Program Overview

Organised Crime (SECU0046)

Key Information

• Faculty: Faculty of Engineering Sciences
• Teaching department: Security and Crime Science
• Credit value: 15
• Restrictions: External students should select this module via Portico if they have received permission from their home department. Approval will be dependent on module's capacity.

Alternative Credit Options

There are no alternative credit options available for this module.

Description

The main aim of this module is to give students a robust introduction to the scientific study of organised crime. In brief, the module will argue against simplistic and stereotypical definitions of organised crime in favour of a more flexible framework that focuses on the different empirical manifestations of organised crime phenomena along three key dimensions:

• organised crime activities
• criminal structures (i.e. criminal groups)
• extra-legal governance Furthermore, the module will address cross-cutting issues such as the social embeddedness of organised crime, the impact of organised crime on the legal economy, and the complicated relationship between organised crime and government. The module will consider organised crime in the local and transnational dimensions, with examples from a wide variety of contexts. While the module will touch upon major organised crime problems (such as drug trafficking, extortion and violence), the main goal of the module is to equip students with a robust conceptual toolkit that will enable them to independently and critically examine any manifestation of organised crime.

Module Deliveries for 2026/27 Academic Year

• Intended teaching term: Term 1
• Undergraduate (FHEQ Level 5)

Teaching and Assessment

• Mode of study: In person
• Methods of assessment:
  • 50% Group activity
  • 50% Coursework
• Mark scheme: Numeric Marks

Other Information

• Number of students on module in previous year: 61
• Module leader: Dr Juliana Gomez Quintero

Last Updated

This module description was last updated on 10th March 2026.