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SP52088: Homicide and the human condition

[Page last updated: 15 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CWES 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Independent Research Essay (CWES 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
  • Engage critically with core theories, concepts and contemporary debates related to homicide
  • Critically evaluate criminal justice policy and practice as it relates to homicide
  • Review criminological evidence about homicide and consider how it illustrates, develops or contests criminological theories and concepts



Synopsis: Explore the nature, anatomy, causes, and consequences of homicide.

This unit combines a legal, cultural, psychological, sociological and criminiological understanding of homicide to consider what constitutes `homicide', who kills and is killed, in what circumstances, and for what reasons. It critically examines the appeal, validity and influence of media portrayals of murder and murderers, as well as the implications of homicide for both the perpetrator and the victim's family and friends.

Content: This unit will cover topics such as:
1. The legal, cultural and normative framing of `homicide' (including debates about whether abortion, euthanasia and honour killings constitute `murder')
2. Who kills? (including `serial' killers, the military, medical professionals, state violence, genocide, and the role of violence in gang and organised crime activity)
3. Media Representations of Murder and Murderers
4. Domestic Homicides (including both women and men who kill)
5. Children who kill
6. Insanity, Psychopathy and Murder
7. Investigating and Prosecuting Murder
8. Murder and its Aftermath (including bereavement, the impact on the family, life sentences, and the death penalty)

Course availability:

SP52088 is Optional on the following courses:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.