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Explanations of Crime
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CRJUS1287 - Explanations of Crime
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20250600
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4.1
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2026-09-10
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2026-09-10
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Humanities and Social Science
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Institute of Education, Arts & Community
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Humanities and Social Sciences
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Undergraduate
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15
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.125
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099903
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Criminology
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099903 - Criminology
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<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/crjus1287">View unit fees</a>
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Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
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<p>This unit introduces students to the history and transition of criminological thought and the emergence and development of key perspectives and theories of criminal justice. Students will discuss, analyse and evaluate the diverse and competing interpretations of a criminal act; the nature and basis of social and community attitudes to crime; why particular communities fear certain crimes; the causes and consequences of crime; and the relationship between crime and other forms of deviance. The community in regional, rural, urban, national and international contexts are used as focal points of this analysis.</p>
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<p>Topics may include:</p>
<p>1. Introduction to Explanations of Crime</p>
<p>2. The Study of Crime: What is Theory?</p>
<p>3. Classical and Neoclassical Theories</p>
<p>4. Biological Explanations</p>
<p>5. Psychological Explanations</p>
<p>6. Strain Theory</p>
<p>7. Differential Association and Labelling Theories</p>
<p>8. Social Conflict: Marxist and Feminist</p>
<p>9. New Right Criminology and Left Realism</p>
<p>10. Republican Theory Restorative Justice</p>
<p>11. Emerging Theories</p>
<p>12. Critical Criminology</p>
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<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
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2027
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2026
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CRJUS1287 - Explanations of Crime
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CRJUS1287 - Explanations of Crime
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Semester 2
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Year
2027
2026
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Overview
Key information
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Assessment
FedTASK
Parent Region
Overview
Unit description
<p>This unit introduces students to the history and transition of criminological thought and the emergence and development of key perspectives and theories of criminal justice. Students will discuss, analyse and evaluate the diverse and competing interpretations of a criminal act; the nature and basis of social and community attitudes to crime; why particular communities fear certain crimes; the causes and consequences of crime; and the relationship between crime and other forms of deviance. The community in regional, rural, urban, national and international contexts are used as focal points of this analysis.</p>
Unit content
<p>Topics may include:</p> <p>1. Introduction to Explanations of Crime</p> <p>2. The Study of Crime: What is Theory?</p> <p>3. Classical and Neoclassical Theories</p> <p>4. Biological Explanations</p> <p>5. Psychological Explanations</p> <p>6. Strain Theory</p> <p>7. Differential Association and Labelling Theories</p> <p>8. Social Conflict: Marxist and Feminist</p> <p>9. New Right Criminology and Left Realism</p> <p>10. Republican Theory Restorative Justice</p> <p>11. Emerging Theories</p> <p>12. Critical Criminology</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Education, Arts & Community
Discipline:
Humanities and Social Sciences
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
099903 - Criminology
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 2</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p><p>On-line Learning</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/crjus1287">View unit fees</a>
Requisites
Prerequisite
None
Corequisite
None
Exclusion
<p>must not have completed 1 of "ATSGC1283" / "CRJUS1283"</p>
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
<p>On successful completion of this unit, students are expected to gain the following [K]nowledge, [S]kills and [A]pplication of knowledge & skills</p>
Learning Outcomes
Ref
Outcome
K1
<p>Identify and appraise key theoretical underpinnings of the study of crime and the criminal actors in the criminal justice system.</p>
K2
<p>Identify and analyse a range of contemporary criminal justice issues, considering key debates, issues and perspectives of the causes of crime.</p>
K3
<p>Examine the array of explanations of crime and their prominence and use in current understandings of crime.</p>
K4
<p>Identify key concepts pertaining to explanations of crime.</p>
S1
<p>Analyse diverse theories of crime causation, with a particular focus on contemporary scholarly research.</p>
S2
<p>Express substantiated and reasoned expositions and arguments concerning the cause and effects of crime in either an Australian or an international context.</p>
S3
<p>Summarise relevant key themes, issues and debates.</p>
A1
<p>Apply skills in critical thinking to key debates concerning criminal behaviours and societal responses.</p>
A2
<p>Utilise and integrate relevant conceptual frameworks in analysing the diversity of explanations for different types of offending behaviour.</p>
A3
<p>Identify links and tensions between issues, debates, concepts and perspectives.</p>
Assessment
Learning Tasks and Assessment
Ref
Learning task
Assessment type
Weighting
Learning outcomes assessed
1
<p>Ongoing reflections on theory preferences and key learnings</p>
<p>Reflective activity</p>
<p>50-60%</p>
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S3, A1, A2, A3
2
<p>Apply relevant theories to explain a chosen crime event</p>
<p>Case study analysis</p>
<p>40-50%</p>
K1, K3, K4, S1, S2, A1, A2, A3
Supplementary assessment available:
Yes
Supplementary assessment information:
<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
FedTASK
FedTASK
Description of FedTASK outcome
Level
FedTASK 1: Interpersonal
The ability to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 2: Leadership
The ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 3: Critical Thinking and Creativity
The ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using imagination to create new ideas.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 4: Digital Literacy
The ability to work fluently across a range of tools and applications to achieve a range of skills.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 5: Sustainable and Ethical Mindset
The ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK
<p>Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FedTASKs (<strong>T</strong>ransferable <strong>A</strong>ttributes <strong>S</strong>kills and <strong>K</strong>nowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key, transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and co-operative learning opportunities.</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Education, Arts & Community
Discipline:
Humanities and Social Sciences
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
099903 - Criminology
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 2</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p><p>On-line Learning</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/crjus1287">View unit fees</a>
Additional information
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: CRJUS1287 - U4.1