HIST295-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025

Crime, Criminology and Policing in Modern Europe since 1750

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2025
End Date: Sunday, 22 June 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 2 March 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 11 May 2025

Description

Beginning in the mid-eighteenth century, this course traces the development of crime, criminology and policing in modern Europe. Paying particular attention to the rise of competing biological and sociological models of criminality and the birth of forensics, the course examines the social, political and professional implications of attempting to put the investigation, understanding, and punishment of crime on a scientific footing. Topics covered will include: crime and insanity, Lombroso and the born criminal, the professionalisation of policing, and the development of fingerprinting and crime scene analysis.

HIST295 is an introduction to crime history; a field that involves the historical investigation of crime, criminals, policing and punishment and allows scholars access not just to the decision-making processes of elites, but also to the lives of ordinary people who in some way encountered the criminal justice system. Taking advantage of a growing number of digital archives, including The Digital Panopticon and the Proceedings of the Old Bailey, HIST295 provides both an in-depth understanding of the history of crime, criminology and policing in Europe since 1750 and transferable critical and digital skills.
Beginning in the middle of the eighteenth century, the course traces changes to the understanding of crime and punishment in Europe that fostered the slow transition away from the death penalty towards alternative punishments, such as transportation and imprisonment. It then outlines the development of modern policing before examining the development of criminal identification techniques, including Bertillon measurements, mugshots and fingerprinting. The final section of the course analyses the history of the forensic sciences and the ethics of crime history.

Learning Outcomes

  • This course will enable each participant to:

  • Develop their understanding of the history of crime in Europe since 1750.
  • Critically evaluate primary sources and historiographical arguments.
  • Develop skills in using a range of digital archives.
  • Critically reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of digital crime history.
  • Contribute effectively in group and co-operative work.
    • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Employable, innovative and enterprising

      Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

      Globally aware

      Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

Any 15 points at 100 level in HIST or CLAS120, or
any 60 points at 100 level from the Schedule V of the BA, or
60 points at 100 level from Schedules C or E of the BCJ.

Restrictions

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 12:00 - 13:00 Meremere 108 Lecture Theatre
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 09:00 - 10:00 E9 Lecture Theatre
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Tutorial A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 12:00 - 13:00 E13
24 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
03 Thursday 11:00 - 12:00 Beatrice Tinsley 112
24 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
04 Friday 10:00 - 11:00 Jack Erskine 244
24 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun

Course Coordinator

Heather Wolffram

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Assignment 1 28 Mar 2025 20% 2000 words
Assignment 2 30 May 2025 30% 2500 words
Tutorial Wikis 10% 10 x throughout the semester
On-Campus Exam 40%


Please check the course LEARN page for further details and updates.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $894.00

International fee $4,100.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Minimum enrolments

This course will not be offered if fewer than 20 people apply to enrol.

For further information see Humanities .

All HIST295 Occurrences

  • HIST295-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025