Basics of Criminology (5 cr)

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- define and explain the basic concepts and key research methods in the scientific study of crime
- apply and analyze the main theories explaining crime
- identify and critically evaluate the basic characteristics of Finnish crime, considering the social and cultural factors behind the phenomena
- understand and describe current research areas in Finnish and Nordic criminological studies
- design and justify a simple research framework relevant to their professional field, utilizing criminological theories and research methods

Location and time

The course takes place both online and at Tikkurila campus. Please find the schedule in Pakki.

Schedules and contents will be clarified at the beginning of the study module.

Exchange students who experience scheduling overlaps with other courses are advised to contact the teacher. Appropriate solutions will be explored together with the student.

Materials

Current research articles and reports are used in this course. The materials cover topics such as criminological theory, research methods in criminology, and current criminological research in the Nordic countries. The teacher will inform students about the required readings and course materials through the Canvas learning environment. All materials are available digitally or through the campus library.

Please see the Laurea Student Intranet for information on the use of AI and our procedures for handling plagiarism suspicions. AI may be used in assignments to help structure your written tasks, but it cannot be used as a source, and AI-generated text cannot be submitted as part of any assignment. If you do use AI in your assignments, you must clearly explain where and how it was used. All assignments will be processed using the plagiarism detection software Turnitin.

Teaching methods

The language of instruction for this course is English. Knowledge of Finnish is not required to complete the course.

Criminology is a multidisciplinary field that draws on perspectives from sociology, psychology, law, social work, and other related disciplines. This course is suitable for students from a variety of degree programmes who are interested in understanding crime, criminal behaviour, and the structures of justice in society.

The course is conducted as a blended implementation and requires self-direction and active participation. The learning platform used is Canvas.

The course is partially self-paced, with assignments to be completed according to a set schedule. In addition to independent study, the course includes scheduled online instruction or guidance. On-site workshops will take place at the Tikkurila Campus. Recordings of the sessions will be available for later viewing in Canvas.

Some assignments include opportunities to apply course content to the student’s own professional field or area of interest, allowing for personalised and practice-oriented learning.

Priority for this course is given to exchange students and students enrolled in English-language degree programmes. If there are available places, other students are also welcome to join. Inquiries about available spots can be sent by email to the teacher, Maria Normann, at maria.normann@laurea.fi until the end of September 2025.

Some assignments may be completed in pairs.

The final module requires active participation and commitment to interactive learning.

Not all assignments will receive individual feedback from the instructor. Some tasks will be assessed based on correctness, with feedback provided in the form of group feedback, peer feedback, or model answers.

Exam schedules

Please see Pakki for the schedule information. Laurea reserves the right to modify the timetable.
Detailed schedules and course content will be provided at the beginning of the study module.

International connections

The course is suitable for exchange students.

Student workload

The workload of the course is based on the principle that one credit equals approximately 26.7 hours of student work. The actual time required may vary depending on the student’s previous knowledge and skills.

Content scheduling

Criminology is a multidisciplinary field that studies crime, its causes, consequences, and societal control. This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of criminology and is designed for all higher education students and professionals from various fields.

The course is conducted both online and on campus and can be completed flexibly alongside other studies or work commitments. The course materials are available online.

Knowledge of the Finnish language is not required to complete the course.

The course is not intended for students pursuing a degree in social services specializing in the criminal sanctions field.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Further information

This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of criminology and is designed for all higher education students and professionals from various fields.

Priority for this course is given to exchange students and students enrolled in English-language degree programmes. If there are available places, other students are also welcome to join. Inquiries about available places can be sent by email to the teacher, Maria Normann, at maria.normann@laurea.fi until the end of September 2025.