Department of Criminal Justice

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Department of Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Arts in Correctional Studies (AJDEG2)

Description: In the Department of Criminal Justice, students are taught knowledge and skills in preparing them to become effective and important role-players in the correctional services environment. With this degree students will be qualified to operate especially as correctional service officers, but they can also be used in any other safety and security related institutions such as the police, private security, traffic police, the military, etc.).

Rules: General rules of the Faculty of Arts apply.

This is a Three Year Qualification, consisting of 24 Semester Long Modules.

YEAR 1

SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2

ACOR111

Introduction to Criminology and Research:  Subject matters of Criminology

 Schools of thought of Criminology

 Classification of Crime

 Introduction to Research

 Basic Criminological Research Methods

ACOR112

History of the Criminal Justice System  Theories of Crime

 Principles underlying the Criminal Justice System

 Application of Basic Concepts to Specific Crime Issues

 Explain the Social Reaction to Crime in South Africa

ACOR121

Introduction to Punishment:

 Field of study of Penology/Correctional Studies

 Social control and the law

 The concept “crime”

 The concept “ Punishment”, elements of punishment and theories of punishment

 Criminal justice system: purpose and structure; South African judicial system; the course of a criminal case

 The legal profession

 Sentencing

ACOR122

Introduction to Corrections:  Evolution of the correctional

Centres

 Introduction Correctional Management

Choose any two Electives: AAFR111 (Practical Afrikaans) AENG121 (Practical Englich 1A)

AENG111 (English 1 Part A: Language and

Literature)

AZUL111 (IsiZulu-Sounds, Words, their

Dynamics, and Traditional Law)

ASGY111 (Introduction to Sociology) SCPS121 (Computer Literacy 1)

Choose any two Electives:

AAFR112 (Practical Afrikaans and Literature) AENG122 (Practical English 1B)

AENG112 (English 2 Part B: Language and

Literature)

AZUL112 (IsiZulu-Translation, Interpretation

and Introduction to Drama)

ASGY112 (Industrial Societies) SCPS122 (Computer Literacy 2)

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YEAR 2

ACOR211

Crime Prevention

 Crime Approaches on Social and Environmental Factors

 Application of Basic Concepts to Specific Crime Issues

 Theoretical Knowledge to the causation, explanation and prevention of crime

ACOR212

Socio-Criminology:

 Social Disorganisation Theories

 Cultural Transmission Theories

 Gender Theories in Crime

 Applied Criminal Justice Research

 The use and Application of Research Technique

 Survey Research

ACOR221

Offender Policies :

 Correctional Services Law

 Criminal Procedure Act

 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa

 White Paper on Corrections in South Africa

 Development of Correctional Clients

ACOR222

Professional Skills Development for Correctional Officials:

 Transformation

 Safety and Stability

 Professional Conduct

 Knowledge of Oneself

 Communication

 Effective Team-Work

 Copying with Stress

Choose any two Electives: AENG111 (English 1 Part A) AENG121 (Practical English 1A)

AENG211 (English 2 Part A: Language and

Literature)

ASGY131 (Social Policy and Policy

Implementation)

APSY111 Introduction to Psychology

Choose any two Electives: AENG112 (English 1 Part B) AENG122 (Practical English 1B)

AENG212 (English 2 Part B Language and

Literature)

ASGY122 (Social Change and Development) APSY112 Applied Psychology

YEAR 3

ACOR311

Psycho-Criminology:

 Personality Theories with particular reference to personality functioning and crime causation

 Role of Crimino-predisposing factors

 Aspects of Clinical Psycho Criminology

 Psychopathology of Criminal Behaviour

 Methodological Perspective

 Approach, method, technique,

ACOR312

Monistic Studies on Crime and Victimology:  Study of Specific Crimes such as; murder,

homicide, rape etc

 Property crimes such as: theft, burglary, robbery, malicious damage to property etc

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ACOR321

Correctional Management:

 Traditional and Contemporary Correctional Management

 Mechanics of Correctional Management: Planning; budgeting, policy, decision- making and organisation.

 Dynamics of Correctional Management: leadership (command); control,

communication and motivation.

