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CSS462Social Sciences4 Unitsintermediate

Criminology 11 (For Law Students Only)

This course introduces students to the field of criminology, exploring the meaning of crime, criminology, and criminal law. It examines crime patterns and trends, crime statistics, and methods used in the study of crime. The course also delves into various criminological theories, including classical, positivist, sociological, radical, and feminist perspectives. Furthermore, it covers different types of crime, such as violent crime, property crime, enterprise crime, and public order crime. Finally, the course explores the criminal justice system, policing, judiciary processes, corrections, and victimology.

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156h
Study Time
13
Weeks
12h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
CriminologyCriminal LawCrime TrendsVictimizationCriminal Justice System

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Criminology

2

Criminal Law

3

Crime Trends

4

Criminological Theories

5

Violent Crime

6

Property Crime

7

Criminal Justice System

8

Victimology

9

Human Trafficking

Total Topics9 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Police Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Correctional Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Probation Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Criminologist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Security Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

Law EnforcementCorrectionsSecurityLegal ServicesGovernment Agencies

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1:

8h

Unit 1: Crime, Criminology and Criminal Law

4 study hours
  • •Read the introduction to crime, criminology, and criminal law.
  • •Understand the elements that constitute a crime.
  • •Discuss the role of criminal law in defining and addressing crime.
  • •Define and explain the discipline of criminology.

Unit 2: Patterns and Trends of Crime

4 study hours
  • •Examine the patterns and trends of crime rates.
  • •Identify factors influencing crime rates.
  • •Discuss the association between social class and crime.
  • •Recognize age, gender, and ethnic patterns in crime.
Week
2

Module 1:

6h

Unit 3: Prevention of Crimes

6 study hours
  • •Explain crime prevention strategies.
  • •Discuss the types of crime prevention.
  • •List advantages of crime prevention.
  • •Explain the Opportunities Theory of Crime Prevention.
  • •State the measures of crime prevention.
Week
3

Module 1:

6h

Unit 4: Crime Statistics/Measurement or Crimes

6 study hours
  • •Explain crime statistics concepts.
  • •Discuss the cost of crime.
  • •Mention the uses of crime statistics.
  • •List the sources of crime statistics and the process of compilation.
Week
4

Module 1:

6h

Unit 5: The Study or Crime (Method)

6 study hours
  • •Explain biographical methods of research.
  • •Discuss cohort studies.
  • •Explain survey research method.
  • •Differentiate different types of experimental studies.
  • •Explain observation and its dimensions.
  • •Analyze both official and unofficial records.
Week
5

Module 2:

8h

Unit 1: Theoretical Background to Crime: Classical Theory, Neo -Classical Theory of Crime and Positivist Criminology

4 study hours
  • •Define theory.
  • •Explain classical theory.
  • •Discuss the Neo-classical theory of crime.
  • •Explain positivist theory.

Unit 2: Positivist Theories

4 study hours
  • •Discuss biological theories.
  • •Explain psychological theories.
Week
6

Module 2:

12h

Unit 3: Sociological Perspectives

6 study hours
  • •Discuss strain theory.
  • •Explain the various learning theories such as Differential Association Theory, Differential Reinforcement Theory, and Neutralization Theory.

Unit 4: Radical Criminology

6 study hours
  • •Explain social bond or control theory.
  • •Discuss social organization theory.
  • •State the labeling theory.
  • •Explain the theory of Delinquent subculture.
Week
7

Module 3:

8h

Unit 5: Critical and Feminist Criminology

4 study hours
  • •Explain conflict theories.
  • •Discuss Radical theory.
  • •Explain critical theory.
  • •Explain feminism theory.

Unit 1: Violent Crime I

4 study hours
  • •Understand the various causes of violent crimes.
  • •Identify the source of violence.
  • •Analyze the effect of violence.
  • •Identify the various types, nature and extent of violent crimes.
  • •Evaluate the effectiveness of the legal control to violent crime.
Week
8

Module 3:

8h

Unit 2: Violent Crime II

4 study hours
  • •Define the term terrorism.
  • •Differentiate between terrorist and guerilla.
  • •Identify contemporary forms of Terrorist.
  • •Define the term 'robbery'.
  • •Identify types of robbery.

