Master's level
A bachelor’s degree with a major in social- or behaviour sciences or medicine and English 6.
HSKRL Criminology
A1N / Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
The course is given in the second term of the Master’s Program in Criminology and is a course within the main field of study that may be counted toward the Master’s Degree in Criminology. The course is also offered as an independent course.
The aim of the course is for the student to acquire deeper understanding on how and in what way individual and environmental facts interact in an individual´s decision to commit crime. An additional aim is for the students to acquire knowledge of criminological theory and to develop their understanding of these theories by applying this knowledge to research areas central to criminology.
The student chooses an in-depth subject to study with focus on theory construction, empirical support and practical applicability. In the course theoretical perspectives of criminological relevance will be analyzed and contrasted regarding definitions and operationalization, causality and interaction, and level of explanation. Additionally, associations between theory and empirical use of the theories will be addressed.
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to
- analyze and compare at least two theoretical perspectives based on the concepts structure, causal order, interaction and level of explanation,
- describe the empirical support for the theoretical perspectives that you chose to compare,
- analyze the scientific material for the empirical support, and
- explain how the theoretical perspectives can be empirically applied
The teaching takes the form of lectures, seminars, log book, and tutoring in groups (addressing learning outcomes 1-4). Participation in seminars is compulsory.
Learning outcomes 1-4 are assessed by
- literature seminar assignments (learning outcomes 1-4),
- a group assignment (learning outcomes 1-4)
- an individually written paper (learning outcomes 1-4)
Focus of assessment of the different examination tasks is the student’s ability to describe, compare, analyze and present knowledge about criminological theory and its empirical applicability. Individual performance in the group assignment is assessed by students completing a log book that describes each students individual contributions. Absence from obligatory seminars can be made up by attending an additional seminar following a decision by the examiner.
To receive a Passing Grade (C, D or E) it is required that the student have passed on all the obligatory assignments. Achievement of the Grade of Distinction (A or B) requires that originality and meta-theoretical understanding characterize the compulsory assignments.
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.
Bosworth M, Hoyle C, (2011) What is Criminology? Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 551.
Brisman A, Carrabine E, South N, (2018) The Routledge Companion to Criminological Theory and Concepts. London: Routledge. p. 574.
Cullen FT, Wright JP, Blevins KR, (2017) Taking stock: The status of criminological theory, Advances in Criminological Theory, vol. 15. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers. p. 477.
Downes D, Rock P, (2016) Understanding deviance: a guide to the sociology of crime and rule-breaking, Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 424.
Liebling A, Maruna S, McAra L, (2017) The Oxford Handbook of Criminology, Sixth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 1030.
McAra L, McVie S, (2012) 'Negotiated Order: The Groundwork for a Theory of Offending Pathways'. Criminology and Criminal Justice 12: 347-75. p. 28.
Additional articles from scientific journals will also be included, approx. 200 pages.
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).
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.
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.