CR6018 - Crime, Animals and the Environment

Crime, Animals and the Environment is a workshop-based Level 6 option module that will consolidate your skills in areas such as team work and critical evaluation of research. In weekly seminars you will discuss and critique this research based material and you will make appropriate use of other resources that you will be both directed towards and will seek out for yourself. These seminars will follow a student-led, workshop format. Seminar groups will work together to evaluate and critique theories of green crime and critical animal studies. Group tasks will also involve you in applying these theoretical approaches to real world animal/environmental issues and problems.

This is a team taught module with two or three staff members available to support you via email, in workshops, and during scheduled office hours. There is also substantial support from your fellow students during workshops and outside of class. Your academic development will be facilitated through engagement with the newly emerging academic literature and by debating with your peers and academic tutors about your understanding of the literature. You can expect to have your perceptions of what counts as crime and who and what victims are challenged in this module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Assess the ability of the range of criminological and sociological perspectives on animals and the environment.
2. Understand why green crime and crimes/harms against animals can be understood as being important alongside other more traditional forms of crime.
3. Understand the linkages between green crime, crimes/harms against animals and traditional criminology.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4. Conduct a literature review and create a conference style poster.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. To have confidence in your own thinking and assessment of theories and perspectives, but also to be open to challenge and debate too.

Formative:
Formative assessment is given continually during class and in preparations for the assessments to encourage participation and critical thinking. Oral formative feedback regarding the poster and participation in workshops.

Summative:
The summative assessment comprises two components:

• One 3,000-word essay (70%) to hone writing skills as well as their ability to defend their opinions.

• Academic Poster (30%) – students will produce a conference style poster on an environmental or animal related crime/harm issue.

These three assessments will address MLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Written summative feedback is provided on the essay.

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Combining critical animal studies and green criminology, the module will introduce you to contemporary environmental crises and critically reflect on human/non-human animal relations. In 3-hour workshops, you will develop your critical thinking and team work skills through a range of creative group tasks, aided by short lecture-style presentation of research-based material. The assessments for the module will also sharpen your critical reflection and creative skills, encouraging you to apply theoretical knowledge to practice.