Sociology (SOCI) 305

Overview

SOCI 305 provides an introduction to the study of crime from a number of different sociological perspectives. The course covers topics related to crime and the criminal code in Canada, including the early history of Canadian narcotics legislation, an analysis of a videotaped murder confession, a Mohawk viewpoint on the Oka crisis of 1990, and an analytical look at the Canadian prison system.

These and other topics are analyzed through different theoretical perspectives including symbolic interactionism, ethnomethodology, feminism, and structural conflict theory. SOCI 305 is intended for students with personal or professional interests in criminology, law enforcement, or criminal justice administration, as well as for those for whom the issues of crime and crime control may be seen as personal, family, or community concerns.

Upon completion of SOCI 305, students should be able to think about crime in a sociological manner, to apply the major sociological perspectives to the study of crime, to discuss a critical sociological approach for the study of crime, to explain how a sociological approach allows for the analysis of the shortcomings of more traditional approaches, to discuss the ways in which sociology can provide valuable insights into the phenomenon of crime, and to describe how the study of crime can provide an interesting vehicle for learning about sociology.

Outline

• Lesson 1: Sociology and Crime
• Lesson 2: Constructing Criminal Law
• Lesson 3: Criminalization and Domination
• Lesson 4: Ethnomethodology's Law
• Lesson 5: Policing as Symbolic Interaction
• Lesson 6: The Ethnomethodology of Policing
• Lesson 7: The Political Economy of Policing
• Lesson 8: Discipline, Domination, and Criminal Justice
• Lesson 9: Justice and Symbolic Interaction
• Lesson 10: Ethnomethodology in Court
• Lesson 11: Crime and Punishment
• Lesson 12: The Functions of Crime Control

Evaluation

To receive credit for SOCI 305, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 percent), a grade of at least 50 percent on the term paper, and a grade of at least 60 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

The midterm and final examinations for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Hester, Stephen, and Peter Eglin. 1992. A Sociology of Crime. London and New York: Routledge.

Video Programs

Video programs are an integral part of SOCI 305. While the textbook provides valuable information and interpretative analysis, videos provide real-life studies of criminalization and crime control. The video programs are available on loan from the Athabasca University Library.

Other Materials

The course materials include a study guide to accompany the textbook. All other course materials are found online.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the SOCI 305 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “C-” (60 percent) on the challenge examination. The two parts of the exam must be written on the same day.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form

Overview

SOCI 305 provides an introduction to the study of crime from a number of different sociological perspectives. The course covers topics related to crime and the criminal code in Canada, including the early history of Canadian narcotics legislation, an analysis of a videotaped murder confession, a Mohawk viewpoint on the Oka crisis of 1990, and an analytical look at the Canadian prison system.

These and other topics are analyzed through different theoretical perspectives including symbolic interactionism, ethnomethodology, feminism, and structural conflict theory. SOCI 305 is intended for students with personal or professional interests in criminology, law enforcement, or criminal justice administration, as well as for those for whom the issues of crime and crime control may be seen as personal, family, or community concerns.

Upon completion of SOCI 305, students should be able to think about crime in a sociological manner, to apply the major sociological perspectives to the study of crime, to discuss a critical sociological approach for the study of crime, to explain how a sociological approach allows for the analysis of the shortcomings of more traditional approaches, to discuss the ways in which sociology can provide valuable insights into the phenomenon of crime, and to describe how the study of crime can provide an interesting vehicle for learning about sociology.

Outline

• Lesson 1: Sociology and Crime
• Lesson 2: Constructing Criminal Law
• Lesson 3: Criminalization and Domination
• Lesson 4: Ethnomethodology's Law
• Lesson 5: Policing as Symbolic Interaction
• Lesson 6: The Ethnomethodology of Policing
• Lesson 7: The Political Economy of Policing
• Lesson 8: Discipline, Domination, and Criminal Justice
• Lesson 9: Justice and Symbolic Interaction
• Lesson 10: Ethnomethodology in Court
• Lesson 11: Crime and Punishment
• Lesson 12: The Functions of Crime Control

Evaluation

To receive credit for SOCI 305, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 percent), a grade of at least 50 percent on the term paper, and a grade of at least 60 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

The midterm and final examinations for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Hester, Stephen, and Peter Eglin. 1992. A Sociology of Crime. London and New York: Routledge.

Video Programs

Video programs are an integral part of SOCI 305. While the textbook provides valuable information and interpretative analysis, videos provide real-life studies of criminalization and crime control. The video programs are available on loan from the Athabasca University Library.

Other Materials

The course materials include a study guide to accompany the textbook. All other course materials are found online.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the SOCI 305 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “C-” (60 percent) on the challenge examination. The two parts of the exam must be written on the same day.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form