SCHOOL OF SOCIOLOGY AND CRIMINOLOGY PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

Transcription

1 SCHOOL OF SOCIOLOGY AND CRIMINOLOGY PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION PRINCIPAL PROGRAMME IN CRIMINOLOGY BA (HONS) Criminology Dual, Major and Minor Routes. Introduction This document provides a summary of the main features of undergraduate programmes in Criminology taken as part of a Dual Honours degree. It explains what a student can expect from studying Criminology at Keele University and includes information about what a student will be able to do if s/he takes full advantage of the opportunities provided during the course of this Programme. Names of programmes Mode of study Single or Dual Honours Duration BA (Hons) Criminology Full time Dual Honours Principal Programme (including Major and Minor routes) Three years (BA (Hons)) What is a Dual Honours Principal Programme? Keele University is committed to offering a broad undergraduate curriculum based on a Dual Honours system which allows students to study two subjects to Honours level. Each of these subjects is known as a Principal subject. Each Principal subject is studied throughout the student s three years at Keele. However, we also recognise that some students may want to specialise in one or other of their Dual Honours subjects. To enable students to do this, we also offer Major and Minor awards in Criminology in addition to the standard Principal Programme. This document describes all three ways in which Criminology can be studied in combination with another subject under Keele s Dual Honours system. It should be noted that the aims of the Programme may not fully be met in the case of students who choose to take Criminology as their Minor subject. Nor will these students necessarily be able to demonstrate that they have achieved all of the Programme s learning outcomes. What is the philosophy of the Programme? Criminology is a rapidly developing discipline which draws on theories and research methods from across the social and human sciences. It is both a theoretical and an empirical discipline. Criminology attempts to develop a systematic understanding of crime and official and unofficial ways of responding to it. It also seeks to establish a firm evidence base for that understanding using a range of research methods. Criminology at Keele Keele University pioneered the teaching of criminology at undergraduate level in the United Kingdom and students will be taught by one of the largest groups of active criminological researchers in any British university. The size of this group means that a wide range of core and elective modules in criminology is available in all three years of the Programme. Criminology at Keele draws on the intellectual traditions and 1

2 perspectives of other disciplines across the social sciences, but the focus of the Programme is always explicitly criminological. Aims of the Programme The aim of the Programme is to enable students to: Think, talk, and write about crime, crime control and the ways in which they are represented in a systematic way drawing on the intellectual traditions and scholarly methods of the social sciences. Understand, evaluate and apply a range of theories about the nature, measurement and causes of crime. Acquire a critical understanding of the nature and development of a variety of formal and informal responses to crime, including policing and the operation of the criminal justice and penal systems. Appreciate the theory and empirical reality of crime and crime control in their historical, social, political, and economic contexts. Become familiar with the main quantitative and qualitative methods of social scientific research used in the collection and analysis of criminological data. Develop the ability to conduct and report on their own research using relevant criminological concepts, suitable methods of investigation and appropriate techniques of scholarship in the social sciences. Obtain the knowledge, skills and personal qualities necessary for them to find a fulfilling and rewarding career and become informed and active citizens with a lifelong interest in studying crime and ways of controlling it. What students will learn What students on the Programme will know, understand and be able to do can be described under three main headings: Subject knowledge and understanding Subject specific skills Key or transferable skills (including employability skills). Students who complete all three years of the Programme and graduate with a BA (Hons) in Criminology as a Principal or Major subject will able to: Describe and evaluate the application of key concepts and theoretical approaches within criminology and criminal justice to a range of contemporary problems. 2

3 Explain and analyse the impact of social inequality and diversity and the significance of historical, social, political and economic context on crime, victimisation and responses to them. Formulate criminological research questions and identify the most appropriate research strategies for answering them taking into account relevant ethical considerations. Comment on and present the conclusions of theoretical and empirical criminological work on crime and ways of responding to it to a range of audiences and in a variety of appropriate formats. Use the knowledge and skills they have acquired in a socially responsible way, in complex and unpredictable contexts and as the basis for more advanced learning or professional training. How is the Programme taught? Learning and teaching methods used on the Programme vary according to the subject matter and level of the module. They include the following: Traditional lectures where the lecturer provides students with a framework for reading and independent study. Some lecture classes may feature guest speakers working in the criminal justice system; others involve video and audio presentations. Interactive learning in large classes where students have the opportunity to work together in smaller groups, interact with the lecturer and reflect on their own learning. Interactive lectures may involve the use of voting systems or involve students in writing instant two minute papers on particular topics. Tutorials and seminars in groups of up to 15 students where key issues can be discussed in more depth. Students are expected to play a full part, and occasionally to lead, these discussions. Some tutorials and seminars consist largely of student presentations and many are based on the application of criminological ideas to case studies drawn from the media and the findings of criminological research. Independent study based on directed reading from text books, research monographs, academic journals, official government publications and the media. Web-based learning using the Keele Learning Environment (KLE). The KLE is an online learning environment used to give students easy access to a wide range of resources and research tools, and as a platform for online discussions, quizzes, announcements and blogs. For those who choose to take the dissertation double module in Criminology in their final year, the opportunity to undertake a piece of independent research supervised and supported by a member of staff. 3

4 Apart from these formal activities, students are also provided with regular opportunities to talk through particular areas of difficulty, and any individual learning needs they may have, with their module, seminar and tutorial group leaders on a one-to-one basis. These learning and teaching methods enable students to achieve the learning outcomes of the programme in a variety of ways. For example: Lectures and independent study allow students to gain a systematic understanding of criminological ideas and how they may be used in the course of seminars and tutorials to analyse a variety of contemporary social problems. Seminars, tutorials and online discussions provide opportunities for students to ask questions about, and suggest answers to, criminological problems in a responsible way, and to present their own ideas to members of staff and other students using an appropriate medium of communication. Interactive lectures, seminars, tutorials and web-based activities encourage students to reflect on their own learning and take responsibility for its development by addressing areas of difficulty, perhaps by discussing them with their fellow students or by getting additional help from a member of staff. Undertaking a research dissertation with the support of an experienced and active researcher allows students to formulate relevant research questions and devise a feasible and ethically sound strategy for answering them. Graduate attributes Keele University is committed to giving students the opportunity to develop a wide range of capabilities both within and beyond their programme of study. A detailed account of how this Programme enables students to become a distinctive Keele Criminology graduate by developing a set of key graduate attributes is available in a separate document, Criminology at Keele: Developing the Distinctive Graduate. Teaching Staff The permanent teaching staff on the Criminology Principal Programme consists of two full professors, three senior lecturers, six lecturers, one teaching fellow and two graduate teaching assistants. All members of staff other than teaching fellows/gtas have doctorates (PhDs or the equivalent) in criminology, criminal justice or a closely related subject in law or the social sciences. As members of the Centre for Social Policy in the Research Institute for Social Sciences, they are all active researchers whose work across many different aspects of criminology has been widely published in books, research monographs and leading international journals. The staff group has extensive experience of teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level at universities in the UK and abroad. Most members of staff hold accredited or recognised teaching qualifications and several are 4

5 fellows or associates of the Higher Education Academy. Over half of Criminology staff were nominated for Keele Excellence in Teaching & learning Awards in 2011/12 and members of staff have won the awards in 2010/11 and 2011/12. What is the structure of the Programme? An outline of the structure of the Programme is provided in the table below. Compulsory core modules are shown in bold; modules that can be taken either as optional core or elective modules are in regular font; elective modules are shown in italics. All standard taught modules are worth 15 credits. The double dissertation module in Year 3 is worth 30 credits. Students must accumulate at least 120 credits in Criminology to graduate with a named Principal Honours Degree in Criminology and the other subject they have chosen to study. Students who choose to take Criminology as a Major subject must accumulate at least 225 credits in Criminology. Students who choose to take Criminology as a Minor subject must accumulate at least 90 credits in Criminology. All students must take one compulsory core module in each semester in Year 1. Year 1: all students taking Criminology as their Principal, Major or Minor subject must take one compulsory core module in each semester. Year 2: students taking Criminology as their Principal, Major or Minor subject must take the compulsory core module in each semester. Due to significant similarities in substantive content between Year 2 research methods modules in Sociology and Criminology, students studying Criminology in combination with Sociology may replace the core research methods module in Criminology with another Criminology module offered in the same semester. Students taking Criminology as their Minor subject must take at least three modules in Criminology (including the compulsory core modules). Please note that from the 2014/15 academic year and thereafter, Principal students entering (or repeating year 2) in 2014/15 must take at least 45 credits in each principal subject in Year 2 and Year 3. Year 3: students taking Criminology as their Principal or Major subject must take at least one Criminology module in each semester. Please note that Principal students entering (or repeating) Year 3 in 2015/16 and thereafter, must take at least 45 credits in each principal subject in Year 3. Students taking Criminology as their Principal subject may also choose from a range of taught modules and the dissertation module. The dissertation module is a double module studied in both semesters and is worth a total of 30 credits. Students taking Criminology as their Major subject must take the dissertation module and may also choose from a range of taught modules. Students taking Criminology as their Minor subject may 5

