Program Overview

Program Overview

The program in question is an honours course titled "Simulating Crime and Justice: A Scenario-based Roleplay Approach to Criminology." This course offers an interactive and immersive learning experience, where students engage in scenario-based roleplay to explore the complexities of the criminal justice system.

Course Description

Criminology is the study of criminal behavior and social and legal responses to crime. In this course, students will not just read about crime and the criminal justice system, but they will step inside it. The course is playful, yet it covers very serious topics. Throughout the course, students will take part in different exercises that put them in the shoes of a variety of actors, including police officers, prosecutors, defense lawyers, judges, victims, offenders, policy-makers, or even journalists or community members.

Learning Objectives

By adopting these roles, students will gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how the system operates in practice and what interests need to be balanced in responding to certain harms. The course aims to sharpen students' analytical skills, confront them with new perspectives, and promote their creativity. It also trains students' presentation and negotiation skills through debates, negotiations, and justifications of their choices.

Course Structure

The course involves reading and analyzing a diverse range of academic publications and applying the knowledge gained in the scenarios played. The scenarios are based on real-world dilemmas, giving students the chance to reflect on the social and institutional frameworks that shape them.

Student Testimonials

Students who have taken the course praise its unique approach, stating that it forced them to use critical thinking, develop problem-solving skills, and explore their creative side. They recommend the course to those who would like a challenge and are not looking for a typical learning environment.

Program Details

• Program Type: Honours course
• Field of Study: Criminology
• Teaching Method: Interactive scenario-based roleplay
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Deeper understanding of the criminal justice system
  • Sharpened analytical skills
  • Enhanced creativity
  • Improved presentation and negotiation skills
• Course Format:
  • Scenario-based exercises
  • Debates
  • Negotiations
  • Justifications of choices
• Assessment:
  • Participation in scenario-based exercises
  • Analysis of academic publications
  • Application of knowledge in scenarios
• Prerequisites: None specified
• Target Audience: Students interested in criminology, justice, and interactive learning experiences.