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Crime and Criminology
Crime and Criminology
January 9, 2025

This resource collection includes syllabi and assignments for criminology and criminal justice courses. There are syllabi for courses on green criminology, sociology of murder, and mass shootings. Activities involve introducing students to content analysis, understanding crime data, doing book reviews, and more. 

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Scott T Grether
Analyzing Crime Data
November 20, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Criminology/Delinquency
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
This is an inquiry-guided learning activity (Atkinson and Hunt 2008) where students analyze longitudinal crime and imprisonment data and public opinion about crime. Specifically, students will analyze the violent crime, homicide, property crime, and imprisonment...
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Weed growing out of crack in the sidewalk with the words Corrections Close-Up superimposed
Daniela F. Jauk
Corrections Close Up - Podcast
October 9, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Criminal Justice
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Sociology majors increasingly seek careers in the criminal justice sector and there is a need for realistic career preparation within sociology departments (Senter 2019) and it is essential to provide online learning opportunities in pandemic times (Kozimor 2020)....
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Crosby Hipes
The Construction of Crime News by the Media: A Class Activity
July 24, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Criminal Justice
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Research suggests there is a disconnect between crime-related perceptions and realities in the United States. For example, many students enter social science courses believing that violent crime rates are increasing, when in fact the opposite is true. This class...
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Stephanie Marie Baran
Let’s Build a Prison: Exploring Structural Functionalism
June 4, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Social Organization
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
This in-class activity centers around how students understand the creation and construction of prisons within the United States. Suited for any level of sociology or criminology courses, this activity could be utilized in a criminology course or in a sociology...
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Jennifer L. Steele
The Classroom as a Gang: An Active Learning approach to Teaching Undergraduates about Deviant/Criminal Groups
July 8, 2019
Subject Area(s):
Criminology/Delinquency
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Research has shown that active learning approaches are more effective in helping undergraduate students retain course material and enhance student engagement in the course in comparison to traditional lecture format. In this active learning exercise students must...
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Scott T Grether, Aysha Bodenhamer
Analyzing Police Violence Against Men
February 26, 2019
Subject Area(s):
Criminology/Delinquency
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
This is an active learning activity where students analyze media reporting on police violence through a sociological lens. The purpose of this activity is twofold. First, students will engage in a type of sociological research in the classroom – qualitative content...
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Karen E. Gordon
Sociology of Murder - SOC 210
August 7, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Criminology/Delinquency
Resource Type(s):
Syllabus
Class Level(s):
College 200
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This course will familiarize students with the sociological perspective of homicide. With specific focus on the United States, throughout this course we will examine homicide offenders and victims, the criminalization of killing, the social and legal landscape of how...
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Crosby Hipes, Molly Clever
Successful Ex-offender Re-entry: an Interactive Game
July 23, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Criminal Justice
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Hundreds of thousands of individuals are released from prison every year in the United States, and their reintegration into society has consistently been cited as an important social problem. The interactive game detailed here allows students to "roll" their way...
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Rena Zito
Crime over Time: A Two-Part Assignment on Temporal Changes in Crime Rates
August 29, 2017
Subject Area(s):
Criminology/Delinquency
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 300
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This resource introduces Criminology students to various explanations of crime patterns over time, provides hands-on experience using UCR and NVCS data, and links data and theory through a scaffolded two-part assignment. Both parts require students to critically...
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