6 take one or two modules in Criminology in Year 3 but will not normally be allowed to take the dissertation module. An outline of the structure of the Programme is provided in the table below. Compulsory core modules are shown in bold; modules that can be taken either as optional core or elective modules are in regular font; elective modules are shown in italics. All standard taught modules are worth 15 credits. The double dissertation module in Year 3 is worth 30 credits. The elective modules listed for Years 1 and 2 and all the modules listed for Year 3 are subject to change depending on staff availability and may not be offered every year. MODULES IN CRIMINOLOGY YEAR SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 1 Electives: Psychology and Murder Process, Policy and Investigating : Criminological Perspectives Punishment: Beyond the Popular Imagination Intercultural Communications* (compulsory for Study Abroad applicants) 2 and Justice in a Global Context Electives:, Culture and Conflict Building Safer Communities Study Abroad 3 Criminology Dissertation Research Methods in Criminology Electives: Working for Justice Policing and the Police Study Abroad Criminology Dissertation Gender, History and Punishment Prisons and Imprisonment Popular Culture and Drugs: High s or Misdemeanours? State crimes and crimes against humanity The Politics and Cultures of the Death Penalty in the 21 st Century Power, Process and Victimisation 6

7 Living with Aliens : Immigration, and Social Control Forensic Mental Health and Offending In addition to the elective modules listed in this table, students may choose to study modules which are offered as part of other programmes in the School of Sociology and Criminology, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and across the University. These include: Modules in other subjects closely related to Criminology such as Sociology, Psychology, and Law. Modules in other subjects in which they may have a particular interest such as English, History, Politics or International Relations. Modules designed to help students for whom it is not their first language to improve their use of English for academic purposes. Modern foreign languages modules at different levels in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Japanese. Freestanding modules in subjects of general interest including ethics, contemporary religions and the politics, society and culture of some of Britain s European neighbours. Freestanding modules related to student volunteering, studying abroad as part of the University s exchange programme employability skills and personal development. The table below sets out what students learn in each year of the Programme, the modules in which that learning takes place, and the main ways in which students are assessed on their learning. In Years 1 and 2 these learning outcomes are achieved in the two compulsory core modules which all students taking Criminology as a Principal or Major subject are required to take. Some of these outcomes may also be achieved in elective modules together with other outcomes not stated here. In Year 3 the stated outcomes are achieved by taking any of the modules offered in each semester. Students taking Criminology as a Minor subject who choose not to take any modules in Criminology in Year 3 may not be able to achieve the outcomes stated in the relevant sections of the table overleaf. 7

8 YEAR 1 First year modules provide students with a thorough grounding in the study skills needed for criminology and an introduction to the nature and scope of criminology as a discipline and the scope of criminological research. They present a comprehensive overview of the ways in which criminologists have set about understanding crime and the criminal justice process. Subject knowledge and understanding Outcome Students will be able to Explain the distinctive characteristics of Module Assessment Class tests; essay; unseen multiple choice 8

9 criminology as a discipline Recognise the relationship between crime and other social problems Distinguish between and evaluate the principal ways of measuring crime and victimisation Recognise the main theoretical traditions in criminology and illustrate their application in understanding different forms of crime and criminal justice processes, policies and practices Recognise and describe the relationships between crime, responses to it and social divisions and diversity Recognise and illustrate the impact of social change on crime and ways of responding to it Describe the development and current organisation and operation of official and unofficial responses to crime Recognise different approaches to social scientific research and their use in investigating crime and responses to it Identify some of the main ways in which crime and ways of responding to it are represented in the media and by agents of crime control Essay; unseen multiple choice Essay; unseen multiple choice Unseen multiple choice Poster & report; class test; essay Essay; unseen multiple choice Poster & report; class test; essay Unseen multiple choice Class test; essay Poster & report; class test; essay Essay; unseen multiple choice Poster & report; class test; essay Unseen multiple choice Poster & report; class test; essay 9