Unit 3: Property Crime

4 study hours
  • •Narrate the history of theft offences.
  • •Recognize the differences between professional and amateur thieves.
  • •Identify the similarities and differences between the various types of larceny.
  • •Explain the different forms of shoplifting.
  • •Critique the concept of fraud.
  • •Define breaking offences and arson.
Week
9

Module 3:

12h

Unit 4: Enterprise Crime, White Collar, Cyber and Organized Crime

6 study hours
  • •Describe the concept of enterprise crime.
  • •Identify the various types of white-collar crime.
  • •Recognize the extent and various causes of white-collar crime.
  • •Recognize new types of cyber crime.
  • •Describe the evolution of organized crime.
  • •Explain how the government is fighting organized crime.
  • •Explain the features of organized crime.

Unit 5: Public Order Crime.

6 study hours
  • •Explain the acts that constitute public order offences.
  • •Differentiate between law and morality.
  • •Define paraphilias.
  • •Distinguish the relationship between obscenity and pornography.
  • •Determine the history and extent of drug abuse.
  • •Identify the cause of substance abuse.
  • •Enumerate the various drug control strategies.
  • •Explain the relationship between drugs and crime.
Week
10

Module 4:

8h

Unit 1: Criminal Justice System

4 study hours
  • •Relay the history of the criminal justice system.
  • •Explain the various stages in the process and models of justice.
  • •Critique the criminal justice as shaped by the rule of law.
  • •Explain the problems with Nigeria's criminal justice system.
  • •Describe the rights of suspects in Nigeria criminal justice system.

Unit 2: Police and Law Enforcement

4 study hours
  • •Explain with the early history, meaning of police, policing .
  • •Discuss the changing role of police, and the principles guiding police work.
  • •Describe the statutory functions of police.
  • •Explain the objectives and importance of policing.
  • •Explain the rationale for community policing in Nigeria.
  • •Describe the various challenges facing the Nigerian police.
Week
11

Module 4:

12h

Unit 3: The Judiciary Process

6 study hours
  • •Explain the duties of a judge, defense counsel, and the prosecutor.
  • •Describe legal rights during trial
  • •Explain the sentencing process and the various forms of sentencing
  • •Explain the various court structure in Nigeria.

Unit 4: Correction

6 study hours
  • •Explain the early history of punishment, the development of the prison as a means of punishment and correction treatment
  • •Describe different types of correctional facilities and their level of security.
  • •Explain the statutory functions of the Prisons in Nigeria.
Week
12

Module 4:

8h

Unit 5: Victims and Victimization

4 study hours
  • •Explain the concept of victimization, victimization precipitation/participation and problems of crime victim.
  • •Examine victimization data and analyze by age, gender, and racial patterns.
  • •Discuss the various victim assistance programs.
  • •Explain issues on the restitution of crime victims in Nigeria.

Unit 6: Trans-Border Crime (Human Trafficking)

4 study hours
  • •Explain the meaning of human trafficking
  • •Identify the causal factors of human upsurge.
  • •Explain the social problems of trafficking on the victims and the society.
Week
13

All Modules

12h

Final Revision

12 study hours
  • •Review all modules and units.
  • •Complete any outstanding assignments.
  • •Prepare for final examination.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review all module objectives and key terms.

2

Create concept maps linking criminological theories to specific crime types.

3

Practice applying theoretical frameworks to real-world case studies.

4

Focus on understanding the structure and functions of the Nigerian criminal justice system.

5

Prepare detailed summaries of each unit, highlighting key concepts and case laws.

6

Allocate study time proportionally based on the weight of each module in the final examination.

7

Form study groups to discuss and clarify complex topics.

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