Police Science, 7.5 credits

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• Describe and explain basic concepts within the field of police science.
• Describe and assess the research methodology commonly used within the field.
• Describe and assess various types of working methods the police use.
• Reflect on how the police and police work in fiction and media are presented and relate this with results from research within the field.
• Reflect on how research on policing can be used to develop knowledge-based crime preventive and safety promotive strategies within the police.

Content

This course deals with the basic concepts within the field of police science, the role of the police in Sweden and internationally, as well as, the research methodologies commonly used in this field. The course also involves an orientation into current research, including research on various types of police methods such as problem-oriented policing and hot-spots policing. The course involves discussions about how this kind of research differs from how the police and police work are presented in the media and other non-scientific sources, and how insights from this research can be used in developing effective police methods as well as crime prevention and safety promoting strategies. A general focus is that the students should practise the ability to apply the knowledge on realistic cases and situations.

Examinations and grades

Police Science I, 5 credits (Code: A001)
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Police Science II, 2.5 credits (Code: A002)
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may determine which grading system is to be used. The grade must be determined by a teacher specifically nominated by the university (the examiner).

In accordance with university regulations on grading systems for first and second-cycle courses and study programmes (Vice-Chancellor’s decision ORU 2018/00929), one of the following grades is to be used: fail (U), pass (G) or pass with distinction (VG). For courses included in an international master’s programme (60 or 120 credits) or offered to the university’s incoming exchange students, the A to F grading scale is to be used. The vice-chancellor, or a person appointed by them, may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special grounds for doing so.

The grades used on this course are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Comments on grades

To obtain a passing grade for the course as a whole, a minimum of grade E is required for all components on the course. To arrive at a course grade, the grades awarded for each examination assignment, grades A-E, are first converted to the numerical values 5-1. An average value is then calculated, also taking into account the number of credits for each examination in relation to the total number of credits for the course. The course grade is thus awarded by means of a weighted average of the examination assignments included on the course.

Modes of assessment

Police Science I, 5 credits (Code: A001)
Written assignment

Police Science II, 2.5 credits (Code: A002)
Oral examination

For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other modes of assessment.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations.

Specific entry requirements

One year full-time studies in behavioural and/or social sciences.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations.

Other provisions

The course is given in English.

Exams/assignments submitted after deadline will not be marked if a deadline has been specified.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Reading list and other learning resources

Required reading

Weisburd, David & Braga, A., Anthony (2019)
Police Innovation: Contrasting perspectives
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 582 pages

Articles and other material, maximum 300 pages, will be added as mandatory literature and specified in the study guide at the beginning of the course.

Additions and comments to literature list
If there is a newer edition of the listed book/books, then the listed edition or the new edition can be used.