10 Subject specific skills Outcome Students will be able to Use appropriate bibliographic search tools to find relevant criminological materials in hard copy and electronic formats Identify the main points of key texts and use them in developing arguments and making judgements about criminological issues Present written work in criminology in an appropriate scholarly style using the Harvard system of citation and referencing Module Assessment Class tests; essay Poster & report; review Class tests; essay Poster & report; review Class tests; essay; unseen multiple choice Essay Key or transferable skills (including employability skills) Outcome Students will be able to Find and make use of information from closed and open sources using online search tools Module Assessment Essay; unseen multiple choice Poster & report; class test; Essay Manipulate and present figures including ratios and percentages Essay Communicate ideas and arguments orally and in writing to an audience of their peers using appropriate visual presentation aids Work effectively as a Class tests; essay Poster & report; class test; Essay Poster & report 10

11 member of a team Reflect on and plan their own learning by acting appropriately on feedback Essay (submitted for formative and summative assessment) Poster & report YEAR 2 In the second year students build on the foundations laid in the first year. Modules provide a comprehensive introduction to the quantitative and qualitative research methods used by criminologists and look in detail at how criminology has tried to understand the effects on crime and criminal justice of globalisation and other processes of social change associated with the coming of late modernity. Subject knowledge and understanding Outcome Students will be able to Explain the impact of globalisation and other processes of social change on crime and criminal justice Evaluate the capacity of criminological theory and research, including comparative analysis, to explain contemporary developments in crime and social control Recognise the relevance and limits of criminological knowledge in explaining the consequences of rapid social change Explain the relationship between theory, methodology and methods in criminological research Analyse the history, logics and processes of quantitative and qualitative social science research in Module and Justice in a Global Context and Justice in a Global Context and Justice in a Global Context Research Methods in Criminology Research Methods in Criminology Assessment Group presentation; case study; unseen Case study; unseen Case study; unseen Quantitative research design exercise Methodological critique of qualitative research Quantitative research design exercise Methodological critique of qualitative research 11

12 criminology Subject specific skills Outcome Students will be able to Evaluate criminological theories and apply them to the analysis of contemporary social problems and institutions Undertake further study at the forefront of criminology Formulate research questions and identify appropriate research strategies to address them Assess the usefulness of computer software in collating, retrieving and analysing research data Identify and assess the ethical issues that may arise in relation to criminological research Undertake a research project in criminology with suitable support and supervision Module and Justice in a Global Context and Justice in a Global Context Research Methods in Criminology Research Methods in Criminology Research Methods in Criminology Research Methods in Criminology Assessment Group presentation; case study; unseen Group presentation; case study; unseen Quantitative research design exercise Methodological critique of qualitative research Quantitative research design exercise Quantitative research design exercise Methodological critique of qualitative research Quantitative research design exercise Methodological critique of qualitative research Key or transferable skills (including employability skills) Outcome Students will be able to Evaluate and make use of abstract theories in analysing and resolving problems working alone Module and Justice in a Global Context Assessment Group presentation; case study; unseen 12

13 and as a member of a team Communicate complex arguments supported by appropriate evidence both orally and in writing Design a research project and undertake a range of basic research tasks making appropriate use of information technology and Justice in a Global Context Research Methods in Criminology Group presentation; case study; unseen Quantitative research design exercise Methodological critique of qualitative research YEAR 3 In the third year students deepen their knowledge of selected criminological topics by choosing to study two or more modules in a range of subjects which vary from year to year but reflect the specialist expertise and active research interests of members of staff. Students may also choose to write a research dissertation in criminology. This may be library-based or involve hands-on empirical research. In either case students work under the guidance of a member of a staff group with a wealth of experience in theoretical and empirical criminological research. Subject knowledge and understanding Outcome Students will be able to Recognise, interpret and evaluate theories, concepts and research in defined areas at the forefront of criminology Apply established criminological theories and methods of inquiry to understanding and resolving new and unfamiliar criminological problems in areas of current research activity Module All modules approved as part of the Criminology Principal Programme All modules approved as part of the Criminology Principal Programme Assessment Modules are assessed in a variety of ways including: essays; short research papers; closed and open book unseen exams; case studies and presentations Modules are assessed in a variety of ways including: essays; short research papers; closed and open book unseen exams; case studies and presentations Subject specific skills Outcome Students will be able to Module Assessment 13

14 Describe and make critical judgements about developments in current areas of research in criminology Identify possible directions in which further empirical research and theoretical development might take place in areas of criminology at the forefront of the discipline Communicate ideas informed by contemporary research and new developments in criminological theory both orally and in writing Manage their own learning making use of appropriate criminological materials in a current area of research activity All modules approved as part of the Criminology Principal Programme All modules approved as part of the Criminology Principal Programme All modules approved as part of the Criminology Principal Programme All modules approved as part of the Criminology Principal Programme Modules are assessed in a variety of ways including: essays; short research papers; closed and open book unseen exams; short research papers; case studies and presentations Modules are assessed in a variety of ways including: essays; short research papers; closed and open book unseen exams; portfolios and presentations Modules are assessed in a variety of ways including: essays; short research papers; closed and open book unseen exams; portfolios and presentations Modules are assessed in a variety of ways including: essays; short research papers; closed and open book unseen exams; case studies and presentations Key or transferable skills (including employability skills) Outcome Students will be able to Work productively in a largely unstructured context exercising initiative and personal responsibility Module All modules approved as part of the Criminology Principal Programme Assessment Modules are assessed in a variety of ways including: essays; closed and open book unseen exams; short research papers; case studies and presentations 14

15 Make decisions and plan activity in uncertain and unpredictable contexts Undertake appropriate further training of an academic, professional or practical nature All modules approved as part of the Criminology Principal Programme All modules approved as part of the Criminology Principal Programme Modules are assessed in a variety of ways including: essays; short research papers; closed and open book unseen exams; portfolios and presentations Modules are assessed in a variety of ways including: essays; short research papers; closed and open book unseen exams; portfolios and presentations Students may leave the Criminology Principal Programme with one of three final awards: 1. Honours Degree (360 credits). To be awarded an Honours Degree a student normally requires a total of at least 360 credits. Students must normally obtain a total of 120 credits at each level of study (i.e. in each of the three years of their degree). The number of credits a student requires in Criminology depends on whether Criminology is taken as a Principal, Major or Minor subject. a. Where Criminology is taken as a Principal subject a student must obtain at least 120 credits in Criminology and 120 in their other Principal subject over the course of their three years of study. Students who entered (or are repeating Year 3) in 2014/15 or before must obtain at least 30 credits in Criminology and 30 in their other Principal subject at each level of study. Students commencing a Principal Honours degree, (or repeating Year 1) in the 2014/15 academic year, or entering (or repeating Year 2) in 2014/15 and thereafter, must obtain at least 45 credits in each principal subject in each of Years 2 & 3. b. Where Criminology is taken as a Major subject a student must obtain at least 225 credits in Criminology and 90 in their other, Minor, subject over the course of their three years of study. Students taking Criminology as a Major subject must obtain at least 30 credits in Criminology at each level of study. c. Where Criminology is taken as a Minor subject a student must obtain at least 90 credits in Criminology and 225 in their other, Major, subject over the course of their three years of study. Students taking Criminology as a Minor subject must obtain at least 30 credits in Criminology in Year 1 and 45 credits in Year 2 2. Diploma in Higher Education (240 credits). To be awarded 15

16 a Diploma in Higher Education a student requires a total of at least 240 credits. Of these 240 credits at least 120 must be obtained at Level 5 (Year 2) or higher. 16

