Entry requirements

A bachelor’s degree with a major in social- or behaviour sciences or medicine and English 6.

Main field

HSKRL Criminology

Progression level in relation to degree requirements

The course is given in the third term of the Master’s Program in Criminology and is a course within the main field of study and can be included in the degree requirements for a Master’s Degree in Criminology. The course is also offered as an independent course.

Course contents

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the discipline of victimology (the study of crime victims), an growing area of specialisation in the field of criminology. Furthermore, the course aims to develop the student’s knowledge of theories and methods applied within the field of victimology.

The course addresses victimology as a research area both internationally and in Sweden. Topics such as the history of victimology, theories of victimisation, consequences of victimization, trauma and fear of crime will be included in the course content. Central concepts and definitions are discussed as well as explanatory models and methods to study victimisation and treatment and care of trauma with a special focus on particularly vulnerable groups. Characterisation of different victim groups is discussed as well as ethical considerations when studying victimisation.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to

1. critically apply concepts and explanatory models to victimisation,
2. account for methodological challenges related to the study of victimisation, and
3. analyse consequences caused by victimisation for individuals, groups and communities

Learning activities

The teaching takes the form of lectures and student active learning activities based on the themes covered by the course. Lectures and student active learning activities may be organised in a variety of formats depending on variations in the course content and pedagogical considerations. The student is expected to be acquainted with the course literature before each lecture.

Teaching activities are designed to support students in achieving learning outcomes 1-3 through critical engagement with concepts, explanatory models, empirical research, and methodological issues related to victimisation. Through lectures and discussions, students will develop their ability to critically apply theoretical perspectives, analyse the consequences of victimisation, and account for methodological challenges in victimisation research.

Assessment

Learning outcomes 1-3 are assessed by an individual in-person written exam. Focus for the assessment is the students’ ability to critically apply concepts and explanatory models to victimisation, account for methodological challenges related to the study of victimisation, and analyse consequences caused by victimisation for individuals, groups and communities. To receive a passing grade for the course (C-E), students must obtain a passing grade on the individual sit-in examination. To receive a pass with distinction grade (A-B) for the course, students must obtain a pass with distinction grade on the individual in-person written exam. Assessment criteria for the examination task will be provided upon the course introduction.

Right to re-take
Students who fail the exam are given the opportunity to do two re-takes with the same course content and with the same requirements. The student also has the right to take the examination in the same course in the subsequent course according to the same rule. Examination and re-takes are carried out at the times specified in the course schedule.

Course literature and other study materials

Anderson E, (2008) Code of the street. In: Frampton M L, Lopez I H, Simon J, (2008) After the war on crime: Race, democracy, and a new reconstruction. New York University Press. 15 p.

Britt C L, (2001) Health Consequences of Criminal Victimization. International Review of Victimology, 8(1), 63-73. 10 p.

Christie N, (2018) The ideal victim. In: Duggan M, (Ed.) Revisiting the 'Ideal Victim'. Policy Press. 14 p.

Clark, J J, Walker R, (2011) Research ethics in victimization studies: widening the lens. Violence against women, 17(12), 1489–1508.19 p.

European Institute for Gender Equality, (2014) Estimating the costs of gender-based violence in the European Union. 123 p.

Garofalo J, (1986) Lifestyles and Victimization: an Update. In: Fattah E A, (Eds) From Crime Policy to Victim Policy. Palgrave Macmillan. 20 p.

Groenhuijsen M, (2014) The development of international policy in relation to victims of crime. International Review of Victimology, 20, 31-48. 17 p.

Herman J L, (1994) Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence – from domestic abuse to political terror. Pandora. 292 p.

Liamputtong P, (2007) Researching the vulnerable. A guide to sensitive research methods. Sage Publications Ltd. 256 p.

Potter H, (2013) Intersectional Criminology: Interrogating Identity and Power in Criminological Research and Theory. Critical Criminology, 21(3), 305-318. 13 p.

Shapland J, Hall M, (2007) What do we know about the effects of crime on victims? International Review of Victimology,14, 175-217. 42 p.

Walklate S, (2017) Handbook of victims and victimology (2nd edition). Routledge. 394 p.

Van Wijk J, (2013) Who is the ‘little old lady’ of international crimes? Nils Christie’s concept of the ideal victim reinterpreted. International Review of Victimology, 19(2), 159–179. 20 p.

Additional articles from scientific journals and/or book chapters will also be included, approx. 500 pages.

Course evaluation

Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

Interim rules

If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that ap-plied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.

Additional information

If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format.

The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.