Module manager: Dr David Churchill
Email: d.churchill@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
LAW1128 Criminal Justice Study Skills
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module introduces students to the core academic study and research skills required for the study of criminal justice and criminology. It covers essential undergraduate-level study skills, including independent learning, finding information, critical thinking, reading, note-taking, referencing, writing and skills and personal development. It also covers the fundamentals of research and evidence in criminal justice and criminology, including ontology, epistemology, explanatory and interpretive research designs, issues of trust and responsibility in research and the role of research in public life.
This module aims to familiarise students with key study and research skills and to equip them with the core academic competencies required for undergraduate study in criminal justice and criminology. Learning activities are designed both to offer instruction in these skills and to offer students the opportunity to practise developing these competencies. Through group activities and individual learning tasks, the module will make boost students’ confidence in a variety of practical academic tasks, including deconstructing questions, critical reading, referencing, academic writing, identifying research designs, finding and interpreting data, and critically evaluating use of evidence in debate and policy concerning crime and justice.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1- Recognise foundational academic study skills and apply them to practical study tasks in criminology.
2- Recognise foundational aspects of research designs in criminology and the fundamental concepts underpinning social research procedures.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1- Demonstrate critical thinking skills and raise questions concerning established ideas and knowledge.
2- Identify, explain and analyse sources of information on crime and criminal justice.
3- Express ideas clearly in academic writing.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Seminar | 13 | 1.5 | 19.5 |
| Private study hours | 176.5 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 23.5 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will receive formative feedback on in-class activities to allow students an opportunity to check their understanding of key issues from across the module, including those relevant to the summative assessments. A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for each summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | . | 50 |
| Coursework | . | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team