17 3. Certificate in Higher Education (120 credits). To be awarded a Certificate in Higher Education a student requires a total of at least 120 credits at Level 4 (Year 1) or higher. How is the Programme assessed? The function of the assessments listed in the table above is to test students achievement of the learning outcomes of the Criminology Principal Programme. For example: Unseen closed and open book s in different formats test students knowledge of criminological theories and the findings of criminological research and their ability to apply that knowledge responsibly in understanding social problems. Examinations may consist of essay, short answer and/or multiple choice questions. Essays, including those based on case study material, also test the quality and application of subject knowledge. In addition they allow students to demonstrate their ability to carry out basic bibliographic research and to communicate their ideas effectively in writing in an appropriate scholarly style using the Harvard system of referencing. Class tests taken either conventionally or online via the Keele Learning Environment (KLE) assess students subject knowledge and their ability to apply it in a more structured and focused way. Reviews of other scholars work test students ability to identify and summarise the key points of a text and to evaluate the quality of arguments and the evidence used to support them. In the case of work based on empirical research, reviews also assess students knowledge of research methodologies and their ability to make critical judgements about the appropriateness of different strategies for collecting and analysing data. Research design projects and short research papers test student s knowledge of different research methodologies and the limits and provisional nature of criminological knowledge. They also enable students to demonstrate their ability to formulate research questions and to answer them using an appropriate strategy. Oral and poster presentations and reports assess students subject knowledge and understanding. They also test their ability to work effectively as members of a team, to communicate what they know orally and visually, and to reflect on these processes as part of their own personal development. Portfolios may consist of a range of different pieces of work but routinely include a requirement that students provide some evidence of critical reflection on the development of their own learning. Marks are awarded for summative assessments designed to assess students achievement of learning outcomes. Students are also assessed 17

18 formatively to enable them to monitor their own progress and to assist staff in identifying and addressing any specific learning needs. Formative assessment is not formally marked. Purely formative assessment is concentrated in Year 1 of the programme when students are tested and provided with extensive feedback - on both the quality of their academic writing and the development of their subject knowledge and understanding. Feedback, including guidance on how students can improve the quality of their work, is also provided on all summative assessments and more informally in the course of tutorial and seminar discussions. What are the typical admission requirements for the Programme? The University s general entry requirements are a minimum of two A-level passes or the equivalent in other qualifications, plus GCSE grade C or above in English Language and either mathematics or a science subject. In addition to the University s general entry requirements, the tariff points needed to study Criminology depend on the other Principal Programme subject chosen. As a general rule, offers are made on the following basis Single Honours BBB (at A level) or DDM (B Tech) Criminology Major BBC (or DMM): Criminology as Dual Honours BBC or DMM; Criminology as Dual Honours with Psychology BBB (or DMM) Keele welcomes applications from students with qualifications other than A-levels including Diplomas, the BTEC National Certificate and Diploma, the Scottish Certificate of Education (Advanced Higher Level) and the International Baccalaureate. Students with these qualifications are advised to contact the University s Admissions Office before applying through UCAS. The University also accepts Access to Higher Education Diplomas and normally requires 60 credits of which 45 have been passed at Level 3. Applicants who are not currently undertaking any formal study or who have been out of formal education for more than 3 years and are not qualified to A-level or BTEC standard may be offered entry to the University s Foundation Year Programme. The Foundation Year includes a module specifically aimed at students intending to go on to study criminology. How are students supported on the Programme? Support for student learning on the Programme is provided in the following ways: Module and tutorial group leaders are responsible for providing support for learning on the modules and in the tutorial groups for which they are responsible. They also give individual feedback on in-course assessments and more general feedback on s. Every student is allocated to a personal tutor who is responsible for reviewing and advising on students academic progress in Criminology and on their other Principal Programme. Personal tutors also act as a first point of contact for students on 18

