Course

Advanced Theoretical Perspectives

Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Criminology
Course code
CRIM 3310
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Hybrid
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course explores the diverse nature of theory within the field of crime and deviance by focusing on modern, post-modern and post-critical theories. The selected paradigms are studied with regard to their explanatory domain, role in examining social and criminological problems and research implications.
Course content
  1. Introduction and Overview
    • Reviewing sociological paradigms and concepts
    • Human nature and human behaviour
    • Society and social order
    • The role of law, the definition of crime, and the image of the criminal
    • Social context and theories
    • Determining what is good theory
    • Theoretical diversity
  2. Theories and Perspectives
    • Phenomenology
    • Conflict theories of crime
    • Marxist theories of crime
    • Feminist theories of crime
    • Masculinist theories of crime
    • Left Realism
    • Modern Strain Theory
    • Modern Social Control Theory
    • Integrative theories
    • Peacemaking criminology
    • Post-modernist theories of crime
  3. Theoretical Issues
    • Criminal justice and public policy
Learning activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:

  • lectures
  • seminar presentations
  • audiovisual material including video
  • small group discussions
  • research projects
  • research papers
  • online assignments & discussion groups
Means of assessment

Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation may be based on some of the following:

 

  1. Examinations
  2. Oral presentations
  3. Research project/term project
  4. Class participation
  5. Journal assignment/weekly questions
  6. Book Reviews
  7. Participation in online discussion groups

 

An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

Midterm exams (2)  40%
Term paper  30%
Online discussion participation           10%
Final exam  20%
Total 100%
Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course, the successful student will be able to: 

  1. Define and explain sociological paradigms and concepts.
  2. Describe the role of law, the definition of crime and the image of the criminal.
  3. Assess and evaluate research articles critically.
  4. Apply advanced theoretical concepts to crime, the Canadian criminal justice system and real-world events.
  5. Describe and assess what constitutes good criminological theory.
  6. Describe and critically assess advanced theories of deviance, crime and social control.
  7. Apply specific theoretical perspectives in order to explain how deviance and crime are created and      maintained. 
  8. Identify and assess  the links between the ideas of justice, deviance, law and punishment.
  9. Identify and situate theories of deviance and crime into larger theoretical paradigms within the social      sciences.
Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

Texts will be updated periodically.  Typical examples are:

Williams, F. & McShane, M. (2013). Criminological Theory, 6th ed. Pearson, Boston.  

Einstadter, W.J. & Henry, S. (2006) Criminological Theory: An Analyis of Its Underlying Assumptions, 2nd ed. Rowman & Littlefield, Lanhan.

Garland, D.  (1993).  Punishment and Modern Society: A Study in Social Theory.  Chicago:  University of Chicago Press. 

Foucault, M.  (1977).  Discipline and Punish:  The Birth of Prison.  USA: Pantheon Books. 

 

Additional texts may include:

Christie, N. (2004).  A Suitable Amount of Crime.  London:  Routledge.

Course Reader compiled by instructor.

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for CRIM 3310
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU CRIM 3111 (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG CRIM 2XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CRIM 3XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU CRIM 3311 (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU SOCI 3XX (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC SOSC 3XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV CRIM 310 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC SOCI 3XX (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU CRIM 2nd (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
35
Remaining seats:
0
On waitlist
10
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. D
Room
D1020
Times:
Start Time
15:30
-
End Time
18:20
Section notes

See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses