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The Open University

An introduction to crime and criminology

The Open University via OpenLearn

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Overview

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This introductory course examines how crime is defined, why societies are both fearful of and fascinated by it, and what criminologists do. It develops a criminological imagination through multiple perspectives on problems of crime.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Fear and fascination with crime and criminals
  • 1 Fear and fascination with crime and criminals
  • 1.1 Societies fearful of, yet fascinated by crime
  • 1.2 What is crime?
  • 1.3 Defining crime
  • 2 Once a crime always a crime?
  • 2 Once a crime always a crime?
  • 2.1 Graffiti: crime or free expression?
  • 2.2 Questioning what is a crime and what is not
  • 3 What is criminology?
  • 3 What is criminology?
  • 3.1 What kinds of questions do criminologists seek to answer?
  • 3.2 What do criminologists do?
  • 3.3 Criminology at The Open University
  • 3.4 Being open to multiple perspectives on problems of crime
  • 4 What is the criminological imagination?
  • 4 What is the criminological imagination?
  • 4.1 Exploring your criminological imagination
  • 5 Crime and criminology quiz
  • 5 Crime and criminology quiz
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Further reading
  • Acknowledgements

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Reviews

4.0 rating, based on 1 Class Central review

Start your review of An introduction to crime and criminology

  • Profile image for Traylen R.
    Traylen R.
    6
    very nice course. brushes over the top of criminology! was descriptive but also really short. went into many things with only six sections, however im still wanting more information. but it was a nice course nonetheless !
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