of crime is the study of power, injustice as well as social, cultural and economic marginalisation.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Evaluate how societies come to define crime and the critical implications of such understandings on institutions of criminal justice.
  • ULO2: Identify and distinguish between key criminological theories and their practical implications.
  • ULO3: Analyse and demonstrate critical understanding of how social categories of gender, race and class impact experiences of crime and its responses.
  • ULO4: Locate and research different academic sources and express articulate judgement about their validity.
  • ULO5: Engage in informed criminological discussion with practitioners, academics and peers.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Vlog task 25% No Week 5
Poster design 35% No Week 7
Major essay 40% No Week 11

Vlog task

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 25%

 

Students will, in groups of three to five, create a 5-10 minute vlog on a given criminological concern.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate how societies come to define crime and the critical implications of such understandings on institutions of criminal justice.
  • Analyse and demonstrate critical understanding of how social categories of gender, race and class impact experiences of crime and its responses.
  • Engage in informed criminological discussion with practitioners, academics and peers.

Poster design

Assessment Type 1: Poster
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 35%

 

Students will create one poster and a 500 word description that responds to their essay topic.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate how societies come to define crime and the critical implications of such understandings on institutions of criminal justice.
  • Locate and research different academic sources and express articulate judgement about their validity.

Major essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 40%

 

Students build on their poster to complete a 2,000 word essay.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate how societies come to define crime and the critical implications of such understandings on institutions of criminal justice.
  • Identify and distinguish between key criminological theories and their practical implications.
  • Analyse and demonstrate critical understanding of how social categories of gender, race and class impact experiences of crime and its responses.
  • Locate and research different academic sources and express articulate judgement about their validity.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS 

  • You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in Ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments. 
  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities. 
  • In most cases students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit. 

 

REQUIRED READINGS 

  • The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site.  Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means. 

 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED 

  • Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement. 
  • This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
  • Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient. 
  • Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at  http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/

 

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS 

  • All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site.  
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS word document by the due date. 
  • Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process. 
  • The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

 

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. 

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS 

  • Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page. 
  • Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure. 
  • If the number of words deviates from the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words deviation from the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%). 
  • The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener. 

 

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER 

  • Macquarie University operates a Final Grade Appeal procedure as part of the Assessment policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=277
  • In accordance with the Grade Appeal procedure, individual works are not subject to regrading. 

 

STAFF AVAILABILITY 

  • Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually be answered over the weekend or public holiday period. 
  • Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
14/02/2025 The assessment week for the essay was changed from Week 10 to 11.

Unit information based on version 2025.02 of the Handbook