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LAW37740

Academic Year 2026/2027

Victims and Victimology (LAW37740)

Subject:
Law
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Law
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Deirdre Healy
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Victims of crime, long regarded as the forgotten party in the criminal justice system, now occupy a central position in political and academic discourse about crime. Victimology has developed into a core branch of criminology and generated a wealth of knowledge about the experience of criminal victimisation and the needs of victims. This module explores the history and evolution of victimology, including its key schools of thought. Students taking this module will have the opportunity to critically examine a wide range of topics, including the social construction of victimhood, the role of victims in the criminal justice system, the effectiveness of measures designed to support victims of crime, and the unique experiences of particular groups including victims of domestic and sexual violence.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

Demonstrate a critical understanding of the socially constructed nature of victimhood

Exhibit a detailed knowledge of key victimology theories, including their strengths and limitations

Understand the role and experiences of victims in the criminal justice system

Critically evaluate the effectiveness of measures designed to support victims of crime

Analyse the experience and impact of criminal victimisation, including on particular groups such as victims of sexual and domestic violence

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

105
Lectures

24
Total

129

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Approaches include lectures, reflective activities and critical writing

Students on this module are expected to have read and understood the UCD Academic Integrity Policy and the School Protocol on Academic Integrity. Students must ensure that they comply with all requirements laid down therein and avoid academic misconduct. Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence, or other machine learning technology, in their learning and in completing assessments on this module. Students are expected to follow Oscola Ireland in citing sources in completing assessments

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Exam (In-person): 2-hour end of trimester exam End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
100
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

This module is assessed by means of a 2-hour exam. Exam feedback will be provided in the form of written group feedback through Brightspace. Feedback will be provided within 20 working days of the submission date. Students may also request a meeting with the module coordinator to obtain individual feedback on their assessments.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32 Mon 16:00 - 17:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 33 Wed 14:00 - 16:50
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