ACOR322

Administering Community Corrections: A

(Assessing Offenders)

 Systems Analysis

 Juvenile Diversion Programmes

 Establishment of a Pre-release Facility/Halfway House

 Elements and Principles of Community Corrections

 Correctional Supervision

Choose any three Electives:

AGEN111 (Writing and Oral Communication

Skills)

ASWK241 (Theories and Skills for Social

Work)

APSY221 Personality Psychology ASGY121 Human Societies

ACOR332

Administering Community Corrections: B

(Assessing and profiling communities)

 Analyse areas

 Analyse people

 Assess communities

 Restorative Justice

Honours Course (CrIminology) (AHON04) Admission requirements

To register for an Honours degree in Criminology, a student must have obtained at least 60% in Course III.

Duration of the Proposed Degree

The curriculum shall extend over at least one year.

Examination

Four papers plus a mini-dissertation

Paper 1: (ACR501) Fundamental Criminology

Scope and field of study of Criminology; fundamental approaches to Criminology; bio-psychological and social factors in crime-causation; theoretical criminology, crimino-dynamics.

Paper 2: (ACR502) Criminological Research Methodology

Analytical method in descriptive, explicatory and applicative research, approaches in scientific research, phases in the research process, scientific methods and techniques; preparation of research report and report-writing, etc.

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Paper 3 & 4: The student chooses two of the following:

(a) (ACR503) Juvenile Criminology

Individual human and surrounding factors that contribute to the causation of juvenile crime; life associations and juvenile crime; prevention of juvenile crime (delinquency) at a primary and secondary level.

(b) (ACR504) Monistic studies of crime

An in-depth study and analysis of specific crimes, with particular reference to crimes of violence.

(c) (ACR505) Victimology

Fundamental victimology; typologies of crime victims; victimisation; approaches to victims of crime with regard to aspects of prevention.

(d) (ACR506) Traffic Criminality

Important aspects of traffic crimes; approaches to traffic crimes; criminals and victims; comparative traffic criminality; objectives of traffic regulation; traffic flow; pedestrians; urban traffic; highways; traffic accidents - causes; effects and prevention; contributions of a few South African and overseas traffic criminologists.

(e) (ACR507) Crime prevention

Individual and milieu factors in crime prevention.

Paper 5: (ACR508) A mini dissertation (article)

The nature and extent of a mini-dissertation to be approved by the Head of the

Department. The length of the article must be ±50 folio pages typed in one and a half (1½) spacing. The completed article which carries the weight of one paper, must be submitted to the Head of the Department before 15th_{November of the} academic year in which the candidate wishes to submit the article for examination.

Master’s Degree (Criminology) (AMAS04) Admission requirements

To be registered for a Master’s Degree in Criminology Justice, a student shall have passed an Honours (Criminology).

Duration of the proposed degree

Examination

The examination shall consist of a dissertation on an approved subject. This may be supplemented with an oral examination if the Head of the Department deems it fit.

Doctorate (Criminology) (ADPH04)

A thesis on an approved subject in a criminal justice related field of study.

Honours (Penology) (AHON05) Admission requirements

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Duration of the proposed degree

Examination

Four written papers and a research project.

PART 1

Paper 1 APN501 - Fundamental Penology Paper 2 APN502 - Research Metholodogy

PART II

The student chooses two of the following.

Paper 3 APN503 - Penitentiary Penology Paper 4 APN504 - Judicial Penology

Paper 5 APN505 - Community-based Penology AND

Paper 6 APN506 - Research Article (compulsory)

Honours Course (Police Science) (AHON06) Admission requirements

To register for an Honours Degree in Police Science, a student must have obtained at least 60% in Course III.

Duration of the Proposed Degree

Examination

Five written papers and a research article.

PART I

Paper 1: APO501 - Fundamental Police Science Paper 2: APO502 - Research Methodology Paper 3: APO503 - Police Administration

PART II

Paper 4: APO504 - Functional Policing Paper 5: To choose one of the following:

APO505 - (a) Criminalistics APO506 - (b) Private Security APO507 - (c) Traffic Policing Paper 6 APO508 - Research Article (compulsory)

Students who want to do a Master’s or Doctorate in Penology (Correctional Studies) or Police Science will be registered under the Codes AMAS04 (Master’s degree – Criminology) and ADPH04 (Doctorate-Criminology) respectively.