19 non-academic issues which may affect their learning and can refer students on to a range of specialist health, welfare and financial services co-ordinated by the University s Sutdent Support and Development Services. Additional help with University level study skills is available from the Learning Support Officer in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. All members of teaching staff on the Criminology Principal Programme are available to see students during advertised weekly office hours and at other times by appointment. Learning resources Criminology is taught in teaching rooms across the University, almost all of which are equipped with computers, internet access and electronic whiteboards or projection equipment. Rooms may be arranged either in traditional lecture format or more informally to allow students to work together in small groups. The learning resources available to students on the Programme include: The extensive collection of criminological materials relevant to undergraduate study held in the University Library. Built up over 20 years of delivering criminology at this level, these materials include books, journals and government publications. Much of this material is also accessible online to Keele students from anywhere in the world with a University username and password. A smaller collection of criminological publications and materials held in a Resources Room in the University s main Chancellor s Building. The Resources Room is open at regular times during teaching periods and the resources are specifically related to the needs of students on the Criminology Principal Programme. The Keele Learning Environment (KLE) which provides easy access to a wide range of learning resources including lecture notes, electronic materials available in a repository maintained by the University Library and other resources video, audio and text-based accessible from external providers via the internet. Other learning opportunities Students on the Criminology Principal Programme have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad in their second year studying at one of Keele s partner universities in Europe, North America, Australia, South Africa or Hong Kong. Exactly which countries are available depends on their choice of degree subjects. No additional tuition fees are payable for studying abroad but students do have to bear the costs of travelling to and from their destination university and insurance. Grants may be available to cover some of these additional costs for students choosing to study elsewhere in Europe. Further information on studying abroad is available 19

20 from advisers in the University s centre, Keele International, and at the annual Study Abroad Fair. Other learning opportunities for criminology students vary from year to year but currently include a week long study trip to Ball State University in the American Midwestern state of Indiana. During their time at Keele, students also have the opportunity to hear from, and talk to, a range of guest speakers and presenters including staff from local criminal justice agencies and leading academic criminologists from around the world. Some of these activities are timetabled as part of taught modules, others are organised separately but are widely advertised and undergraduate students are always welcome to attend. Quality management and enhancement The Undergraduate Criminology Programme Director is responsible for the overall direction of learning and teaching on the Programme supported by the Criminology Programmes Board. The Programmes Board consists of student representatives plus all members of staff teaching on undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes in criminology. The quality and standards of learning in Criminology are subject to a continuous process of monitoring, review and enhancement. The Learning and Teaching Committee of the School of Sociology and Criminology is responsible for reviewing and monitoring quality management and enhancement procedures and activities across the School. Individual modules and the Criminology Principal Programme as a whole are reviewed and enhanced every year as part of the University Curriculum Annual Review and Development (CARD) process. The Programme is run in accordance with the standards set out in the University s Academic Quality and Standards Manual (AQSM) and is subject to annual audits of its compliance with the Manual by the University s Assurance and Academic Audit Office. Student evaluation of, and feedback on, the quality of learning in Criminology takes place in several ways: The results of student evaluations of all modules are reported to module leaders and reviewed by the Programmes Board as part of the Curriculum Annual Review and Development (CARD) process referred to earlier. Findings related to the Criminology Principal Programme from the annual National Student Survey (NSS), and from regular surveys of the student experience conducted by the University, are subjected to careful analysis and a planned response at Programme and School level. Feedback received from representatives of students in all three years of the Criminology Principal Programme is considered and 20

21 Liaison Committee. In addition to this, the quality and standards of learning are regularly discussed and monitored by the Criminology Programmes Board and by the School Learning & Teaching Committee. Two senior members of academic staff from other universities are appointed by the University s Senate to act as external examiners on the Criminology Principal Programme. They are responsible for: Approving all questions Confirming all marks which contribute to a student s degree Reviewing and giving advice on the structure and content of the Programme and assessment procedures. External examiners see all work marked internally as a fail, of first class standard or on the borderline between two classes (e.g. between a 2:1 and a 2:2 ). They also see work on the rare occasions when there is substantial disagreement between internal markers and receive a sample of work from all modules in Years 2 and 3. The principles of programme design The Criminology Principal Programme described in this document has been drawn up with reference to, and in accordance with the guidance set out in, the following documents Programme Specification Template: Undergraduate, Keele University, Guidelines for preparing programme specifications, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Subject Benchmark Statement: Criminology, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Learning and Teaching Strategy , Keele University, Keele Assessment Strategy, Keele University, Educational Aims for Undergraduate Courses, Keele University, Employability Skills Guidelines for Undergraduate Programmes, Keele University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Learning and Teaching Strategy , Keele University, Version History Date CHANGES / NOTES Date first created (if known) Jan 2009 Date last reviewed / revised March 2014 Last reviewed by? (JP/HW/JMcC) Date last approved at SLTC Date last approved at FLTC 21