Universität Wien

290062 SE Bachelorseminar Human Geography (2025W)

Crime and Place

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 29 - Geographie
Continuous assessment of course work

In Englisch
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

More detailed information regarding class dates on Moodle.

  • Thursday 09.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 16.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 23.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 30.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 06.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 13.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 20.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 27.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 04.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 11.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 18.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 08.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 15.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 22.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Thursday 29.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This bachelor's seminar in human geography focuses on the relationship between geographical environments and patterns of criminal activity. Theories in environmental criminology (e.g., Crime Pattern Theory, the Geometry of Crime, and the Broken Windows theory) explain why and how crime is not randomly distributed, but is instead shaped by environmental opportunities and vulnerabilities. We will explore the ways in which different spatial and social environments generate aggravating and mitigating factors of crime and thus influence its spatial distribution. In addition to the spatial distribution of real crime events, we will also discuss the concerns and fear of crime in space because individual perceptions may play a more significant role in affecting people’s daily lives than actual statistics. Furthermore, the course will introduce major geographical methods and techniques in crime analysis (e.g., near repeat victimisation, risk terrain modelling, geographical profiling, big data policing, etc.)  and a detailed examination of the specifications and limitations of recorded crime.

The language of the course is English!

This course is part of the teaching activities of the Digital Geography group. For more information, see https://geographie.univie.ac.at/arbeitsgruppen/digital-geography/

Assessment and permitted materials

The assessment is conducted via three testing elements (T1-3). The first one is a thematic seminar paper. The second is an in-class presentation. The last one assesses participation and contribution during in-class activities.

The weights of each element are:
Test 1 (T1): 49% Seminar Paper
Test 2 (T2): 31% Presentation
Test 3 (T3): 20 % Active Participation

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria


- A student is required to attend at least 75% of all classes
- T1 and T2 are obligatory tests to pass the course; T3 is not an obligatory test to pass the course.
- For T3 a conditional mark is given (or not) of 5 points in four in-class activities (total = 20 points).

Conversion of percentages into final grades:
100 - 90 % - grade 1
89 - 80 % - grade 2
79 - 65 % - grade 3
64 - 50 % - grade 4
less than 50% - grade 5

Examination topics

- Understanding Crime in Place
- Theories on Environmental Criminology
- Spatial Crime Perception
- Spatial Crime Analysis

Reading list

1) Leitner, M. (Ed.). (2025). New Research in Crime Modeling and Mapping Using Geospatial Technologies (Vol. 27). Springer Nature.
2) Andresen, M. A. (2023). Environmental criminology: Evolution, theory, and practice. Routledge.
3) Leitner, M., Glasner, P., & Kounadi, O. (2018). Laws of geography. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
4) See the list of scientific papers on Moodle

Association in the course directory

(BA GG 7.1) (BA UF GW 16)

Last modified: Th 25.09.2025 15:27