Sociology of Crime

This course offers a contemporary and integrated discussion of the key theories that help us understand crime. We will examine the foundations and theories of sociology and/or criminology to make sense of how and why some individuals commit crimes, and the ways in which society responds to and controls those accused of criminal acts.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the various definitions of crime, including the difference between criminal behavior and deviant behavior.
• Identify the criteria that characterize a good theory.
• Identify key features and the major limitations of sources crime data.
• Explain the assumptions and concepts of classical and neo-classical perspectives on the law and crime.
• Describe trait and psychological approaches to criminal behavior.
• Identify multiple variations of anomie and strain theories and how they explain criminal behavior.
• Articulate what distinguishes learning and social control theories of crime from other perspectives.
• Describe how traditional and contemporary theories of crime apply to women who offend.
• Explain how various concepts or factors that are important to life-course/developmental perspectives.